Northampton — The Park Street and West Farms Cemetery Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday to discuss the draft plan to preserve and enhance both historic cemeteries.
The meeting will take place starting at 7 p.m. at the Florence Civic Center on 90 Park St. It will be addressed by Martha Lyon, of Martha Lyon Landscape Architecture LLC. Lyon helped create the draft plan. The meeting is open to the public, and public input is being sought at it.
The Park Street Cemetery was created in 1825, while the West Farms Cemetery was established in 1788. Although both cemeteries have been maintained by the city, the draft plan notes that “both cemetery landscapes appear worn.” A lack of signage to convey the historical significance of the landscape is also noted.
The Park Street Cemetery has conductors of and passengers on the Underground Railroad buried there.
Some of the recommendations for both cemeteries include the replacement of their fences, the conservation of gravestones, and the introduction of informational signage.