Families of the 63 people who died in the Pulse nightclub fire have launched a fundraiser to build a memorial park in Kočani, Macedonia. They are asking individuals, businesses and organizations in Macedonia and abroad to help fund the project.
The families, who formed the citizens’ association “16 March 2025 – Kočani,” named the park Path of Infinity. They shared a video showing the proposed design and described the park as a place for quiet reflection, prayer and remembrance. The memorial would carry the names of all 63 victims of the March 16, 2025, fire.
Families Plan a Memorial at Kočani’s Old Park
The Kočani memorial park would cover 1,053 square meters at the site known as the Old Park, between Braḱa Stavrevi and Kej na Revolucijata streets. The municipality has allocated the land, and the association has prepared the initial design.
Kočani Mayor Vladko Grozdanov said the association had submitted project documents and the municipal urban planning department was reviewing them. The Ministry of Culture allocated 2 million Macedonian denars for the project. The association had yet to receive the funds at the time of the appeal.
A separate memorial already stands near the entrance to Kočani, close to the site of the nightclub fire. The memorial cross, which also honors the 63 victims, is 17 meters high and 12 meters wide.
Donation Appeal Reaches Macedonians Abroad
The association listed a denar account for local donations and a foreign currency account for contributions from abroad. Individuals and organizations can contact the association at zng16timart2025@gmail.com for donation instructions. The association also offers project documents to businesses and institutions interested in supporting the memorial.
The families say all contributions will go toward building the park and that the association will report how it uses the funds. In their appeal, they described what they want future visitors to remember: every name on the memorial belongs to someone who had a family, plans and a life ahead of them.
