Memorial parks offer a more positive and life-affirming approach to remembering lost loved ones than traditional cemeteries. They focus on nature, while providing a peaceful space for families and friends to come together.
While classical monuments often evoke themes of dominance and heroism, modern memorials use material contrast and negative space to invite self-contemplation. Rough stone, exposed concrete, and rusted steel carry symbolic weight, reflecting the emotional texture of history being remembered.
Natural Setting
A memorial park offers a tranquil environment for reflection and remembrance, in contrast to the typically somber atmosphere of traditional cemeteries. The serene setting can offer comfort to mourning families while also promoting healing.
Memorial parks feature trees, flowers, and other lush natural elements that create a peaceful setting for remembrance. The presence of thriving greenery can help to ease feelings of grief by reminding people of the cycle of life and renewal.
Additionally, many of these locations promote environmental sustainability and incorporate reforestation as part of their services. For instance, if you want to honor a deceased friend or family member who cared deeply for the environment, consider an interment that uses eco-friendly burial practices.
You can personalize your loved one’s urn by planting a tree in their memory, and many memorial parks provide seating areas where guests can take a moment to meditate or reflect. You can even use biodegradable materials to decorate the location of your choice, such as wooden ornaments or stones engraved with messages or quotes.
Trees
Memorial trees, also called living tributes or remembrance trees, offer a way for loved ones to return to nature gracefully, and help support reforestation efforts and environmental stewardship. They are available in a variety of settings and with countless tree species to choose from. Each offers its own unique symbolism: a maple may represent beauty, lilacs symbolize renewal, and hawthorns are sacred in Celtic and Druidic beliefs.
Located in the heart of Memorial Park, the area known as Memorial Groves will showcase a range of landscape ecologies and introduce visitors to the diverse history of Camp Logan, its impact on the city and region, and the lives of the soldiers who trained there. It will also showcase the Alliance’s expertise in regenerative landscape design and stewardship.
The project will include an interred memorial forest with a tree-spreading program that allows family members to spread their loved ones’ cremated remains under the canopy of an individual memorial tree or in a grouping of trees.
Cremation
Cremation is a choice that allows for a simpler funeral or memorial service and uses fewer of our precious land resources. It is increasingly popular, and many people prefer it to traditional burial.
The body is placed in a special furnace, known as a cremation chamber or retort, and exposed to extreme heat. The entire process takes about two to four hours and creates dry calcium phosphates, which are commonly referred to as ashes.
During the cremation process, items such as a watch and jewelry can be removed. Other personal items such as dental fillings, surgical implants (e.g., hip replacements), or metal jewelry can only be cremated if they are removed before the body is taken to the crematory.
The body is inspected after the cremation process and the metals are separated out for recycling. The ashes are then ground into a fine powder. The ashes may be kept in an urn, interred at a cemetery, or scattered in a variety of ways and locations.
End-of-Life Planning
Choosing an outdoor memorial service in a park or natural setting can help you honor your loved one’s life while embracing nature’s beauty. The tranquility of nature can ease grief, offering comfort and peace. Before planning the service, make sure to consider any potential weather conditions and have a backup location on standby.
Many families are surprised by the costs of end-of-life care and funeral arrangements. These expenses can quickly add up, leaving family members to carry the financial burden alone. Pre-planning cemetery arrangements in Sharonville, OH allows you to lock in current prices and pay over time, alleviating the financial stress for your family after death.
Memorial parks take a greener approach to burial by prioritizing sustainability and creating natural spaces. Trees planted in memory of your loved ones become living legacies that represent growth, renewal and continuity. They also mitigate climate change, absorb carbon dioxide and provide habitats for wildlife. For these reasons, memorial parks are a popular choice for those seeking to find peace and solace in nature.