Some projects carry a meaning that goes far beyond the materials used in their construction. The Peace Pavilion at Lake Ponca in Ponca City, Oklahoma is one of those spaces.
Set along Sailboat Side East near the shoreline, the pavilion was created as a place for reflection, healing, and community remembrance. It honors the life of Dr. Stephanie Husen as well as all innocent victims of gun violence, offering a quiet, intentional space where visitors can gather, remember, and find moments of peace.
Dr. Husen, a native of Ponca City and a devoted animal lover, built her life around caring for others. As a specialist in sports medicine and internal medicine, she brought skill, warmth, and deep compassion to her work. In every part of her life, she had a gift for offering comfort, respect, and steady kindness to the people around her, from loved ones to the patients and colleagues who depended on her.
On June 1, 2022, Dr. Husen was one of four people killed when a gunman entered the Natalie Medical Building in Tulsa. She was 48 years old. Her death was a heartbreaking loss to all who knew her, including her family, friends, classmates, patients, and colleagues.
What makes the pavilion especially meaningful is the collaborative vision behind it. Dr. Husen's family, close friends, and landscape architect Carl Szafranski, a dear friend, worked together to create a space that reflects her life, values, and the relationships that meant so much to her. Their shared memories and personal connections helped shape a place that feels deeply personal while also welcoming the entire community.
The result is a space that blends naturally into its lakeside setting while standing as a lasting symbol of remembrance and hope. Every thoughtful detail contributes to an environment where visitors can pause, reflect, and honor not only Dr. Husen's legacy, but the lives of all innocent victims of gun violence.
The Peace Pavilion serves as a reminder that meaningful places are created with intention. Through thoughtful design, collaboration, and a shared commitment to honoring a loved one, this project has become a lasting gift to the Ponca City community.
We are grateful to have contributed in a small way to this meaningful project and to see our breeze block materials become part of a space created with such care and purpose.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Gregory, Joyce, their family, Carl, and everyone whose vision and dedication brought the Peace Pavilion to life. Their commitment has created a place that will continue to serve the community and honor Dr. Stephanie Husen's legacy for generations to come.
For those interested in learning more about the Peace Pavilion and its background, these articles provide additional context on its creation, design, and dedication:
- Ponca City Monthly Magazine – A Legacy of Love on the Shores of Lake Ponca
- Ponca City Monthly Magazine – A Place of Reflection and Hope: The Peace Pavilion Dedication
- KTUL News – Peace Pavilion dedicated in Ponca City to honor Dr. Stephanie Husen
- Ponca City Now - Peace Pavilion dedicated in Ponca City to honor Dr. Stephanie Husen