The Republic Board of Veterans organized the narrow zone of mass graves from 1961 to 1965. The organization covered only the basic designation of discovered mass graves, the zone was partially fenced, and a path was paved within the Memorial centre. The graves were wirefenced but this idea was later abandoned due to a new concept of arrangement. Donja Gradina Memorial Center was initiated in 1975 as a new Law on Construction and Financing defined the memorial zone.

The Republic Board of Veterans organized the narrow zone of mass graves from 1961 to 1965. The organization covered only the basic designation of discovered mass graves, the zone was partially fenced, and a path was paved within the Memorial centre. The graves were wirefenced but this idea was later abandoned due to a new concept of arrangement. Donja Gradina Memorial Center was initiated in 1975 as a new Law on Construction and Financing defined the memorial zone.

In 1979, there was a public contest in order to find an architectural solution for Donja Gradina Memorial Park and Museum. The contest was won by Professor Slavko Tihec, a professional sculptor from Maribor, who designed the memorial facilities and sculptures to indicate mass graves and the point at which the ferry moved along the Sava bank in 1982/1983. In line with the Social Agreement on construction and management of SP Jasenovac from 1983, Donja Gradina became a part of Jasenovac Memorial zone. This document regulated both Jasenovac and Donja Gradina memorial zones.

Up to mid-September 1987, 117 hectares of land had been organized and attended. The earlier alphabetic grave signs were replaced with new neutral signs with the location features, which covered a new visual statement, general atmosphere, trees, or animal species habitats. Donja Gradina Memorial centre officially opened for visitors on April 22, 1988. The direct cause for the opening was the Youth Days event, which marked the outbreak of Jasenovac detainees from April 22, 1945. It was in 1988 that the Youth Days event took place in Donja Gradina. Furthermore, the event gathered people from all over Yugoslavia, including the camp survivors, the young, and the war veterans. Ever since then, Donja Gradina had officially become a part of Jasenovac, and the welcoming experts used to say that “if you did not to Donja Gradina, you did not see all of Jasenovac.”

As Yugoslavia broke-up, Jasenovac Memorial centre split into two geographical and administrative units: Jasenovac memorial in the Republic of Croatia and Donja Gradina memorial in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.