Parks & Recreation

Cemetery Decorum & Maintenance Guidelines

Based on the dramatic growth of our community in recent years, along with the increased level of responsibility and expanded services offered, it has become necessary for Washington City Parks & Recreation to address and update cemetery decorum and maintenance guidelines. Specific areas of concern include decorum, cleanliness, and landscape maintenance.

Approved Decorum:

Cemetery grounds are sacredly devoted to the internment and repose of the dead. Strict observance of decorum due such a place shall be required of all persons. Based on concerns such as aesthetics, maintenance, and safety, the following items of decorum are strictly prohibited:

•Glass containers (vases, jars, bottles, etc.)

•Paper products (cards, letters, etc.)

•Food and/or beverages

•Solar lights

•Items of monetary value

All approved decorum should be placed on the headstone or in a prescribed receptacle within the concrete foundation of the headstone. Items should not be placed on or in the grass surrounding the headstone, thus allowing staff to trim and edge without incident or movement of items. To avoid the cemetery from becoming cluttered by dead or faded floral arrangements, they may be removed within five days after placement. Of course, human judgment will be used in each instance.

Scheduled Clean Up Dates:

In an effort to maintain the sacred and peaceful nature of our cemetery, as well as a clean and orderly appearance, it has become necessary to schedule quarterly clean up dates throughout the year.  These dates have been carefully considered to ensure the least disruption to families as they visit, but also maximize the window of opportunity for families to decorate headstones within the established guidelines.  The following dates are established for the purpose of annual cemetery clean up:

•Second week of January

•Fourth week of April

•Fourth week of June

•First week of October

We appreciate your support and understanding of these guidelines.

–Parks & Recreation

WashingtonCity.org/cemetery