The cemetery of the future needs to be more than just a place of burial. It should be a vibrant celebration of family, history and individuality.
Cemetery master planning can optimize land utilization and improve the overall aesthetic of a cemetery. Effective design can also help reduce the up front costs of development and minimize future replacement costs.
Master Plan
A well-designed planting plan is essential for promoting healthy tree growth throughout the cemetery. Likewise, the existing irrigation network requires re- placement to ensure effi cient delivery of water for both trees and ground cover.
The master plan recommends upgrading the cemetery management software to improve effi ciency and accuracy in burial records and plot allocations. In addition, a comprehensive road replacement strategy, guided by the results of a PCI evaluation, will improve accessibility and safety.
Lastly, an ADA accessible offi ce would be created to provide an improved and welcoming environment for community members who visit the Cemetery Sexton. The plan also incorporates columbarium niche sales in certain areas of the cemetery, generating revenue that will support the care and maintenance of these meaningful spaces. A portion of these pro- ceeds will also go towards a perpetual care fund to support the long-term upkeep of Sunset Cemetery.
Accessibility
Whether a cemetery is large or small, making it accessible to everyone is important. This is achieved by providing sidewalks and wheelchair-accessible paths throughout the property. Directional signage is also crucial in helping visitors find their way around.
Mourners often want to leave flowers (and other objects) on the columbarium wall near their family members’ plaques. To accommodate this practice, newer designs of these walls include clips that allow a single flower stem or a small posy to be inserted under each plaque. The flowers then decompose on the ground and are not a maintenance problem.
Working with unique areas requires creative thinking time that can result in innovative cemetery design solutions. Often, these are less costly than traditional approaches. The result is a cemetery that looks different from the rest, while expressing a unique place with an intriguing story. This is more attractive to the public than a cookie-cutter cemetery that is found along every highway and looks just like the ones on the other side of town.
Signage
Incorporating cemetery signs that clearly and simply direct visitors to specific locations within the cemetery is an important component of a good design. Cemetery signs should be designed to work with the overall site plan and its unique environmental characteristics.
Gravestones reflect cultural traditions and artistic styles, offering a wide variety of ways to commemorate the deceased. Modern headstones may use a variety of materials, including glass, bronze, and stainless steel, which provide a new aesthetic for cemetery landscapes. One popular design is the neo-Egyptian sphinx, with a male and female figure symbolizing faith and reason.
Cemeteries that work with unique areas can capitalize on natural features, such as a water feature, wooded hillside, or high point, to create a place that is meaningful and interesting to visit. This type of cemetery design requires careful planning, balancing efficiency with federal regulations, and considering the particular environmental characteristics of the area. It also requires creative thinking time to come up with a solution that is both functional and interesting.
Plantings
Many people memorialize their loved ones by planting flowers, bulbs and other plants at a cemetery. These plantings add to the beauty of a cemetery and demonstrate that care was taken by those who tended the grave sites. Many of these plantings may even evoke memories and emotions that the deceased person felt during his or her lifetime.
However, to manage the maintenance of these plantings and prevent erosion, a cemetery must be careful to ensure that the soil is not compacted. Compression of the soil retards vegetative growth and causes erosion by concentrating overland flow and reducing air spaces in the soil.
Therefore, to avoid a compacted soil, periodic aeration is necessary. This helps to increase the water holding capacity of the soil, which in turn promotes more healthy and vigorous vegetation. In addition, aeration helps to mitigate the impact of heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the soil and buried resources.