Memorial park for Sgt. Ecker considered

EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - East Longmeadow may create a park in memory of Sgt. Mark Ecker.

Sgt. Mark Ecker passed away Friday night in a car accident.

Homes for Our Troops was going to give the decorated war veteran a custom built home on a piece of land in between Lindendale Avenue and Gaskell Street in East Longmeadow.

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night to form a committee to study the viability of a memorial park in that location.

Selectman Jim Driscoll, a member of that board, told 22News that funding would have to be secured. However Driscoll says there are many people who would support it financially. "We would work closely with the neighbors too who always wanted it to be a left open space. So in the end this will be the best thing for everyone I think."

As it stands right now the area is heavily wooded.

Driscoll says that if a park is created there, it would most likely include walking trails that would work with the environment.