West Palm Beach kicks off a crucial project designed to preserve and enhance Evergreen Cemetery, one of the city's most valuable historical sites. Tomorrow, Terracon Consultants, Inc. begins a week-long survey, part of the comprehensive Evergreen Cemetery Preservation and Enhancement Project announced by the city.
Terracon's Historic Preservation staff is tasked to properly map grave markers and to thoroughly assess their condition, an essential step towards safeguarding the cemetery's integrity, according to a statement from the City of West Palm Beach. The Terracon team, easily identifiable in high-visibility, branded vests, will be available for visitor inquiries while conducting the survey from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
The project not only aims to meticulously document the site's rich history but also to better tend to the needs of this sacred space. Evergreen Cemetery, established in 1913 and a resting place for African American and Afro-Caribbean community leaders, has been beleaguered by time, weather, and neglect. Working to reverse this, the city's initiative aims to protect and honor the memory of those interred within its grounds.
Thanks to the City Commission's approval, the Preservation and Enhancement Project will run into 2026 and includes a multifaceted approach. This entails engaging with the local community, as well as assessing and documenting roughly 1,600 gravesites to create a comprehensive geodatabase. The city has brought together a team of experts, from planners to preservationists, to ensure that the cemetery's narrative not only survives but is also shared with future generations. The importance of this undertaking is underscored by its funding—a substantial $137,709 from the City's general fund.
