Cemeteries, especially historic ones, offer a lot of value as placemaking opportunities. In fact, many were historically used as public parks.
Earle Draper was one of 3 planners for the Laurelwood Cemetery. His plan of 1918 confirms his intent for the the cemetery to be used as a public space. His plan indicates pathways that lead to nodes; most having a tree with benches. However, this portion of his plan was never implemented. The areas where the pathways were to be located still exist today as linear grass openings that are unrecognizable as being part of a plan.
Laurelwood is a gem that is located in the middle of Knowledge Park. We have an opportunity to implement Earle Draper's plan, and take it to the next level with appropriately designed amenities and programming. The plan below shows Earle Draper's 1918 layout. The dark circles indicate nodes with benches accompanied by a radial system of pathways.
The plan below shows Laurelwood today with the Earle Draper plan graphically highlighted. Proposed gathering spaces along with existing and proposed entrances are also depicted.
