Saluda considers giving cemetery plots for memorial trees

Published 11:26 pm Thursday, December 24, 2015

 

By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

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The Saluda Board of Commissioners heard a request from Tree City that memorial trees be allowed in the Saluda Cemetery.

The city met Monday, Dec. 14 and heard from Nancy Leland Barnett who said Tree City found that the community is in need of a place to plant memorial trees. Residents often request that a tree be planted in memory of someone and previously trees were planted in the McCreery Park area.

Barnett said Tree City believes the cemetery would benefit from plantings as it would add beauty and a peaceful space and the left hand side of the cemetery is completely bare.

“So we think that would be the ideal place and we’d like the city to give us a certain number of plots to be designated so when someone comes we can plant a tree,” said Barnett.

She also said Tree City plans to have a design complete of the area from a landscape architect so the design won’t be random.

The city already allows people to purchase a plot in order to plant a tree if desired, but Barnett said a lot of people can’t afford that.

Don Clapp said there are currently two requests for tree planting in honor of someone.

Commissioner Carolyn Ashburn asked how many vacant plots are in the cemetery.

Ashburn also said she is in favor of it but the request is a little vague in asking the city for a dozen or so plots. She said the city needs a definite number.

Commissioners came to a consensus for staff to return to the next meeting with a plat of the property so the city can decide where trees can be located.

Barnett said the city would only be giving some plots and the donor would be paying for the tree.

City Manager Jon Cannon said he will bring a map to the next meeting to show what plots are available and which ones are committed. He said he believes most of the side in question has not been sold.