Following a lengthy review by the community and key city boards and commissions, the Historic Cemeteries Master Plan was approved by the Austin City Council September 17, 2015. Links to the final plan are provided below.
Background
In the summer of 2013, the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) engaged the community in the development of a Scope of Work for the Cemetery Vision Plan. In September 2013, PARD issued a Request for Proposals for a Cemetery Vision Plan, including a comprehensive tree survey, for all five City of Austin cemeteries. On February 27, 2014, the Austin City Council authorized the award, negotiation, and execution of a contract with AmaTerra Environmental, Inc. to provide cemetery consulting services. In the spring of 2014, PARD began the Cemetery Vision Plan process to develop a master plan for Austin's five municipal cemeteries.
The City of Austin manages five municipal cemeteries:
Cemetery Name | Location | Date Established |
Oakwood Cemetery | 1601 Navasota Street | 1839 |
Oakwood Cemetery Annex | 1600 Comal Drive | 1914 |
Evergreen Cemetery | 3310 East 12th Street | 1928 |
Austin Memorial Park | 2800 Hancock Drive | 1927 |
Plummers Cemetery | 1204 Springdale Road | c.1898 |
Project Description
This was the first master planning effort for the City’s five historic municipal cemeteries, which include Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, Evergreen Cemetery, Oakwood Cemetery, Oakwood Cemetery Annex, and Plummers Cemetery. The Parks & Recreation Department (PARD) greatly appreciates the time and effort of our community members, volunteer board and commission appointees and elected officials that helped PARD deliver a high-quality and consensus-based plan to the Austin City Council.
Awards
2017 Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award for Austin’s Historic Cemeteries Master Plan
2016 Preservation Texas Honor Award
2016 Preservation Austin Merit Award
2016 Project Plan Award from Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association
Publications
"Designing for the Dead: The Perfect City Cemetery," Next City, March 6, 2015
"Graveyard Shift," Landscape Architecture Magazine, Sept., 2015
Final Plan
Select the following links to view the final Historic Cemeteries Vision Plan:
- Full Cemeteries Vision Plan (PDF)
- Chapter 1-2: Intro & Context (PDF)
- Chapter 3: General Management Guidelines (PDF)
- Chapter 4: Oakwood Cemetery (PDF)
- Chapter 5: Oakwood Cemetery Annex (PDF)
- Chapter 6: Plummers Cemetery (PDF)
- Chapter 7: Evergreen Cemetery (PDF)
- Chapter 8: Austin Memorial Park Cemetery (PDF)
- Chapter 9-15: Policy & Funding (PDF)
Individual Site Plans
- Oakwood Cemetery Site Plan (PDF)
- Oakwood Cemetery Annex Site Plan (PDF)
- Plummers Cemetery Site Plan (PDF)
- Evergreen Cemetery Site Plan (PDF)
- Austin Memorial Park Cemetery Site Plan (PDF)
Appendices
- Appendix TOC (PDF)
- A-Plant Guide (PDF)
- B-Laws (PDF)
- C-Grave Markers (PDF)
- D-Geospatial Analysis (PDF)
- E-Tree Survey (PDF)
- F-2013 Project Scoping (PDF)
- G-Mtg #1--Apr. 30, 2014 (PDF)
- H-Mtg #2, June 26, 2014 (PDF)
- I-Mtg #3, Aug. 23, 2014 (PDF)
- J-Mtg #4, Nov. 3, 2014 (PDF)
- K-Mtg #5, Jan. 24, 2015 (PDF)
- L-Project Website (PDF)
- M-Project Newsletters (PDF)
- N-City Email Updates (PDF)
- O-Stakeholder Interviews (PDF)
- P-SpeakUp! Austin (PDF)
- Q-Addendum (PDF)
- R-Public Comments (PDF)
- S-Board, Commission & City Council Actions (PDF)
Community Engagement
PARD and the consultant team held five public meetings in 2014-2015 and employed a variety of engagement tools to garner input from the community. In addition to public meetings, engagement tools included stakeholder interviews, monthly newsletters placed in libraries & recreation centers, cemetery signage, media advisories, announcements on social meetings and direct emails to community members.
Board, Commission & City Council Process
Link to actions taken to date by boards and commissions.
Board, Commission or Council Body | Time & Date | Location | Website | Action |
---|---|---|---|---|
Urban Forestry Board
|
5:30 pm, Apr. 15 |
Northwest Rec. Center |
Briefing provided; action deferred to May 20 | |
Historic Landmark Commission |
7:00 pm, Apr. 27 |
City Council Chambers, City Hall |
Briefing provided; action deferred to May 18 | |
Land, Facilities & Program Committee of PARB |
6:00 pm, May 11 |
PARD Annex |
Recommended the plan to the PARB | |
Preservation Plan Committee of the Historic Landmark Commission | 5:00 pm, May 12 | Room 525, One Texas Center | Link | No quorum; staff to make recommendation |
Historic Landmark Commission (Briefing made Apr. 27; Action deferred to May 18) |
7:00 pm, May 18 | Room 325, One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd. | Link |
Recommended plan to City Council; Select this link to view additional recommendations |
Urban Forestry Board
|
5:30 pm, May 20 |
Northwest Rec. Center, 2913 Northland Dr. |
Link | Recommended plan to City Council; Select this link to view additional recommendations |
Parks & Recreation Board |
6:00 pm, May 26 |
Boards & Commissions Rm, City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St. |
Recommended plan to City Council | |
Environmental Board | 6:00 pm, June 17 | City Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St. | Link |
Recommended plan to City Council; Select this link to view additional recommendations |
Planning Commission |
6:00 pm, Jun. 23 |
City Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 W. 2nd. St. |
Recommended plan to City Council; Select this link to view additional recommendations | |
Open Space, Environment & Sustainability Committee of Austin City Council |
2:00 pm, June 24 |
Boards & Commissions Rm, City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St. |
Recommended plan to City Council | |
Austin City Council |
Sept. 17, 2015 |
City Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 W. 2nd. St. |
Link | Approved |
Contact
For questions about the Historic Cemeteries Master Plan, contact Kim McKnight, Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department, by email or by phone at (512) 974-9478.
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