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Parks staff propose Oak Grove grading to add about 7,000 burial spaces and expand trails
Summary
Natural Resources staff told the committee they intend to grade the western portion of Oak Grove Cemetery—opening roughly 7,000 burial spaces—and invest in trails, Mill Run parking, a possible prefab restroom and park amenity maintenance; staff also proposed trading old parks‑levy funds into a new parks capital fund.
Ted Miller, Natural Resources presenter, walked the Finance Committee through parks components of the proposed CIP, led by an Oak Grove Cemetery grading project and trail expansions.
"This will open up, I think approximately about 7,000 burial spaces," Miller said of grading the western area of Oak Grove Cemetery, adding the work would be staged so roads and burial areas are added as needed. Miller said the city will likely put road base in using millings to reduce costs and that the grading would extend cemetery capacity for decades.
Miller also reviewed park amenities and maintenance plans: Hidden Valley Golf Course will replace old golf carts (gas models for now), the Jack Florence pool high dive shows significant rust and is a planned replacement, and staff plan paving and drainage work at Mill Run Park along with a preliminary design for a prefab restroom. He noted a backlog of paved trail maintenance of about $500,000 and emphasized that gravel trails can be done in‑house and maintained at lower cost.
Committee members asked about connecting to regional trail networks and working with Preservation Parks for access to Camp Lazarus and the Ontangy Corridor; Miller said staff are pursuing grant opportunities and partnerships to extend trail access for residents. Staff will return with more detailed cost estimates and phasing for cemetery grading and higher‑cost park amenities.
