When a public tragedy, natural disaster or injustice leaves an indelible mark on society, memorials can offer healing and remembrance. Memorial parks are often characterized by landscapes with a calming atmosphere.
Trees planted in memory of loved ones serve as living legacies, symbolizing growth and continuity. The design for this memorial park includes a Coastal Prairie ecosystem and a constructed stream bed that integrates stormwater management with habitat function.
Aesthetics
As a natural alternative to traditional cemeteries, memorial parks are designed with a more natural aesthetic. With their emphasis on green spaces, they can provide a peaceful setting that offers comfort to those who visit. This tranquil environment also creates a sense of remembrance that is often absent in traditional cemeteries, which are often characterized by rows of headstones and gravestones.
The addition of trees further enhances the aesthetics of a memorial park, as they serve as living legacies that symbolize growth, renewal, and the continuity of life. The choice of a specific tree allows families to personalize their memorial even further, as they can choose the specific species of plant that is most meaningful to them.
Memorial parks are becoming increasingly popular as cremation rates continue to rise. They offer a sustainable option that helps reduce environmental impact by promoting reforestation and creating habitats for wildlife. This environmentally conscious approach to honoring a loved one is in line with current attitudes toward death and mourning.
Personalization
In contrast to traditional cemeteries with their rows of tombstones, memorial parks feature a serene setting for reflection and remembrance. These natural surroundings promote a sense of healing and life-affirmation, which is especially important for those in grief.
Moreover, visitors to memorial parks can choose specific trees or plants to honor their loved ones. From the enduring strength of white oaks to the soothing beauty of crape myrtles, there are numerous options to create a living tribute for the departed.
This personalization is not only a beautiful addition to the landscape, but also provides a unique way to commemorate your loved one. Additionally, trees planted in memory of a loved one offer a green solution to cremation, helping reduce carbon emissions and creating habitats for wildlife.
Community
Memorial parks offer a green alternative to burial and are a more sustainable choice than traditional cemeteries. With cremation rates on the rise, many people are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint even in their final moments. By planting trees, memorial parks help mitigate climate change, improve air quality and create habitats for wildlife.
Compared to the often somber atmosphere of traditional cemeteries, memorial parks offer a more positive, life-affirming environment. The thriving plant life also helps provide comfort and solace to those who are mourning.
Cupertino residents can provide feedback on three park concepts that are part of the Memorial Park Specific Plan. Each concept includes features that represent one of the park’s identity scenarios: civic event space, community gathering place and natural site and park. The information received will further guide the design of a single, preferred plan for Memorial Park. For more details on the three park concepts and how to provide feedback, click here.
Environment
The secluded and serene atmosphere of memorial parks provides a peaceful setting to reflect upon the memories of loved ones. They also offer an alternative to the somber and sterile landscape of traditional cemeteries. In addition, the natural beauty and thriving plant life of memorial parks offers comfort to mourners.
Each year, cemeteries produce a significant environmental footprint using wood for caskets, concrete for vaults and toxic embalming fluids. In contrast, memorial parks reduce the ecological impact by reforestation and planting wildlife habitats.
The Kinder land bridge and prairie at Memorial Park, in Houston, not only provide an incredible place to view native prairie plants but also sequester the most stormwater in the park and cleanse the water that flows into Buffalo Bayou. This is a great example of sustainable design at work.