South Park Cemetery

Deput City Manager

Mike Mathews

Special Services Director

Jim Burress

Cemetery Superintendent

Ruben Esquivel

2021 Highlights. . .

In January

The Cemetery started the year with 46 services; setting the pace for a very busy year of burial services.

In December

By the end of the month, the Cemetery finished 2021 with 411 burial services; the highest number of burials in a calendar year.

Halfway through the year. . .

During the monsoon season, the Cemetery dealt with a substantial amount of clean up with a good start to the weed season.

Honored Two WWII Veterans

Hired New Staff

WWII Veterans

Two WWII Veterans were honored at the General Douglas McBride Veterans Cemetery. The Cemetery team was extremely honored to show last respects to these warriors.

Staff Changes & Purchases. . .

There were many staff changes throughout the year which required a lot of cross-training. One addition to the workforce was a new supervisor position. Plans were started for the new columbarium and committal shelter that will be brought before City Council in early 2022.

The cemetery received a new lowering device

New Equipment

A new backhoe was purchased for the department, arriving just in time for our needs.

The equipment was up and running quickly after the crew received training for its usage.

Maintenance & Special Projects. . .

• Dug, set up, covered, and tamped for monthly services. • Trimmed and mowed all Cemetery blocks. • Installed plaques and upright headstones in Veterans Cemetery. • Winterized Cemetery and equipment. • Serviced funeral equipment (tents, greens, and lowering devices.) • Serviced mower decks. • Sprayed for weeds. • Sprayed Pinon trees for scale. • Installed sprinklers in new blocks 70-73 • Repaired waterline in Veterans Cemetery • Finished layout of Row H in Block 1 of Veterans Cemetery • Repaired rock fence and installed new gate at West entrance • Prepared Cemetery for Memorial Day weekend • Removed all Christmas decorations • Removed large amounts of branches caused by storms; held a controlled burn of the limbs. • Raised 50 trees throughout the Cemetery • Trimmed Juniper trees along L and K Streets

Raised & Planted Over 50 Trees

Upcoming Year. . .

In 2022, there will be many new growing trees as well as replacement trees planted throughout the Cemetery.