Active Preservation Initiatives

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Purpose:  To identify unmarked graves and establish a comprehensive, historically accurate burial map of the cemetery.

Why It Matters:   Many individuals rest here without visible markers. This work ensures every life is acknowledged, documented, and preserved within the historical record.  

Scope of Work: 

•  Full-site subsurface scanning
• Archaeological oversight and documentation
• Digital mapping and historical records integration

Impact:  Establishes a permanent historical record while protecting burial sites from future disturbance.  

Cost: $30,000 

(Services Values at $85,000)

Status:  Work In Progress

Field Study Phase I:  May 15–17, 2026

Field Study Phase II - Phase IV: To Be Scheduled

Data Analysis & Reporting: To Be Scheduled

Purpose:  To repair, clean, and stabilize headstones and burial markers. 

 Why It Matters:  These monuments represent identity, history, and remembrance. 

Scope of Work:

• Professional repair using approved preservation methods 
• Structural stabilization 
• Marker resetting

Status:  

• Initial Assessment Completed (May 19, 2026) with American Grave Groomers
• Second Assessment Completed 

(June 18, 2026) with Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN).

Funding Needs:  

None at this time. Through a valued partnership with the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), headstone repair and restoration efforts will continue as an ongoing project. FPAN has generously agreed to provide restoration services and training support, allowing this important preservation work to move forward without additional funding requirements. 

Purpose:   To safely manage trees while protecting graves and underground structures. 

 Why It Matters:
Root systems and falling limbs pose risks to burial sites 

Scope of Work:

• Tree assessment and removal where necessary 
• Root-sensitive excavation protocols 
• Archaeological oversight

Impact:
Balanced environmental care + site protection

Cost: $10,000 

Status: Scheduled

Purpose:  Install manual water pump head on existing well.

Why It Matters:   The installation of a well head addresses a foundational infrastructure gap, enabling proper stewardship of the grounds by providing a source of water.  

Scope of Work: 

• Install piping a pump head
• Install concrete foundation 
• Install well head cover for protection 

Budget: $4,000

Status:  Planned

Purpose:   To address drainage issues and prevent further land and grave degradation. 

 Why It Matters:  Flooding threatens both structural integrity and long-term preservation of graves. 

Scope of Work:

• Engineering analysis 
• Drainage system design 
• Site grading and water management planning

Impact:
Long-term protection of cemetery grounds

Cost: $12,000

Status: Postponed

Due to significant discoveries made during the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey at the Historic Crystal Memorial Gardens Cemetery, FCMGC temporarily postponed the Flood Mitigation Study in order to prioritize the documentation and preservation of newly identified burial areas throughout the historic grounds. 

The Gravesite Mapping & Directory Initiative is a comprehensive preservation and documentation project designed to create an accurate visual record of all marked and unmarked burial sites within Historic Crystal Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Using historical research, field verification,  Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data, and cemetery surveys, this initiative will develop a detailed cemetery map identifying the locations of graves, monuments, memorial markers, family plots, pathways, and significant historic features throughout the cemetery.

The project will document both existing marked graves and previously unidentified burial locations discovered through archaeological and geophysical investigations. Each burial site will be assigned a unique location reference, creating a permanent record that supports preservation, maintenance, genealogy research, historical interpretation, and future burial management.

The completed Gravesite Directory will serve as an important resource for descendants, researchers, historians, and community members seeking to locate loved ones, understand family connections, and explore the rich cultural heritage preserved within Crystal Memorial Gardens Cemetery.