Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission Votes Against Nearby Shooting Range for Memorial Site

SANDY HOOK, CT — At a recent meeting of the Sandy Hook Memorial Commission, members voted against the Nunnawauk Road location for the Memorial Site consideration, according to a release. The unanimous vote to remove the 30-acre Nunnawauk Road site from consideration to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook School shooting was due to its close proximity to the Potatuck Club, a private members-only club for fishing and hunting.

The Commission met with Potatuck Club Manager Bruce Clark and Newtown Land Use Director George Benson on Tuesday, September 6 for a site visit off Wasserman Way. During the tour, Clark guided the Commission through the property and explained the different components of the membership, one of which includes skeet shooting and hunting on the grounds. The commission felt that the audible impact of hunting and skeet shooting so close to the location was a major concern.

“We decided this location simply wouldn’t be appropriate to consider for what we are trying to accomplish,” Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission Chairman Kyle Lyddy said. “The sound of gun shots, albeit legally, while visiting a memorial to honor individuals murdered is simply inappropriate. The Commission voted correctly to remove this site from consideration. There is consistently information being thrown at us, which we are trying to digest and take adequate action on. It’s part of the evolving process and ensuring we do our due diligence on researching the pro’s and con’s to every decision we make. As we dug more into this specific parcel, we understood what was going on and took immediate action.”

“We’re appreciative of the time Mr. Clark provided to our Commission during this process. We’re also appreciative of George Benson and the Newtown Land Use Office for their consistent support. Mr. Benson’s patience and expertise on the parcels of land in Newtown is imperative to the success of the Commission and we will continue to leverage his knowledge as we move forward."

“This month marks three years that our Commission has been appointed by the Newtown Board of Selectmen. While some may look at our progress as slow, we’re confident that we’re moving at an appropriate pace and asking the right questions to ensure this is done right.” The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission will now focus to other possible locations and will continue with site visits until an adequate parcel is identified.

he next site visit will be to SAC Field on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook to understand the feasibility of those 6 acres for a memorial, understanding there have been previous legal questions on the parcel.

Once the site selection is complete, the Commission will then work through the Design Selection process.
“The town of Newtown is one of the largest, acreage wise, in the state,” Lyddy continued. “We’re going to find a location. We know that wherever we end up there will be pushback and potential criticism. We’re hopeful the community can rally with us and continue to be patient as we sift through this delicate work. We need to pick our battles and stay focused on the reason our Commission has been assembled,” Lyddy concluded.

Image by Kevin Dooley via Flickr Creative Commons