Proposal to Turn Historic West Palm Beach Cemetery into Mixed-Use Park Sparks Debate

Residents express mixed reactions to plan to preserve and reimagine Woodlawn Cemetery as a community space.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 8:06pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a cemetery entrance surrounded by blurred greenery and warm, golden light, conveying a sense of peaceful contemplation.A proposal to transform a historic West Palm Beach cemetery into a mixed-use park has sparked debate over preserving sacred spaces versus adapting them for modern community use.West Palm Beach Today

A proposal to transform the historic Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Florida into a mixed-use park is drawing both support and criticism from local residents. The 18-acre city-owned cemetery, which has been in place for nearly a century and is the final resting place for over 12,000 people, would be preserved but reimagined as a community space with trees, walking paths, upgraded roads, and areas for art and music performances under a plan proposed by the group Friends of Woodlawn. While the group says the $20 million project would be privately funded and aim to 'respectfully enhance' the site, some residents are concerned about disturbing the dignity of the cemetery.

Why it matters

Cemeteries are often seen as sacred spaces in communities, and proposals to redevelop them can be highly contentious. This plan to transform Woodlawn Cemetery into a mixed-use park highlights the tensions between preserving historic sites and finding new ways to utilize public spaces for the benefit of the local community.

The details

The Friends of Woodlawn group has proposed plans to add trees, walking paths, upgraded roads, and areas for art and music performances to the 18-acre Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach. The estimated $20 million project would be privately funded, and the group says it aims to 'respectfully enhance' the historic, sacred site without disturbing those laid to rest there. However, some residents, especially those with loved ones buried at Woodlawn, are strongly opposed to the idea of turning the cemetery into a mixed-use park.

  • Woodlawn Cemetery has been in place for nearly a century.
  • The cemetery spans about 18 acres and is the final resting place for more than 12,000 people, some dating back to the 1920s.

The players

Friends of Woodlawn

A group proposing to preserve the Woodlawn Cemetery site while reimagining it as a community space with added trees, walking paths, upgraded roads, and areas for art and music performances.

Alan Murphy

A West Palm Beach resident who has several relatives buried at Woodlawn Cemetery and opposes the proposal, saying 'Cemeteries have always been sacred parcels' that should remain untouched.

Christina Frank

A West Palm Beach resident who also believes the cemetery 'should stay a cemetery' and that turning it into a park would be 'almost disrespectful' to those buried there.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's outrageous. I just never heard anything like that.”

— Alan Murphy, West Palm Beach resident

“Cemeteries have always been sacred parcels. They're usually next to churches or in the center of town. It's ridiculous. Some of my kids' great-grandparents are buried there.”

— Alan Murphy, West Palm Beach resident

“I think it should stay a cemetery. I feel like the people that have been buried there — it would be almost disrespectful.”

— Christina Frank, West Palm Beach resident

What’s next

The City of West Palm Beach has not yet responded to requests for comment on the proposal, and it remains unclear if or when the plan to transform Woodlawn Cemetery into a mixed-use park will move forward.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the complex tensions that can arise when trying to balance the preservation of historic, sacred sites like cemeteries with the desire to reimagine public spaces for community use. While the Friends of Woodlawn group aims to 'respectfully enhance' the cemetery, their plan has faced significant pushback from residents who view the cemetery as a place that should remain untouched and undisturbed.