Westminster Memorial Park & Mortuary

Westminster, CA – Honor Award, Parks & Recreational Fields

SUBMITTED BY

Andrew Chase, The Davey Institute 

PROJECT OVERVIEW

• Westminster Memorial Park is an 80-acre cemetery in Westminster, California, celebrating its 100th anniversary.
• The park’s design has evolved over time, with multiple landscape designers modifying the original layout to meet owner needs.
• Various garden areas reflect the diverse cultures in the region, featuring a range of memorial markers.
• Irrigation and micro-climates are affected by heat from large stone markers and shade from mature olive trees.
• The park hosts culturally significant events like Thanh Minh, Dia de Los Muertos, and community car shows.
• Originally designed to rely on wells for irrigation, the site has four wells, with two inactive and one abandoned.
• Approximately 50% of the park was manually irrigated due to outdated equipment and control issues.
• Continuous soil disturbance from burials complicates water percolation and irrigation scheduling.

ROLE OF THE IRRIGATION CONSULTANT

• Flow calculations for various mainline and lateral types, including copper, ductile iron, asbestos/concrete, ABS, and PVC.
• Field wiring inspections and verification, ensuring proper two-wire conversions; knowledge of wiring methods over 50 years.
• Understanding sprinkler head performance limits to match head spacing and nozzles with hydraulic capacities.
• Consolidation of 42 irrigation controllers into 7 managing controllers and 31 sub-controllers with two-wire conversions.
• Water testing and best practices for pond maintenance to preserve water quality and aquatic life.
• Flow management guidelines tailored to the irrigation pumping system and site’s varied pipe materials and sizes.
• Soil-moisture sensor placement based on micro-climates and soil conditions for optimized irrigation.
• Conversion of narrow planter beds from overhead spray to drip irrigation for water efficiency.
• On-site staff training on system operation and maintenance, following industry best practices.

SPECIAL FACTORS

• Active cemetery site conditions require constant scrutiny and methodical daily work.
• Work sites may be unavailable the next day due to burial activities.
• Easements for irrigation infrastructure were only recently incorporated into lot planning.
• New pipelines and wiring in older areas must align with pre-determined lot lines.
• Burial plots vary in size, requiring knowledge of lot widths and depth limitations to avoid impacting existing burials.
• Flexibility needed to re-route around restricted areas and adjust irrigation zones on the fly.
• Broad knowledge of multiple manufacturer components essential for fast-paced design adjustments.