Work to begin on skywalk memorial 34 years after the Hyatt disaster

Thirty-four years later, a memorial to the victims, rescuers, survivors and families of Kansas City’s skywalk disaster will finally come to pass.

There will be congratulations as well as sad reflection when the Skywalk Memorial Foundation breaks ground for the memorial at 10 a.m. Friday in Hospital Hill Park, across the street from the former Hyatt Regency hotel where 114 people died in the collapse.

There has always been talk about creating a memorial, but efforts began to coalesce on the 25th anniversary. A design was unveiled on the 30th anniversary.

“It’s taken a long time, but things that are worthwhile sometimes take a lot of effort and I guess this is one of those things,” said Brent Wright, president of the memorial foundation, who lost his mother and stepfather in the disaster.