That brings us to the issue of ” Why?” we limit certain types of adornments and accompaniments such as monuments, shrubs, vegetation, etc. Those limits are summarized herein as contained in the full Rules and Regulations, so we won’ t repeat them here. Instead, we share three broad based rationales in the belief that you will agree, it is in your interest and in the interest of all Interment Right Owners to have limits and policies and it is also in everyone’s interest that Woodland enforce them.

First and foremost is the issue of safety. Worker safety; Owner safety; Visitor Safety; and Neighbor Safety. Woodland prohibits such items as candles, ceramic or plaster or plastic angels or statues, decorative or even memorial rocks or signs, fences, shepherd’s hooks, hanging baskets, flags, stuffed animals etc. because they pose a real danger to everyone. Mowers turn items into missiles that can hurt and maim a passerby, other mourners, people driving by on the road and workers maintaining the grounds. A mower recently threw part of a statue nearly 50 yards to break a window in our employee kitchen. These items pose a constant and significant hazard and while they might be judged attractive, or symbolic or meaningful to some, they are a danger to all.

After safety as a reason for limitations, we would list maintenance considerations as a justification for certain prohibitions. Metal fences or worse yet, brick borders for graves pose significant maintenance challenges as well as safety concerns. Signs, flags, statues, etc. all cause significant increases in worker time to stop a mower and move and remove, or to trim around. Upright monuments can’t be permitted in certain areas because of maintenance, mowing and trimming efficiencies as well as the design and beautification issues discussed below. The less money we must spend on inconvenient and ill-designed and poorly enforced maintenance issues, the more money we can spend on beautification, restoration and planting.

That brings us to the next issue; beauty, appearance, ambiance, serenity, nature, the environment, green space, quiet contemplation, and visual pleasantness. We believe this is the essence of our cemetery and the reason many come here. We believe that garish plastic flowers and signs and faded flags and scarecrows and stuffed animals and warped and faded pictures and broken angels and Easter eggs are an affront to the senses of loving and caring and mourning survivors as they seek serenity and contemplation and prayer in the park. In fact, they tell us this when they are offended by the debris many people litter the grounds with under the guise of memorialization. Instead, we regulate the types and locations of certain monuments and shrubs and trees, and encourage the planting of natural, real flowers that blend with nature instead of becoming plastic and faded. We do plot and section design and landscape art in an effort to preserve and enhance the beauty that is Woodland. And we believe that the vast majority of our owners agree with this philosophy and want Rules and Regulations and want them enforced.

And so, for the sake of safety, for the sake of conservation of resources and for the sake of sensual serenity and beauty, we ask that you comply fully with these policies. Please help provide a debris free natural environment that is soothing to the senses and warming to the heart. Thank you.