Orem making plans to turn soccer fields to cemetery

(Daily Herald) The time is coming when a parcel of open space in north Orem that is a recreation hot spot will be used for a very different purpose -- burials.

In 1995, Orem purchased the land below the existing cemetery -- located at about 1200 North and 800 East, and south of the Murdock Canal -- to be used for a future cemetery expansion. In the meantime, it has been developed as soccer fields and a walking/jogging track, and is heavily used for those purposes, along with outdoor activities such as remote-control airplane flying and frisbee tossing.

"It's a very popular place," said Orem recreation director Karl Hirst. "A lot of people recreate there."

Orem public works director Bruce Chesnut said that over the last five years, the city has sold an average of 425 lots per year in the existing cemetery. About 2,100 remaining lots -- mostly in the section by 800 East -- have been developed and blocked off, and are ready to sell.

Original Article