“no dear, those pants don’t make you look fat” is not as transparent as you think.
Allowing access to your property to be used as a memorial has implied insurance risks. If someone gets hurt then your rates will likely go up just as any other insurance claim has the capacity to do. While it’s not guaranteed it would happen, it’s still a potential cost.
Why does the insurance thing have to be a lie?
Why don’t you contact your insurance provider, explain the situation, and see what they have to say about the matter?
I think we have the final solution.
I’m a Jew and abhor crosses, but the little pink cross on the arm of the large one, like the woman carrying her granddaughter is or was important to someone.
I have five acres, and if that were in my creek I’d contact who ever erected it and gently sound them out. I’d leave it if it were important to them.
I knew it!
What about garlic and running water? Eh? Eh? 
“The insurance company, big ol’ meanies that they are, say it has to go” = lie.
“I’m concerned about my insurance liability” = not a lie.
Speak to the insurance company. If they say that leaving the cross up implies permission for people to access it and you could be liable then you can legitimately repeat that to them. Making up a story about the insurance company ordering it removed, as some seem to be suggesting, is stupid.
I agree. I didn’t realize someone posted about a directive from the insurance company.
That is vampires, Dude.
We only use the blood of Christian babies for matzoh at Passover.
If you want to make a good impression with your neighbors, fix it up!
or take it down and put a plaque on the side of the road with a water gauge next to it so it doesn’t happen again.
Wow, I thought I was a cynical!
This person is looking for real world solutions to a personal stressful situation and you provide subterfuge…
Interesting…
Oh!
You turn into wolves at a full moon though, right?
I second that solution.
From the pictures, it looks as if its become a makeshift park - they may not even realize its on someones ‘private property’ - have you found where they gain access to the area? is it fenced off and marked appropriately? That would be the first step as well. Previous owners may have allowed creek access for fishing, etc -
where’s the subterfuge?
Only the diaspora that lives in Central Europe.
Maybe, maybe not. Its possible that the family who suffered the tragedy is not well liked or that the community feels that its time to “move on” as well. It may be one neighbor she is pissing off, or the whole town.
One unexplored idea is to take a small portion of your land (you didn’t even know this part was yours) and donate it to the town to make it a memorial park - then the problem isn’t yours, you get goodwill with the town, and a tax writeoff.
Good luck with whatever you decide. Its a sticky problem. The idea I like best is approaching the family about taking down the cross and “stuff” and replacing it with a memorial marker of some sort that you and the family agree is tasteful. Some sort of statuary. A plaque on a boulder or bench. A perennial garden. I wouldn’t approach it as an option - You understand their grief and feel sympathy, but you will be taking down the cross that is on your property - or they may if its removed by date X if they would like to keep it - would they be interested in replacing the cross with something that is less obtrusive that meets your approval?
Forget about insurance loopholes, just be tactful and ask whoever the cross belongs to if they can remove it from this persons property.
It’s not a “loophole”, it’s a liability. And there’s no tactful way of asking that it be removed because the first question is “why”. You can say it’s an eyesore or express the desire not to have a liability on your property.
I like the ‘post a notice’ idea. I’d leave it there over several months. Maybe include one paragraph about not wishing for the reminder of such a tragedy blah blah, on your property. Offer to remove it to any suggested location. If you end up removing it, keep everything respectfully.
Y’know I really wouldn’t worry too terribly about a lifetime reputation as an evil doer. Who you really are, is unavoidably going to shine through, beyond these events, regardless, I should think. As a newcomer to the community, they will hardly all believe you should share their respect for the place. There must be those who are tired of seeing it. Those who can understand where you, a newcomer, are coming from.
I think if you are respectful, and honest it might be enough.