It’s been just over a year since 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey was allegedly killed by caregivers in Fayette County.

Kourtney Eutsey and Sarah Shipley are both facing several criminal charges connected to Renesmay’s death last September.

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“This is probably the worst, if not one of the worst, crimes we’ve had this century in Fayette County,” Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said. “It’s something that these folks are never going to forget. It changed a lot of lives.”

Following Renesmay’s death, her neighbor, Dunbar Mayor Norm Gordon, had an idea.

“We decided that we were going to change the name of [Dunbar] Park to Renesmay,” he said. “She always came down here. We wanted to do something to remember her. I don’t want her to ever be forgotten.”

The place where Renesmay loved to play was renamed in her honor on Saturday evening. Hundreds of supporters came to the park for the event. Organizers said the day was a celebration.

“This is not a memorial; it’s her tenth birthday party,” Ebony Floyd, one of the main organizers, said. “Close friends, random strangers, businesses, everyone has come together to help me make this event exactly what I’m looking around and seeing. Everything is free for the kids, thanks to our volunteers.”

The celebration included some of Renesmay’s favorite colors, games, and bubbles. A new plaque, signage, and bench were all placed as part of the park’s renaming.

Aubele, who will prosecute Renesmay’s alleged killers, was visibly emotional while addressing the crowd.

“I’m extremely proud of this community and everybody who brought everything together,” he said. “It’s a beautiful memorial. It’s very comforting for me, and everybody that has to live with this and go forward and prosecute this case, to know why we’re doing it.”

Aubele said Eutsey and Shipley’s trial should start in 2027.

“Hopefully, sometime in the spring or summer of next year, we’ll be going to trial,” he said. “That’s the expectation right now.”

During one of the speeches about the girl, Dunbar Borough councilwoman Lynn Hall could be seen confronting and getting into a fight with a woman at the event. Organizers told Pittsburgh’s Action News Four that council had pushed back on the idea of renaming the park.

Gordon said the council was never unanimously against the renaming.

“There are people who just don’t like what’s going on,” Gordon said. “They run their mouth. It gets back to that person. Next thing you know, they’re not talking, they’re fighting. Our community is divided, and it breaks my heart to see it that way. I would love to see it pull together. I’m going to work my best to make that happen.”

Aubele believes minor charges will be filed.

“I’m very confident because I spoke to the officer here,” he said. “I know charges will be filed. I’ll leave that to him.”

The borough’s next council meeting is on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Despite that incident, it didn’t stop loved ones of Renesmay’s from remembering her.

Now, the kids of the community can make memories in the same place the little girl used to.

“I remember the one little boy did tell me that [Renesmay] ran away one time and came to the park,” Floyd said. “So, it’s only fitting that this is her.”

Organizers added that everything that was new to Renesmay Park was paid for through community donations.