Cemetery expansion project moves forward

A project that has been discussed for at least the last two or three years, the expansion of Holyoke Cemetery, is gaining ground on its way to completion.

Mayor Orville Tonsing, who is also president of the cemetery board, said that the decision to expand came down to the need for more space.

Approximately four acres to the north of the cemetery are slated for expansion. This is land that’s already owned by the city, and a new sprinkler system has been installed in the area.

City Superintendent Mark Brown said work on the project started about a year ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic really slowed its progress. He said the project is moving along at a better pace now. The next step is to mark spaces with stakes, which is scheduled for Monday-Tuesday, July 26-27. This will help them decide where the perimeter road will be, and building that road will come next in the process.

Brown said grass seed will be ordered soon, and the seeding of the area itself is scheduled to happen in the spring.