NEWBURYPORT — With the help of an area landscaping crew and others, the city’s firefighters memorial near the front entrance of Oak Hill Cemetery off Parker Street will be considerably more welcoming by next week, according to those knee-deep in the project.
“This will be a really special place as it really sets up the whole cemetery,” said Mara Robinson, owner of Mara Landscape Design.
The face-lift comes courtesy of the city’s Community Preservation Committee, which earmarked $65,000 for the project being overseen by Newburyport firefighter Ken Parseghian and others affiliated with the department’s sick benefit association.
The memorial, dedicated in 1948, commemorates the seven city firefighters who have died in the line of duty since the association was established in 1861. Parseghian said he worked this year with the city’s Historical Committee, as well as the Oak Hill Cemetery Board of Trustees to deem the memorial site historic.
But in recent years, the memorial has been in danger of toppling over due to erosion on the hillside where it sits. Other major landscaping work also needed to be done.
“I think the shrubs were planted back in the 1950s and they were overgrown to the point where they really couldn’t be trimmed up,” Parseghian said.
About two years ago, Parseghian said he was given a $65,000 estimate from local landscaper, Verne Fisher of Visionary Landscapes, to get everything fixed.
Although Fisher agreed to do the job at the time, permits needed to be obtained first.
By the time all necessary permits and approvals were given, the price tag ballooned up to $80,000, according to Parseghian. As an act of partial volunteerism, Fisher decided to do the job for the original $65,000 price.
“Verne was very gracious,” he said.
The project also received a charitable boost from Robinson who volunteered her time to come up with a 3D diagram of a renovated memorial.
“We needed to take out all the material and start from scratch,” she said. “Then I had it framed with some new conifers. We’re doing an emerald green arborvitae. We’ve got some standard hydrangea trees, that are called pink diamond. They are going to help aid in shaping the space around the memorial.”
The small trees will also flower in the summer, according to Robinson, who added the blossoms will remain persistent as long as possible.
Work got underway last week when a retaining wall was built and a fieldstone wall was installed near the front of the memorial.
“That should hold back the erosion,” Parseghian said.
The front steps have also been moved back where a red brick walkway will be installed.
Parseghian said that will make the memorial handicap accessible.
“Someone in a wheelchair could be wheeled right up to the memorial, if need be,” he said.
Parseghian added he hopes to have everything done by later this week.
“Next June, we’ll have our first firemen’s memorial down there after the renovation,” he said. “We’re extremely grateful to Verne and Mara for donating their time and experience.”
Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.