Howard County’s new COVID-19 memorial has been officially opened at Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City. The memorial grove, one of only a few in the state, includes 44 native birch trees and a water feature surrounded by seating to offer visitors a calming place of reflection.

Since March 2020, there have been 523 deaths in Howard County attributed to COVID-19, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

“The COVID-19 pandemic affected all of us in ways that we may never be able to adequately express,” County Executive Calvin Ball said in a news release. “Through this memorial, I hope our residents find a safe, quiet space where they come, reflect and feel at peace, while honoring all who we lost, and all the sacrifices made during the pandemic. This project is part of the healing process as our community regroups from the tragedies surrounding the pandemic and it empowers us to come together to celebrate all that we have accomplished.”

Native birch trees were selected to encompass the memorial space due to their symbolism of new beginnings and growth, according to the county. Fast growing, with their curling bark and spreading limbs that offer shade, these native trees can easily adapt to the state’s changing environment and various soils. The first tree was planted at the memorial grove’s groundbreaking ceremony in November.

The memorial’s fountain is made of polished black granite and reflects the adjacent trees and surroundings, even when the water is not flowing in the winter, according to the release. A seating area surrounds the fountain, along with landscaped beds of flowers to brighten the area and add to the setting.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony late last month, Ball also unveiled the design for a commissioned sculpture to be featured at the memorial. After reviewing more than 40 designs, the county selected Florida artists Jim Benedict and Lily Kuonen to design and complete a 16-foot sculpture that features intricately fabricated bronze and native Bay Forget-Me-Not flowers, memorialized and supported in a stainless-steel base. These Bay Forget-Me-Nots symbolize remembrance, comfort, hope, empathy, compassion and the strength of the human spirit, celebrating the connections that bring the community together. The sculpture is expected to be completed and installed by September 2025, according to the county news release.