Chittenango’s Wild Animal Park opens memorial in memory of Regan Shetsky

CHITTENANGO, N.Y. — Family members and friends came together at the Chittenango Wild Animal Park on Saturday to see the unveiling of Regan’s corner.

Regan’s corner is a memorial set up at the park for the 3-year-old girl who was killed in January while being dropped off for nursery school at the Eastwood Baptist Church.

Regan Shetsky and her father were in the parking lot of the church when they were hit by a car.

Now, three months later the Shetsky’s have made it their mission to give back to the community in Regan’s name, calling it Regan’s Acts of Kindness.

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The first project was unveiled on Saturday, at one of Regan’s favorite places, the Wild Animal Park.

“Her all time favorite animal is the owl, but she loved the giraffe’s,” Kelly Shetsky, Regan’s mother, said.

Both animals stand tall in “Regan’s Corner” at the Wild Animal Park, a place she loved to go to with her family.

“We wanted to do something here at the Wild because Regan loved it so much,” Jeff Taylor, the owner at the Wild Animal Park said.

The dedication started as an idea that park owner expanded on.

“He called it Regan’s Corner when we were walking through and that became the official name of it and they just went above and beyond anything that we could’ve expected,” Kelly explained.

A giraffe towers over her memorial, next to park benches engraved with Regan’s name and photos of the 3-year-old and her family on the corner walls.

“She would have loved it and I think it will bring joy to so many other children which is one positive thing that we can do right now,” Kelly said.

It’s a place where Regan will always be remembered.

“She deserves to be remembered and this is one way to do it for us,” Regan’s family explained.