Cancer Survivors Park

Bronze sculpture of a rectangular spiral maze, with eight people going through it: the ones who are entering look worried, the ones leaving are triumphant.
Cancer, There is Hope sculpture by Victor Salmones, in Phoenix, 2013
Bronze plaque with a black background, it reads: This sculpture, "Cancer... there's hope" is the last work of the World-renowned sculptor, Victor Salmones. He claimed it to be his finest, a labor of love. The back five figures are cancer patients and their supporters, preparing to enter treatment, represented by the maze. Notice the fear, determination and hope on their faces in contrast to the joy of the front three, signifying successful treatment."
Sculpture plaque in Memphis, Tennessee
In the foreground are purple and green foliage and deocrative grasses and small trees. In the background are two tall buildings with an open-framed pavilion between them. The pavilion is framed on each side with white pillars.
Open pavilion in Chicago, Illinois
The entrance to a grassy park is marked with a wide sign. Behind it, a circular sidewalk has the sculpture on one side while a 50-foot tall sculpted brick column looms in the background.
Plaza in Cleveland, Ohio
Another bronze plaque with black background; it reads: "SUMMARY. Fighting cancer is not a simple matter of thinking positively, wishing it away and saying, "Hey, doc, cure me." It is a matter of knowledge. It is a matter of educating yourself about every detail and mustering all your resources. Use every drop of energy in an organized fashion to constructively concentrate on getting rid of cancer. Most cancers can be successfully treated, but generally you have only one chance. If you miss that first chance, if you don't do everything in your power, often there is no second chance. This is why no cancer patient can afford the luxury of looking back and saying, "I wish I would have..." Never look back. Concentrate on this moment forward and do everything in your power. There is no downside risk. Now yo may have a chance."
Final plaque on the "Road to Recovery" path, in Memphis

Cancer Survivors Park refers to a series of parks funded by the Bloch Foundation. Twenty-five parks were built across the US and Canada. They are all different but designed with the same elements:[1]

  • A walk with bronze plaques containing inspirational and instructional information
  • The Cancer, There Is Hope sculpture of eight people passing through a maze that represents cancer treatment
  • A walk with bronze plaques containing information about cancer and basic actions to overcome it

The park program was founded by Richard Bloch (co-founder of H&R Block) and his wife Annette Block, after Richard survived lung cancer. The parks were part of a larger program supporting cancer research and patient education.[2]

Park NameLocationStatus
Cancer Survivors Plaza, at Beach ParkBakersfield, CaliforniaSculpture figures stolen[3]
Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivor Plaza, at Julia Davis ParkBoise, IdahoIntact; includes a kinetic wind sculpture instead of the Salmones sculpture[4]
Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Garden, now part of Maggie Daley ParkChicago, IllinoisIntact; includes an open pavilion instead of the Salmones sculpture
Bloch Cancer Survivors' Plaza, at Celebration Plaza[5]Cleveland, OhioSome sculpture figures missing
RA Bloch Cancer Survivors Garden and Labyrinth, in Maxcy Gregg Park[6]Columbia, South CarolinaIntact
Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza, part of Chadwick Arboretum[7]Columbus, OhioIntact
Cancer Survivors Plaza, at Celebration of Life Park[8][9]Dallas, TexasSome sculpture figures missing
The Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza, at Hermann ParkHouston, Texas[10][11]Some sculpture figures vandalized and removed[12]
Cancer Survivors ParkIndianapolis, IndianaDemolished (1995–2017)[13]
Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park, on the downtown campus of Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville, FloridaIntact[14]
Bloch Cancer Survivors Park[15][16]Kansas City, MissouriIntact, and revitalized to include the Transformed Flower sculpture[17][18]
Richard & Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park, in Memphis Botanic GardenMemphis, TennesseeIntact
Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park, at Marquette Plaza[19]Minneapolis, MinnesotaIntact
Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivor Park, at Credit Valley HospitalMississauga, Ontario, CanadaIntact
Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza, in the Central Business District[20]New Orleans, LouisianaIntact
Cancer Survivors Park[21]Omaha, NebraskaIntact
Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park[22]Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaIntact
Cancer Survivors Park[23]Phoenix, Arizona Intact
Bloch Cancer Survivors Park[24][25]Rancho Mirage, CaliforniaIntact
Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park, at UC Davis Medical Center[26]Sacramento, CaliforniaIntact
Cancer Survivors Park at Spanish Landing ParkSan Diego, CaliforniaIntact
Cancer Survivors Plaza, at Fremont Neighborhood ParkSanta Rosa, CaliforniaIntact; neighborhood park renovation planned[27]
Cancer Survivors Plaza, at Al Lopez Park[28]Tampa, FloridaIntact
Cancer Survivors ParkTowson, Maryland[29]Intact
Cancer Survivors Plaza, at Gene C. Reid Park[30]Tucson, ArizonaIntact

References

  1. ↑ "Cancer Survivors Parks". Richard & Annette Bloch Family Foundation. Archived from the original on 2026-04-25. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  2. ↑ "Bloch Cancer Foundation". Richard & Annette Bloch Family Foundation. Archived from the original on 2026-04-26. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  3. ↑ Price, Robert (January 11, 2022). "Cancer Survivors' Plaza, gifted to Bakersfield in 1996, can't survive theft and vandalism". KGET.
  4. ↑ "Unique Features of Julia Davis Park". City of Boise. Archived from the original on 2026-02-17. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  5. ↑ "The Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza". Ohio Outdoor Sculpture.
  6. ↑ "Cancer…There's Hope". One Columbia for Arts and Culture. Archived from the original on 2026-04-24. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  7. ↑ "Bloch Cancer Survivors' Plaza". Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens. Archived from the original on 2026-04-26. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  8. ↑ "Celebration of Life Park". Dallas Park & Recreation. Archived from the original on 2023-12-10. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  9. ↑ "Cancer… There's Hope". Statues - Hither & Thither.
  10. ↑ "Cancer Survivors Park Houston". Milosav Cekic Architects. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  11. ↑ "Cancer, There is Hope / Cáncer, hay esperanza". Latino cARTographies. Archived from the original on 2026-04-25. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  12. ↑ "Ask 2: What happened to the "Cancer, There is Hope" statue at Hermann Park?". 18 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Sims, Chris; Mitchell, Dawn (December 6, 2017). "Cancer Survivors Park demolished in Indianapolis". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  14. ↑ Strickland, Sandy (July 7, 2017). "Call Box: Cancer Survivor Park replicates Jacksonville bridges". Florida Times-Union.
  15. ↑ "Bloch Cancer Survivors Park". Kansas City Parks & Recreation. Archived from the original on 2026-04-28. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  16. ↑ "Bloch Cancer Survivors Park: Cancer, There's Hope". Kansas City Parks & Recreation. Archived from the original on 2026-04-30. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  17. ↑ "Transformed Flower". Kansas City Parks & Recreation. Archived from the original on 2026-04-25. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  18. ↑ "Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park". Confluence. Archived from the original on 2026-04-26. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  19. ↑ Harris, Marlys (September 21, 2012). "Cancer Survivors Park: Making a space into a place". MinnPost. Archived from the original on April 25, 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  20. ↑ Rickard, Mary (February 1, 2013). "The Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza in New Orleans is a survivor, too". Nola.com.
  21. ↑ "Richard Bloch's Cancer Survivors Parks". Omaha Exploration. Archived from the original on 2026-04-28. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  22. ↑ "Cancer Survivors Park". The Ottawa Cancer Foundation. Archived from the original on 2026-04-29. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  23. ↑ "Cancer Survivors Park". City of Phoenix. Archived from the original on 2026-05-20. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  24. ↑ "Cancer Survivors Park". Visit Greater Palm Springs. Archived from the original on 2026-04-28. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  25. ↑ "Cancer... There's Hope". Visit Greater Palm Springs. Archived from the original on 2026-04-28. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  26. ↑ "Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park". UC Davis Health. Archived from the original on 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  27. ↑ Benefield, Kerry (March 9, 2022). "Benefield: Fremont Park in need of some love faces dramatic changes". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on April 24, 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Al Lopez Park". TampaPix.
  29. ↑ "Cancer Survivors Park". Baltimore County Government. Archived from the original on 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  30. ↑ "Gene C. Reid Park: Cancer Survivors Plaza". City of Tucson. Archived from the original on 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
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