October 10 Meeting Notes

 

Basic Facts of Ownership were noted as follows:

·          The cemetery plots are owned and managed by the Sons of Union Veterans.

·          The cemetery is inside the park.

·          As a practical matter, the park and cemetery are maintained together by the Parks Department and FGAR.

·          The Park area around the cemetery is owned and managed by the Parks Dept.

·          The “Lincoln” logs were installed in the early 1970’s to discourage dirt bikes, etc.

·          Lots of descendents of the buried live in the region.

·          Parks Dept. lawn mowers were not designed for cemeteries and they chip the headstones.

·          558 people are buried in the cemetery.  There are approximately 500 headstones in the cemetery.

The following public comments were noted concerning issues and opportunities:

·          Many visitors arrive from the northwest corner.

·          The park is (used as) a dog run.

·          The park should become unified with the inner cemetery with better neighborhood feel for peaceful, tranquil enjoyment.

·          The park is used by young children on the east and west sides.

·          Informal, multiple uses are good.

·          Area between the hedges is pleasant as it is.

·          Area inside the hedges is a “dead” area.

·          Seasonality and different uses (stages of the day) and user groups are great.

·          Trees to remove and add are critical (to the desirable park atmosphere)

·          No need to add a lot of different trees.

·          Add plants to attract birds, such as Butterfly Bush.

·          Park should not be too gentrified or manicured – let it be more wild if anything (this mentioned twice.)

·          Entry  “Island” could have more plant diversity.

·          Flow between inner and outer part of park is good.

·          Flower beds instead of hedge desirable.

·          Taller plants (like a hedge) would be good.

·          Inner Park is too hedge-intensive.

·          Need to maintain hedges annually.

·          Low hedges good.

·          Soldier statues standing guard in the 4 corners (of the cemetery).

·          Park benches could be stone seats such as pillar basalt.

·          Add bronze civil war cannons.

·          History and signage important.

·          Night uses – there are good ones and bad ones.

·          Statues, etc. (if added) could be vandalized.

·          Need better maintenance.

·          Consult with Historic Seattle.

·          Cemetery center is good as a center for the park but should be more permeable.
 

Relationships Between Park, Cemetery and Neighbors

 
 

Karen Kiest and Brooks Kolb Address Group
 

Want to Contribute But Missed the Meeting? Email us at: info@fgar.org
 

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