KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The group that runs the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City wants to encircle the memorial grounds with fence as part of a security upgrade to protect the monument and National World War I Museum. But some park department officials don’t think it’s a good idea.
"We don’t fence parks,” said Park Commissioner Angie Stackhaus. "I’m vehemently opposed to a fence. It violates (the original) design and it’s just not necessary.”
The Liberty Memorial is a national historic landmark that sits on 47.5 acres of land across from Union Station and is home to the World War I Museum. Memorial officials say a fence would help keep out undesirable activity. They also say the memorial is a potential terrorist target.
That notion gets scoffs from some park officials who say if someone wants to terrorize the monument, a fence isn’t going to prevent that.
Memorial officials want to add the fence, cameras and improved lighting as part of a $1.4 million security project. Sandra Aust, chairwoman of the memorial’s grounds committee, said she doesn’t like fences in general but thinks the city needs to be realistic.
"We have a wonderful asset that we’ve invested more than $100 million in preserving and enhancing,” she said.
"We have a responsibility to look at what we need to do to make sure it is secure and protected.”
by the associated press
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