Cemeteries have both problems and opportunities which have not been considered by land use planners. These problems include the consumption of land that might have a better use, the concealing of below-grade resources, pollution, vandalism and others. The opportunities are that cemeteries have multiple land use potential.A survey of cemeteries in Delaware County, Indiana, brings clearness to policies for American planners. Some of that clearness is that the older abandoned cemeteries have potential for recreation, for open space preservation and for historic preservation. The modern cemeteries which are still receiving burials are living symbols of how society is currently dealing with death. These must be left primarily for this purpose. The future holds the best opportunities. The question for the future is not: "Where shall we put the next cemetery?" But, more clearly, there are two questions--each of which has a separate set of answers. One is: "How do we dispose of the body?" The other is: "How can we improve the memorialization of our loved ones while still respecting the land?" / Department of Urban Planning

Current land use practices in cemetery developments, both abroad and i n the United States, often conflict with the efficient use of land resources. This extended study deals with the changes that need to be made concerning the existing problems, to prevent future problems, and, at the same time, prepare communities for the changes involved in the evolution toward more liberal views regarding cemetery development. Cemetery development is defined to be the changes that have occurred in cemeteries throughout history and the sociocultural factors that have influenced land use. / Department of Landscape Architecture

American cemeteries have evolved from unsophisticated and crowded burial grounds to curvilinear and elegantly designed rural cemeteries to the functional business of the memorial park. Regardless of the type, all cemeteries are constantly changing due to their natural features and because of the deterioration of stone after prolonged exposure to the elements. Then add neglect or vandalism into the mix and cemeteries appear to be particularly doomed.This creative project examines the cemeteries in Delaware County, Indiana. Working from "Cemeteries in Delaware County, Indiana" by Rosaella Cartwright and Elizabeth Modlin, an inventory was completed for the sixty located cemeteries. The ten that were not inventoried were outside the scope of the project, could not be located, or inaccessible. The landscape features, markers, funerary art motifs, and preservation efforts were recorded and the data was then analyzed. Issues and challenges facing the cemeteries were investigated, including how to go about properly documenting a cemetery and general information on cleaning and repairing markers. Finally preservation guidelines and recommendations were proposed for the cemeteries in Delaware County. / Department of Architecture