2019-099 Oakwood Cemetery AvailablityDate: May 10, 2019 Report No. 2019-099
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: Oakwood Cemetery Burial Plot Availability BACKGROUND: Oakwood Cemetery is one of two City-owned cemeteries managed and maintained by the Parks
and Recreation Department and is located at the intersection of East Prairie Street and South
Bradshaw Street. The cemetery was designated a Texas Historical Commission Subject Marker
in 1982 and a Historic Texas Cemetery Marker in 2000. Pioneer settler Hiram Cisco donated the
land for the City-owned community burial ground and named City Cemetery soon after Denton
became the county seat in 1857. It was officially renamed Oakwood Cemetery in 1931.
DISCUSSION:
The cemetery has many unmarked graves, and most of the historical records and documents were
destroyed in the 1875 courthouse fire, therefore making it difficult to identify unmarked graves
and vacant plots. In 2016, the Parks and Recreation Department obtained a quote for $50,000 to
conduct a Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey assessment to identify exact grave locations
within the entire cemetery.
The cemetery is made up of 10 Blocks and has
over 4,829 burial sites with an estimated six
vacant plots that remain.
With the cemetery close to reaching maximum
capacity, the purpose of the survey is to help
identify vacancies for potential new burial
plots.
So far in 2019, a total of 24 people have been
buried at Oakwood Cemetery, eight within the
last two weeks, therefore heightening the need
to survey the cemetery.
Date: May 10, 2019 Report No. 2019-099
CONCLUSION:
Due to the high cost of the survey, the staff is currently pursuing additional quotes to survey
one block at a time, beginning with Block 4. It’s an older section in the northwest corner of
the cemetery with the highest potential of unidentified vacant plots.
Once the few remaining open lots are utilized, plot purchases will shift to the I.O.O.F. Cemetery
where 503 plots have been identified as vacant. All pre-owned burial plots at Oakwood
Cemetery will continue to be honored. Once quotes are obtained for the GPR, staff will work
with the selected contractor begin the assessment.
Next fiscal year, staff plans to submit a funding request for GPR, inventory, and mapping of the
entire property to assist future burials and to improve historical recordkeeping.
STAFF CONTACT:
Gary Packan, CPRP Director, Parks and Recreation (940) 349-7460
Gary.Packan@cityofdenton.com