Operations for a memorial park in Red Deer have changed hands, from a private funeral home to the County – and it’s left some wondering what will happen to tributes for their loved ones.
Late last year oversight of the park – located near Gasoline Alley – was handed to Red Deer County after Parkland Funeral Home decided not to renew the lease.
“The current state of the park is that actually, not a lot is actually going to change,” Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood said.
The park, with trees planted in memory of loved ones who had passed away, will remain – but statues, benches, memorabilia placed there need to be removed. Officials said the items needed to be taken down so crews can maintain the lawn.
For those with memorials in the park, the news is upsetting.
“Now we have to take it down? What are we going to do with it?” Michelle Skilnick, who has a tree in the park in memory of a loved one, said. “It’s heartbreaking to have a loss, now we have to go through this.”
Families received news of the changes in a letter sent out at the end of October, 2015 – and that personal items would have to be removed by April 15, 2016.
Mayor Wood said the new rules are similar to what other cemeteries have in place.
“What we’re asking is that the original rules, you know, to try not to have things placed there is very similar to what most cemeteries have,” Wood said.
Now, officials said they want to find common ground.
“We really feel, we are kind a caught in the middle of this, and we really want to make sure in fact that we transition through this,” Wood said.
The County is encouraging residents to reach out with feedback by contacting County Assistant Agricultural Services Manager Cody McIntosh at 403-350-2165.
With files from Frazer Snowdon
