We commend and thank the volunteers, donors, and city employees and officials who worked to improve Poulsbo Municipal Cemetery. The classic wrought-iron signage adds a dignified appearance that any final resting place warrants. Benches, water, landscaping, and parking improvements enhance the visitor’s experience.

The Friends of Poulsbo Cemetery Committee and Poulsbo Historical Society will host a community forum at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 14 at City Hall “on the historical importance and needs of the Poulsbo cemetery.”

Beautification aside, there are significant issues that need to be addressed.

A portion of a concrete wall around an above ground-level grave is breaking away. A process for maintaining or repairing the wall, and any other deterioration or erosion at other graves, without disturbing burials needs to be determined.

According to several sources, there are unmarked graves at the cemetery. That creates a risk of burial disturbance when digging a grave for a new burial. A process needs to be adopted to determine where graves are to ensure a burial is not disturbed. Ground-penetrating radar, or GPR, is one proven method.

The Friends of Poulsbo Cemetery Committee is proposing that the cemetery become a “dog friendly, open air, historical memorial park and cemetery.” Currently, city ordinance doesn’t allow for pets in the cemetery “except service animals that are trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities.”

The committee has some work to do on that issue: Will dogs be allowed off-leash? Will play be allowed or not allowed? Who will pick up after dog owners who don’t pick up after their dogs?

Whatever the committee recommends to the City Council, the revised rules will have to protect the purpose of the cemetery as a final resting place, a place of remembrance of those who have walked on, a place of reflection for visitors and loved ones.