WEST PALM BEACH — A candidate for mayor in the March election went to Woodlawn Cemetery on May 22 to call on city officials not to allow yoga classes, string-quartet concerts and similar events at the century-old site after it is renovated.
A nonprofit has pitched a plan to restore the cemetery, where many of the city’s original settlers are buried. One idea is to include a central plaza with tall disc-like trellises where groups could host small gatherings.
The idea received a cold reception from families whose loved ones are buried at Woodlawn, along South Dixie Highway near the city’s downtown, and the nonprofit has said it will “take a step back” from that part of the plan.
The city, however, hasn’t come out and said it would ban these activities on the 17-acre property, and County Commissioner Gregg Weiss said it was time for that to happen.
The city should work with work with the families whose loved ones are buried at Woodlawn, said Weiss, one of three announced candidates for the city’s top spot in the March election. He said opening up the cemetery for events would disrespect its sacredness.
“As we are moving into Memorial Day weekend and celebrating those that have sacrificed their lives on Monday,” Weiss said. “There is a number of people that are buried in this cemetery, and they deserve a place to rest in peace.”
“It’s time to bury this idea right now,” said Weiss, one of three announced candidates in the race. Also vying to succeed Keith James as mayor are Christina Lambert, a former city commissioner, and Aaron Moreno, a construction superintendent making his first run for office.
Nonprofit says focus for Woodlawn Cemetery is shade, roads, footpaths, not events
The nonprofit Friends of Woodlawn, backed by donors with ties to the Norton Museum of Art, had filed plans with the city to renovate the cemetery, where some of the city’s oldest settlers are buried.
The plans included adding new entrances, dozens of shade trees and benches as well as the central plaza, the part of the renovations that has drawn the most opposition.
A Friends of Woodlawn representative said the group doesn’t plan to hold events at the cemetery and will focus the project on rehabilitating roads and footpaths, landscaping and the installation of the trellis-inspired structure.
“The Friends of Woodlawn is continuing to gather community feedback on the proposed trellis-inspired structure, which would complement the 200+ trees proposed, provide additional shade, and cultivate a space for contemplation in the cemetery,” the nonprofit said in a prepared statement.
“However, this proposed structure was never designed as a “central plaza event space”—and there are no plans for events at Woodlawn.”
Some city residents, however, were not convinced, and one joined Weiss at his news conference.
Allyson Timms’ father, Reid Moore Jr. was the city’s mayor in the late 1960s. She said Woodlawn Cemetery is still active, with people still being buried there every year, and that it would be inappropriate to have an events where families go to pay respects to their loved ones.
Timms said the city, not an outside nonprofit, should invest in beautifying the property.
“The sanctity and sacredness of this place is being violated by people that don’t have anyone buried there and just look at it like green space that we can make a use of,” Timms said at Weiss’ news conference. “If we build it, they will come.”
Weiss faults West Palm for not being clear with Woodlawn families
Weiss said Friends at Woodlawn had been working with the city on the proposal for over a year, and that during that time, none of the families with loved ones buried in the cemetery had been contacted regarding the renovations. The outcome has left the families shocked, he said.
“But with some of the crazy backdoor deals that have gone on in the city, we have to say, “Yeah, it really is a possibility that something like this might happen,’ ” said Weiss, who served on the city planning board before his election to the county commission.
Weiss said West Palm Beach leaders are considering plans to bring events to the cemetery while the city is already dealing with growing traffic, aging sewer pipes and sidewalks that are “sagging.”
“The city’s priorities are wrong,” Weiss said, adding: “People want to beautify the cemetery. Everybody wants that, but we need to do it in a way that is right.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Weiss wants West Palm to ban events at renovated Woodlawn Cemetery
Reporting by Valentina Palm, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
