West Resthaven Cemetery Park

Glendale, AZ

Merit Award: Parks & Recreational Fields

SUBMITTED BY

Andrew Chase, The Davey Institute

PROJECT OVERVIEW

• West Resthaven Park Cemetery is a historic 54-acre memorial park in Glendale, Arizona, developed since 1947
• Features diverse burial types, monuments, and mausoleums creating complex microclimates
• Heat-retaining stone markers require careful irrigation to prevent thermal cracking
• Serves a diverse community and hosts cultural events, including Día de Los Muertos
• Site relies on a mixed water system (SRP canal water, groundwater, and potable), regulated under Arizona’s 5th
Management Plan
• Water use limited to 4.43 acre-feet per irrigated acre due to groundwater availability
• Existing irrigation system was in severe decline, with major leaks, failing infrastructure, and 95% manual operation
• Soil compaction, disturbance, and inconsistent watering led to poor infiltration and unreliable performance
• Project required full system modernization while maintaining uninterrupted cemetery operations

ROLE OF THE IRRIGATION CONSULTANT

• Provided advanced troubleshooting and design across a complex, multi-source irrigation system
• Performed hydraulic modeling and flow analysis for mixed-material infrastructure
• Led electrical diagnostics and two-wire system implementation, including field training
• Optimized sprinkler performance (spacing, nozzle selection, pressure balance)
• Configured central control systems, including hydrozones, soil-moisture integration, and wireless components
• Evaluated water quality, cistern operations, and SRP/well interaction strategies
• Trained staff on pump stations, controllers, and irrigation best practices

SPECIAL FACTORS

• Active cemetery operations required flexible scheduling and continuous coordination
• Work constrained by burial activity, narrow aisles, varied plot sizes, and depth limitations
• Limited or outdated utility mapping required field verification and adaptive design
• On-site redesign of irrigation layout and components was frequently required to maintain performance
• Complex microclimates from monuments, mausoleums, and canopy required tailored irrigation strategies
• All work maintained uninterrupted operations while preserving visitor experience and cultural sensitivity