The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission on Friday rejected a recommendation to build a memorial for the Newtown mass shooting on a certain plot of land because of its proximity to a hunting and fishing club.
Kyle Lyddy, commission chairman, said the idea of building a monument near the Potatuck Club was inappropriate, and said building a memorial anywhere in the city would not provide visitors with the peaceful, reflective environment they are looking for because the sound of gunshots can be heard throughout the region.
“It’s been brought up that any location we go to in Newtown there may be an audible sound of gunfire, in hunting season specifically,” Lyddy told the Associated Press. “But the frequency, because of how close this was to the club, is just inconsistent with what we were looking to do.”
The commission has been working to find a place to remember the 26 victims of the attack for three years. Victims’ families have shared their wishes for the space, though Lyddy said meeting every person’s preferences will likely be impossible.
“It’s a very sensitive subject,” Lyddy said. “Some of the locations that were brought to us were rejected right away. Some we might take a second look at. We are beginning to realize that we may not find a site with everything on our list. We need to pick a location that makes sense for as many people as possible.”
The commission’s top concerns are finding a spot that environmentalists approve, that is located far enough away from the new Sandy Hook Elementary School, and out of earshot of gunfire and sirens.
