Current Restoration/Preservation Projects
The Oakland Cemetery Preservation Society has taken the first critical step toward a total preservation plan for Oakland Cemetery by hiring a nationally-recognized cemetery preservation expert to assess the property. Fran Gale, an architectural conservator from Austin, Texas, will visit Oakland this summer to survey the site, assess conditions, meet with representatives of the Oakland Cemetery Preservation Society, the City of Shreveport, and other key preservation/historical experts. In addition, she will review documents, photos, maps and planning documents related to Oakland. Her site assessment will provide a report that briefly describes the work needed at Oakland Cemetery in the realm of preservation. She will cover safety concerns, conditions of gravestones and monuments, maintenance, landscaping issue, historical research, public outreach, access and possible development of a visitors’ center. She will offer the board priorities for preservation work and will suggest how the work might be accomplished in phases.
The board of OCPS believes there may be public funding available for preservation of this historic site, and this site assessment will help reinforce the site’s historical value and the board and community’s commitment to undertaking the activities needed to assure restoration and preservation of Oakland.
Current Projects
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
OCPS is now working with the City to gain permission to use the last remaining structure of the Sprague Street Houses, as a visitor center for the cemetery. It will be located in the park across from the Sprague Street entrance to the cemetery.
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Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Board member and LSU-S professor Dr. Gary Joiner and his students are continuing the process of compiling a Geographic Information System (GIS) of the cemetery.