Stone Harbor Council Sees Sept. 11 Memorial Proposal

STONE HARBOR — Second Avenue’s 123rd Street terminus is proposed for the borough’s Sept. 11 memorial. The site, that would enshrine a World Trade Center artifact, was deemed peaceful and reflective of the spirit of the resort.
Borough Council got to see the design concept by Scott Taylor of Taylor Design that may become the setting for a World Trade Center artifact, received this Memorial Day after months of work by Council President Joan Kramar, who also chaired the sub-committee formed to establish the memorial’s location.
The proposed site is presently covered in gray stone and has a bench. It overlooks the wild Point,, and thus will never be surrounded by buildings.
Council was presented the plan by Scott Taylor, vice president of Taylor Design. That firm also planned Avalon’s Sept. 11 memorial that will be dedicated Sept. 11 at 11 a.m.
The site will be known as “Point of Peace Stone Harbor, N.J.” Kramar said the committee considered eight sites throughout the borough. All members felt that the 123rd Street location offered a setting that embodied the nature of the resort, she said.
Taylor told council the planning was “a moving, emotional process” that presented challenges to offer a “peaceful, reflective, quiet place that says Stone Harbor that is unique and really fits.” He added it would be a “fitting tribute in the context of Stone Harbor.”
A brushed metal “peace globe,” that strongly resembles the Unisphere, symbol of the 1964 New York World’s Fair, would be located at the traffic island across the street from the location of the artifact.
The Twin Tower artifact, which will be on public display on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. dedication ceremony, will be set on a cast stone base under a curved trellis with benches and flags, the number proposed was three, but could be more or less, said Taylor.
Lighting would be such that it would not bother neighboring dwellings. On the globe would be LED lights denoting the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. would glow at night.
Low ground cover of salt tolerant vegetation would be planted around the site.
The memorial would be protected from traffic by maritime bollards, although motorists would be alerted to the memorial’s sight by pavers in the street that would act as rumble strips.
Taylor said the first step in completing the memorial was the conceptual design. Next comes seeking Department of Transportation grants for roadway beautification or any other funding, as well as sponsorships and local donations, he said.
There will not be any pavers with names or plaques thought would detract from the solemnity of the site, said Kramar.
Before final approval is given to the memorial, Kramar said it would return to council for consideration. Yet to be determined is its budget.
Kramar said the artifact will be on display for the public to see and, should they desire, touch on Tue., Sept. 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the 123rd Street proposed site. A brief dedication ceremony at 1 p.m. will be led by Sister James Dolores, of Villa Maria by the Sea retreat. An honor guard of police and firefighters will maintain a vigil over the artifact until 3 p.m.
Resident Charles Tomlinson told council he believed the peace globe appeared to be the center of attention instead of the artifact. He urged more consideration of artifact placement so that it would be the center of attention.