COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) - Long divided by race, East Porterdale and Riverview Cemetery remain physically separated by the abandoned, polluted expanse of Columbus’ old farmers market.
One local group hopes to transform the derelict market, fenced in and locked up since 2017, into a park-like space that bridges the historic cemeteries.
Hal Averett, a Columbus builder and longtime head of the Riverdale-Porterdale Cemetery Foundation, pursued the idea for years before he died Nov. 28.
“Hal worked on this for five or six years,” said Margaret Zollo, who succeeded Averett as the foundation’s leader. “I suspect he knew it was at least very close at this point.”
The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports Columbus city officials are seeking an Environmental Protection Agency grant for $500,000 to clean up leaked fuel, asbestos and lead paint polluting the old 15-acre (60,700 sq. meters) farmers market site, remove two underground storage tanks and raze 10 buildings left standing on the property. The city would chip in an additional $100,000.
On one side of the property sits East Porterdale, founded in 1946 as an extension of one of Columbus’ oldest black cemeteries. On the old market’s opposite side is traditionally white Riverdale Cemetery, established in 1890.
The cemetery foundation has proposed using the market property to tie together the two cemeteries with walking paths, a pavilion for funerals and perhaps space for housing ashes of the cremated. The foundation says it would take care of maintenance at the site, as it does with the cemeteries.
Columbus officials haven’t settled on a final use for the market site. Other proposals at a recent city meeting included establishing a pet cemetery, a community garden or a new city market.
Zollo said a final design that joins the two cemeteries would show that “we’re all Columbusites. We’re not two different races.”
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Information from: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, http://ledger-enquirer.com
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