WATSONVILLE — Cemeteries within the Pajaro Valley are dealing with a disaster in burial area.
Of the Pajaro Valley Public Cemetery District’s 5 cemeteries, solely Valley Public Cemetery in Watsonville has availability for brand spanking new burials however just for single plots. Nevertheless, even these areas are restricted, placing the district in a spot the place all cemeteries are prone to refill when it comes to floor burials inside the subsequent 5 years.
“We’re searching for extra land to increase,” stated District Supervisor Elizabeth Lopez. “We haven’t discovered something but, so proper now, that’s our excessive precedence for the district.”
The Pajaro Valley Public Cemetery District is a particular district funded by way of the taxes paid by group members and ruled by a board of administrators. It oversees Day Valley Cemetery in Aptos, and Pioneer, Valley Catholic, Watsonville Catholic and Valley Public cemeteries in Watsonville.
Lopez stated there was a spike in burials on the cemeteries in recent times, one thing she largely attributes to the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the years because the pandemic was declared by the World Well being Group, the district noticed 207 burials in 2020, 282 in 2021 and 228 in 2022.
“Proper after COVID, we had been extraordinarily busy,” she stated. “We had near 300 burials throughout 2021. That was our highest that we had, and it was throughout COVID.”
Presently, Lopez stated the district has been working to search out extra land to increase the cemeteries and accommodate extra space. The land have to be inside the district’s boundaries, which primarily cowl South Santa Cruz County.
Lopez stated one privately owned lot subsequent to Valley Public was strongly thought of, however the household who owns it was not excited by promoting the land.
“We had been hoping to search out one thing that may be nearer to that cemetery, however we haven’t discovered something that may be satisfactory for a cemetery,” she stated.
Within the occasion the district runs out of area for floor burials, Lopez stated there's a columbarium with niches for cremated stays.
“That’s the one one we've got plenty of area out there, however when it comes to floor, we're getting actually restricted on area,” she stated.
The district’s board can be assembly Tuesday and can obtain an replace from Chuck Allen, who has been tasked with speaking to residents about their willingness to promote land for cemetery enlargement.
“Hopefully he’ll have information this coming-up assembly when it comes to any land prospects he’ll be capable of discover,” she stated. “We’re nonetheless simply ready to see if we discover a area.”
Lopez stated if anybody is aware of of land inside the cemetery’s district boundaries they might be keen to promote, they need to contact the district.
“I do know plenty of the ag folks, they’re both not utilizing their land or it’s simply sitting there and are keen to promote and can be good for a cemetery, it might be good if they might speak to the district that method,” she stated. “They may speak about it and see if it might be helpful for a cemetery.”
Anybody excited by discussing choices for the district could name 722-0310 or e mail pvcemetery@cruzio.com.
Employees author Jessica A. York contributed to this report.