Glendale Cemetery in Washington is undergoing a major landscaping makeover but needs residents to help bring it to fruition.
The Washington City Council has approved a tree planting plan for the cemetery, located at the end of Market Street, which calls for all future planting of trees and shrubs there to be performed exclusively by the city.
City administrator Bob Morris said the plan was put into place after a dispute with a resident more than a year ago.
“The person took it upon themselves to plant small tree seedlings in the cemetery on a voluntary basis,” he said. “Obviously, there were a number of other residents who had family grave sites there who were pretty upset.
“Everything we’re doing now evolved from that disagreement.”
Morris said the city consulted Glen Herold, an arborist and professor at Illinois Central College, to help the city come up with a plan to spruce up the cemetery.
“He visited the cemetery and drew up a list of all the landscaping he thought would be appropriate there, along with a map of where to put it,” Morris said. “He looked at the existing trees, shrubs and plants and told us how to help them mature and recommended new trees to plant.”
Herold’s list of suitable trees for Glendale Cemetery includes more than 50 different species for the different areas of the cemetery grounds. Morris said the idea was to provide a sizeable list so that Glendale will ultimately benefit from a wide array of species which provide not only beauty and botanical interest, but also promote the strength of diversity.
Morris said the city will strictly adhere to Herold’s vision for the new look of the cemetery.
“We will consult with him each year to help us figure out what needs to go where,” Morris said.
Morris added there has also been discussion about starting a small nursery within the cemetery.
Morris said the city will attempt to budget funds for cemetery planting purposes each year, but is also accepting donations from the public.
“If someone wants to donate money, it goes exclusively toward the landscaping and for future plantings,” he said. “The money does not mean they can decide where the plantings go, because the city will stick to Mr. Herold’s plan.”
Morris said if the public wants to donate to the Glendale Cemetery tree project, the city accepts cash, or residents can write a check out to the city of Washington. He said to be sure to indicate the money is for the planting program.
Washington, Ill. —
