Victoria Boshell pushed her 20-month-old daughter, Emma, in a bright pink carriage up Church Hill Road near Main Street, Wednesday morning, September 10, as traffic whizzed past.

“We live on Academy Lane, and run out of sidewalks we can walk on in a couple of places,” said Ms Boshell. So she was delighted to hear that just moments before, the official dedication of the Memorial Sidewalk connecting Main Street to, ultimately, Sandy Hook Village, had taken place at the corner of Main Street and Church Hill Road.

“We will be happy when this sidewalk goes in,” she said.

At 10:30 am, Jen and Mike Guman of 38 Main Street, welcomed town officials and residents onto their property for the kickoff to the sidewalk project. The start of construction will be a portion of sidewalk running from the corner of Main Street as far as 3 Church Hill Road, where a section of sidewalk already exists.

Newtown Director of Planning and Land Use George Benson said that the first phase of construction would begin in early October. Completion should be within six months, added Rob Sibley, deputy director of Planning and Land Use.

Work for the first section of sidewalk, funded privately and publicly, is to be under the direction of Rob Manna of LRM Landscape Contractors in Newtown.

“We’ve had health and safety risks for over two decades [on this section of road],” said Mr Sibley. “It’s a popular walking section connecting schools and the center of town. [This sidewalk] is giving an alternative to walking in streets,” he said.

Wednesday’s event, Mr Sibley said, was particularly to honor the dedication of Dr Thomas Draper, his son, Joseph Draper, and other members of the Draper family who have been crucial in making the Memorial Sidewalk Project a reality.

“There is a master plan associated with [sidewalks all over town]. What is extraordinary about this, is the dedication of Dr Draper and Joe,” Mr Sibley said, as other town and borough officials gathered.

“After the events of 12/14, we wanted to create some kind of physical connection between the center of town and Sandy Hook,” Joseph Draper said. Having seen sidewalk plans for the town laid out in 2010, he said, he and his father visited with George Benson shortly after the Sandy Hook School shooting, to find out how they could assist in helping create a sidewalk project that would serve as a memorial to lives lost 12/14. “Other people started to participate and that has brought us to our vision,” said Mr Draper. Between the Draper family and many other contributors, total funding of $195,000 has been achieved for the start of the Main Street to Sandy Hook sidewalk, he said.

“The ball is rolling,” commented Mr Draper, looking over the plans laid out on a nearby table.

“It’s the beginning of hopefully connecting the flagpole to Sandy Hook,” Mr Benson said. While existing plans are for sidewalks winding all around town, “This section has always been our priority,” he said, primarily due to safety reasons.

For Jen and Mike Guman, who have owned the antique home on the corner of Main Street and Church Hill Road for four years, the new sidewalk is mostly a positive development. “We’re happy about it. It will definitely help,” said Ms Guman, although the couple looked for reassurances as to how the sidewalk will impact their property, later in the morning.

A retaining wall is planned to run the length of Church Hill Road from the near the corner of Main Street, with a small green area required by the state to accommodate state snow plows. Most of the section along Church Hill Road is state right of way, explained George Benson. “We will seek easements and legal agreements for construction,” he said, as soon as the design plans are set, but the two properties, 38 Main Street and 3 Church Hill Road, would have minimal disruption.

Putting in sidewalks from the flagpole to Sandy Hook Village is more than a physical vision, said Dr Draper. Since 12/14, it has also been a project filled with spiritual meaning. “We want to preserve the unity created in our town following the events of 12/14, as a significant memory of the people we valued so much, who died that day,” he said. He pointed out the numerous churches and schools that line the planned pathway, all of which felt the impact of that day.

“Those children [who died 12/14] were so exuberant in terms of personalities — running, jumping, laughing. The loss of that is something we want to remember. We want children to walk; we want people to walk, for the health of the community. We want to walk together,” said Dr Draper, “and remember that event in perpetuity.” The portion of sidewalk dedicated Wednesday is the start of that remembrance, he said. “Many people have contributed to make this possible,” he emphasized.

Newtown Health Director Donna Culbert noted the enormous benefit to installing sidewalks in town. “It increases physical activities and allows for connections. There will be people meeting people. I’ve worked with Dr Draper for 18 years,” said Ms Culbert, “and he’s always wanted more sidewalks in town. When you walk, you see more beauty and more people.”

Support for the sidewalk project was apparent in the number of officials attending the dedication ceremony. In addition to George Benson, Rob Sibley, Dr Thomas Draper and wife, Pat, Joseph Draper, Mr Manna, and the Gumans, among those also present were First Selectman Pat Llodra, Police Chief Michael Kehoe, Borough Zoning Officer Jean St Jean, Health Director Donna Culbert, Newtown Parks Director Amy Mangold, and State Representative Tony Hwang (R-134).

Speaking briefly before the group, Mr Sibley noted that the sidewalk would represent a community and physical connection of the two parts of town. “That vision,” he emphasize, “comes from the Draper family.” He also expressed appreciation for the leadership in town that has endorsed the project, to Mr Benson in planning the extended sidewalks in town, to Amy Mangold for hosting a website for donations, and to Borough Zoning Officer Jean St Jean.

Mrs Llodra spoke, as well, recalling her first visit with the Drapers after 12/14. “They said, ‘We’re creating a fund’ — and here we are,” she said, gesturing at the gathered crowd. “Out of tragedy,” she reminded the group, “good things come, and nobody is more representative of kindness than the Draper family.”

Joseph Draper took a moment to thank the town for its support. “The enthusiasm from the borough and the town was encouraging,” he said.

To donate to the Memorial Sidewalk Project visit www.Newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_Park/index, and select the donate button in the box at the bottom of the page.