Brookside Gardens Memorial Honors Sniper Victims

By Sunny Scully, co-owner of Lewis, Scully and Gionet Landscape Architects

The Montgomery County executive, Doug Duncan, wanted the county to take the lead in creating a special, as yet unspecified type of memorial for the surviving families and friends of those shot by the snipers. Six of the 10 victims were from Montgomery County, so it seemed fitting that they find a special place there, and he wanted it to be dedicated within two years of the event.

This past year, I had the opportunity to offer my services in honor of the victims of the sniper attacks that rocked the Washington D.C. area in October 2002. A memorial was to be designated at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Md.?EUR??,,????'??+where the shootings began?EUR??,,????'??+and I had the pleasure of being a part of the design team.

In my professional capacity, I agreed to meet with the Parks Foundation to discuss places with potential for a memorial. There was one clearly-superior choice already set up to accommodate the project?EUR??,,????'???s needs. Brookside Gardens is a delightful county park where some of the victims used to walk with their families. There is a pond where an earlier designer had located some rock outcroppings and planted background trees. Through meetings, the thought evolved that this memorial should be part of the garden, and that instead of new plaques being placed here, the memorial should use some of the existing stones. We talked to a stone carver who agreed that the existing stones could be utilized and would accept engraving. This concept was presented to the families at a meeting in April. They were pleased with the place and the concept. They asked that all victims be mentioned?EUR??,,????'??+not just the Montgomery County ones.

The appeal of this approach was its use of an existing public investment. This solution would mean cost-effectiveness, and better still?EUR??,,????'??+it would provide an already mature setting that could be enhanced and quickly brought to fruition. The approach also limited the addition of one more memorial space in a region already saturated with memorials for so many wars and tragedies.

The new memorial embraces a space already overlooking the pond. After a little contemplation, we realized the space could be accessible if a stone ramp could be devised in lieu of steps. A new paver path replaces previous, rough stepping stones and now welcomes people to the place that had been hidden across an expansive lawn. Horizontal slabs serve as seating to view either the peaceful pond, or to look toward the stone monoliths that contain the etched memorial. New sweeps of ground covers and shrubs help meld the stones into the sweeping pathway. A transition landing will accommodate another future pathway connection.

Landscape architect Sunny Scully, FASLA, designed the memorial without charge and the county paid for the stone engraving by R.S. Kinnaird. The Brookside Gardens horticultural staff played the greatest part in helping accomplish the project in record time.

Three stones tell it all. The largest includes an inscription explaining the purpose of the place. The second monolith lists the names of the 10 victims.

The third stone, overlooking the pond, states simply, ?EUR??,,????'??Linger here, reflect on those lost to violence, hope for a gentler world, seek a reverence for life among all people.?EUR??,,????'??