Park Plan

Controversy

Mt. Hope

Paderwiski Dean and Associates had drawn up the plan for Calvary Cemetery, with support from the historical site board. The City Council agreed to the plan and the work had already begun. The cemetery was only in construction for 4 days when a portion of the community began to protest. They said all the tombstones should be removed because it was “spooky” and “creepy.” The process was put to a halt.

Mrs. John W. Vann had a vision. She was involved in the original architectural plan. She wanted 600 of the most important tombstones to be maintained in a concrete strip 10 feet wide and about 700 feet long down one wall of the cemetery.

Mission Hills Divided

However, the community of Mission Hills was divided. One group wanted all of the tombstones removed, and Calvary Cemetery to be converted into a park. The other group wanted all the unbroken tombstones to be totally integrated with the landscape.

Mission Hills Reunited

The community met, united and came up with a compromise. They decided to move most of the tombstones to Mt. Hope Cemetery, but still keep some that had the most historical value and were in the best condition to be clustered on the edge of the park close to Grant School.

Most of the controversy was in the design of the park, rather than in the moving of the gravestones. Most of the bodies remain buried at their original location. In the end, they decided to go with the simpler design of the park due to the fact that the “Vann Plan” was too costly and compromise was necessary. The Mission Hills residents agreed.

by Stephen, Jimmy, and Lauren