Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković has signed a contract for the construction of a public city park with a memorial dedicated to children killed in the Homeland War.

The first phase includes preparing the area and laying the foundation for a striking eight-metre-high monument in the form of colorful pencils, currently under construction.

Designed by academic sculptor Dalibor Stošić and architect Hrvoje Bilandžić, the memorial represents innocence lost and is set near the busy Gruž port to reach many visitors.

Photo - Grad Dubrovnik

The project was chosen through a public competition and involved the parents of the fallen children, represented by the Civilian Victims of War Association.

The contract is worth €121,405.75 including VAT, with work expected to be completed in three months. The project is co-funded by the City of Dubrovnik and the Croatian Ministry of Veterans and will unfold in two phases—starting with the memorial and followed by full park landscaping.