Dangerous headstones found at Park City Cemetery

Tragedy » Boy’s death at Glenwood prompted officials to put up caution tape.

By Jay Hamburger

| The Park Record

First Published Jul 16 2012 07:17 am • Last Updated Jul 17 2012 07:28 pm

Park City • The Park City Parks Department, which is responsible for maintaining the Park City Cemetery on Kearns Boulevard, recently canvassed the cemetery looking for headstones that could pose a danger to people.

The department found approximately 12 that are both tall and loosely attached, said Ken Fisher, who manages City Hall’s recreation programs and has been involved in cemetery policies and planning for years.

Caution tape was put around the headstones July 6, the day after 4-year-old Carson Dean Cheney died when a headstone in Glenwood Cemetery fell on top of him.

Fisher said the headstones surrounded by caution tape at the Park City Cemetery date to as early as the late 19th century.

He said staffers plan to craft a strategy to reduce the danger of a falling headstone. The staffers could address Mayor Dana Williams and the Park City Council in August about the topic, Fisher said.

The Glenwood Cemetery, meanwhile, remains closed as a result of the death. Bruce Erickson, the president of the Glenwood Cemetery Association, said a reopening date has not been determined.

Erickson said he plans to meet with Park City Building Department officials as early as Monday to discuss safety issues at the cemetery. He said the Building Department might ask the association to put caution tape around headstones that could pose a danger, as was done at the Park City Cemetery.

Erickson said three families with relatives buried at the Glenwood Cemetery have been refused entry since the death of the youngster. He said the cemetery will attempt to make visitation arrangements for people with relatives buried there.

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