Woodward Hill Master Planning and Site Design
Woodward Hill Cemetery was founded in 1852. From its beginning, the cemetery was designed with a dual purpose: veneration of the dead but also park-like open space for respite and peaceful recreation. Woodward Hill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
In order to continue serving its purpose and the community, a master plan was needed. Goals of the plan included:
- Developing a Cremains Garden
- Enhancing and preserving the property as a pleasant and restful urban open space
- Increasing the illumination within the cemetery and surrounding streets to enhance security and safety of the area and to deter vandalism
- Developing readily identifiable and attractive points of ingress and egress along with decorative walls and fencing to control points of access
- Improving vehicular and pedestrian pathways to ease movement though the property
- Providing additional plantings and improved turf quality to re-establish the cemetery as one of the most beautiful green spaces in the city
- Enhancing the quality of life across the neighborhood
With the completion of the master plan, we continued to work to design the Memorial Garden and Columbarium for this historic cemetery along with design work needed to provide additional burial options to meet current demand. The new design provides multiple options for cremains burial for approximately 3,000 within 1/2 acre. In addition, recent construction has restored the cemetery to its former place as a welcoming neighborhood asset.
The project has been recognized by Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County with their Philanthropy Award and the Lancaster County Planning Commission with their Envision Lancaster County Large Project/Built/Sustainable Growth Certificate of Merit.
