Graceland Cemetery Unveils Visitor-Friendly Entry Plaza, Welcomes Graceland West Neighbors
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Graceland West ·
Graceland Cemetery, a 160-year-old green space bordering Graceland West, has recently transformed its entrance into a welcoming community gathering spot. The cemetery's trustees have replaced the formerly uninviting asphalt driveway with a pedestrian-friendly plaza featuring new plantings and an iron gateway arch, officially embracing its role as a public park for neighboring residents.
"It was cars first, not people. Now it's more like a college campus," explains Doug Hoerr, founding partner of Hoerr Schaudt, the firm that designed the new entrance. The redesign serves as a "portal" where visitors can "take a deep breath coming out of the city," creating a space where people naturally slow down and decompress. As a certified arboretum, the cemetery has planted thousands of bulbs this fall that will have their first bloom next spring, adding seasonal beauty to the already impressive landscape.
Jensen Allen, Graceland's executive director, emphasizes that the cemetery is returning to its Victorian roots when these spaces were designed for both the living and dead. Activities such as reading under trees, picnicking, and jogging through the cemetery's pathways are encouraged for Graceland West residents. Interested neighbors can visit this historic treasure, which serves as an open-air museum featuring monuments of famous Chicago architects including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Daniel Burnham, and Louis Sullivan.
Sources:
1. https://news.wttw.com/2023/11/30/graceland-cemetery-debuts-visitor-friendly-entryway-designed-breathe-new-life-historic
2. https://hoerrschaudt.com/about/news/graceland-cemetery-wttw/