Mayor Johnston Establishes Historic Key West Cemetery Restoration Committee

Mayor Teri Johnston and City Manager Greg Veliz this morning were among a group of historians, residents and City staff taking a hard look at the Historic Key West Cemetery.

This fact-finding mission was the first step by a new committee convened by Mayor Johnston to look at restoring the cemetery while maintain its historic significance.

City Manager Greg Veliz, Historian Sharon Wells, Mayor Teri Johnston, Beautification Committee Chairman Stephen Sunday, and Peter Batty.

A recent study by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council showed that the cemetery is one of the most-visited sites by the more than 2 million tourists who come to Key West annually.

“Not only is this a popular site to visit for tourists,” said Mayor Johnston, “but it is also is a sacred place for our residents of Key West.”

The group set several top priorities, including the immediate repair of structures that cover gravesites, the removal of rubble, and the leveling of graves and tombstone. The ideas include using backfill of soil and grass to return to some of the graves to their original state by replacing shattered concrete and – in some cases — asphalt.

City Manager Greg Veliz said he wants to keep as much of the historic appeal as possible while improving damaged areas and ensuring public safety.

The cemetery’s new Sexton, Christopher Varela, said all efforts will be made to contact the families of the graves that need attention. The City will reach out through the mail and through newspaper publications before any work begins on a certain structure and gravesites.

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