RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING OAK HILL, MAPLE GROVE and MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERIES Lawrence, Kansas MONUMENTS AND GRAVE MARKERS
1. All mausoleums, monuments, headstones, benches, or other permanent memorials above ground must be constructed of first quality granite from recognized monumental quarries (no marble, limestone, crystalline, concrete, etc), or United States Bureau of Standards quality bronze.
2. Persons engaged in erecting monuments or other structures are prohibited from attaching ropes to trees and shrubbery and from scattering their material on adjoining lots or leaving the same on the ground longer than is absolutely necessary.
3. All headstones in Section 14A, 16, 22 and the Veteran's Plot at Oak Hill Cemetery and all of Memorial Park Cemetery must be set at ground level. No benches are allowed in those areas also. All other sections in Oak Hill may have above-ground memorials.
4. The City of Lawrence shall have the right to reset any or all bevel or ground level monuments that are deemed detrimental to the appearance of the grounds, or which shall prevent proper care of the lot.
5. Any or all monuments or memorials placed on a lot with an existing aboveground monument must be placed at ground level. Any bench bearing a name will be considered as a monument or memorial.
6. All temporary markers that are provided by the funeral homes at the time of interment will be placed flat on the grave and shall be removed after one year by cemetery staff.
7. All spaces in Oak Hill are 5 ft. wide, a width on a marker will not be greater that 48”. Double markers will be no greater than 80” for two spaces. In Memorial Park spaces are 40” wide. A marker will not be greater than 28”. Double marker for two graves shall not be greater than 60”. Infant markers in all cemeteries are not to be larger than 20 x 20 inches.
8. No bevel markers allowed. All markers must be flush with the grass level or on a 6 inch thick granite base.
9. All slabs or collars for government markers, benches, bronze markers, etc. must be made of granite. No concrete is allowed.
10. All inverted vases must be in a grave marker. No vases are allowed to be placed separately.
11. We allow two memorials per grave space. Unless specified it can consist of an above ground monument and a flat marker that is to be placed in the middle of the grave and is to be flush with the turf. All memorials in Memorial Park Cemetery must be flat and flush with the turf.
12. All granite memorials and bases for bronze memorials in Memorial Park Cemetery must be a minimum of 4” thick and a maximum of 6” thick.
13. All photos of persons, or things, must be an integral part of bronze and granite markers. Such photos attached separately to the markers, or covered with glass or metal will not be allowed.
F. FOUNDATIONS
l. All monuments and engraved stones must be placed upon foundations built of solid masonry or concrete, with a depth no less than 12 inches, and a dimension to be the same as the marker. All foundations must be wet set.
2. Foundation resets may be built by the employees of the cemeteries under the direction of the Cemetery Supervisor, and at the expense of the lot owner or monument company. Private companies will build all foundations adhering to the following regulations:
a. Public liability insurance in the amount of $500,000.00 naming the City of Lawrence as an insured will be provided by the installer.
b. Evidence of adequate worker's compensation insurance will be provided by the installer.
c. Cemetery personnel will schedule upon reasonable notice, all installations with consideration for burial services, personnel, weather conditions, etc.
d. A 24 hour notice will be phoned in to cemetery office by installer for foundations. Flags will be placed out for up to 5 days.
e. The installer will be responsible for clean-up and removal of excavated dirt to the satisfaction of cemetery personnel. Prior approval must be approved for delivery vehicles to drive into sections.
f. A final foundation inspection will be provided by cemetery personnel before placement of any monument.
g. A bond will be required to insure compliance with these regulations and to correct any installer mistakes at the installer's expense.
h. Headstones and monuments are to be set by the monument company selling the stones.
i. Seller must provide adequate map for monument location to installer. No markers, or monuments to be left at maintenance shop or along road. All foundation work (including installation) will be done the same day the monument is delivered.
G. VETERAN'S PLOT
Oak Hill
Individuals choosing to be buried in the veteran section of Oak Hill Cemetery must provide proof of an honorable discharge from the military. Families of veterans may not be buried here. The grave space in the Veteran's Plot is free, but families must pay for grave opening and closing, foundation work and setting of government-issued gray granite grass markers.
Memorial Park
Individuals choosing to be buried in Park A section must provide proof of an honorable discharge from the military. Grave spaces in Park A are free for Veterans. Family members may be buried with them for a regular grave fee. Families must pay for grave space, opening and closing, foundation work and setting of government-issued gray granite grass markers. No Shepard hooks, statuary or any other hanging decorations are allowed in the Veterans Plot.
H. NATURAL BURIAL PLOT (section 15 C)
In September of 2008, the Lawrence City Commission approved to open the 1st Natural Burial Cemetery in the state of Kansas. It is located on the north side of Oak Hill Cemetery. This will be an all natural area. The area will be mowed each December to keep unwanted underbrush.
1. Bodies must be interred in at least a minimum of a cardboard carrier. Top of carrier may be left off with the immediate families’ approval. Wood carriers may be used but they must be made of natural, biodegradable materials (such as cardboard, hardwood) No particle board made with adhesive will be accepted. A biodegradable 1” x 12” x 6’ flat board will be provided by the City to place under the carrier. Metal, concrete, plastic, other synthetic materials may not be used for interment. Incidental metals are allowed as needed. Cremains may be interred directly.
2. Deceased bodies that are embalmed or otherwise chemically preserved may not be interred in this area.
3. Concrete or steel vaults will not be permitted
4. No cut, machined, or polished markers or monuments of any kind are permitted. You may have engraved natural, flat rocks, or boulders.
5. Native plants, flowers, grasses and Redbud, Service Berry trees are the only decorations/plantings permitted. No artificial flowers, wreaths, tree chimes and/or any other decorations will be allowed.
6. No Shepard hooks, or ceramic, glass and/or other type of figurine will be permitted.
7. Graves may take several years to settle back to the original ground level. Parks and Recreation staff will adjust the ground around uneven graves periodically throughout the year.