The family and friends of Dean F. Gilbert gathered yesterday to pay tribute to the young man, described as an “achiever and a trail blazer,” and to see his dream come true.

A memorial stone was dedicated to him near a softball field at Normal Square, a project started by Gilbert seven years ago.

Gilbert was killed when he fell and struck his head on a rock while trying to avoid being hit by a falling tree on the site. He was 31.

His dream was to transform a swampy, wooded area near the Normal Square intersection into a recreational facility Mahoning Valley residents could be proud of.