Idea To Scatter Human Ashes In Takoma Park Rejected By Council

TAKOMA PARK, MD — Knowing that Takoma Park residents often have lifelong ties to the city, a group of residents has asked City Council members to designate what they call a "scatter garden," a place where families can spread the ashes of a loved one within the community. While council members rejected the proposal Wednesday night, the backers of the idea aren't deterred.

Council members voted 4-3 against the measure but the group plans to continue its fight to bring a sanctuary for remembering to Takoma Park. The committee wants to establish a memorial garden in the city where residents can come to reflect and remember their loved ones who passed away.

Jennifer Beman White of Sherman Avenue initiated the project about a year ago after her father-in-law died. She and her committee of five neighbors recognized that many residents have a strong emotional connection and deep roots in Takoma Park, and they might want the City to be their final resting place.

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They envision a memorial garden in a Takoma Park city park with a bench and natural garden stones with plaques on them stating the names of the deceased. They also envision this as a place for people to scatter ashes if they wanted to do so.

The committee is asking the City of Takoma Park to designate an area for a memorial garden on city-owned land, as it's very expensive to buy a private plot of land. They hope the City would maintain the grounds, but nothing more then the routine maintenance City parks already receive.

They imagine the cost of memorial structures will be raised through grants, contributions and fund-raising campaigns, and the cost of the plaques will be paid by the individuals.

White said the request is a "modest proposal with little financial burden" on the city.

White stood before the City Council Wednesday night and outlined the group's ideas. She said they have three locations in mind: the Upper Portal at Piney Branch Road and Eastern Avenue, Stuart Armstrong Garden on Philadelphia and Holly and Thomas-Siegler Gardens on Tulip Avenue.

White told council members she has received nothing but positive feedback from Takoma Park residents and neighbors of the proposed parks, yet the council voted 4-3 against the idea.

"People say no and you just have to keep going," White told Patch. "It's my thing, it's my project and I'm moving forward."

Council members had several questions about the plan, including: parking issues, Takoma Park's role and responsibility in the project, how residents a mile away from the parks will reach the memorial garden and even the impact of PH levels from the ashes on city parks.

White said she doesn't imagine parking to be an issue, since about 60 people die each year in Takoma Park and not all of these people will have their ashes scattered in the city. She said scattering ashes is normally an intimate, family experience and a family can easily pile into one car and park on the street.

Mayor Kate Steward brought up the issue of elementary school science classes sometimes using the Stuart Armstrong Garden in their lessons.

"Maybe it'll be a helpful lesson for them on the cycle of life," White said.

Now, the committee is back to the drawing board after the results of Wednesday's meeting.

"It was disappointing, but it was also clear to me that there were some things we should've done," White told Patch.

White says she plans to talk to each of the council members who voted against the proposal. She mentioned that Jarrett Smith of Ward 5 brought up concerns with Ward 5 residents reaching the garden, since the three proposed parks are all about a mile away in Ward 1.

White plans to emphasize to Smith that this would be the most accessible memorial garden in Takoma Park, since there are none yet. She also said the garden will be very affordable, with residents only paying for the stone and plaque, rather than paying $1,000 to have a name engraved on a wall or brick.

"It's a benefit to everyone in Takoma Park whatever their income is," White said.

The committee envisions that people would order a plaque through the city website. White said at the meeting that they imagine people would enter either a Takoma Park address for the deceased, or the address of a Takoma Park resident who is sponsoring their inclusion to keep the garden limited to those with a strong connection to Takoma Park.

Council member Tim Male of Ward 2 said this is an issue for those who moved from Takoma Park and don't have any connections left in the city, but still want their ashes there. Male suggested the city would have a residents fee and a non-residents fee for the plaques, similar to the library card system.

At the very minimum, White said she hopes she can convince council members to simply agree not to move the garden stones if they're placed in a city-owned park.

White said many people already scatter ashes throughout Takoma Park and municipally-owned and -operated cemeteries are very common.

For more information on the committee, check out their website.

Photo: Rick Obst/Flickr