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Subject: Interesting
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 14:18:58 EDT





Cemetery Gives Up Grass For Artificial Turf
October 11, 2004
APPLE VALLEY, Calif. -- The Sunset Hills Memorial Park cemetery is giving up
grass in favor of artificial turf.
It's a move owners believe will save as much as $180,000 in water and
maintenance costs over the next three years. The cemetery is the final resting
place for cowboy stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
"I actually believe it will revolutionize the cemetery industry eventually,"
said Sunset Hills co-owner Chet Hitt. He knows of no other cemetery that
uses artificial turf.
Hitt originally started selling artificial turf just to people who wanted it
for their family plots, but has gradually begun to put it down throughout the
cemetery. He expects he'll have to replace it about once every eight years.
Artificial grass has several benefits besides saving money on water and
maintenance costs, said Dave Hepburn of the Interment Association of California,
the state's largest cemetery trade association.
Real grass can discolor tombstones and grow into graveside flower vases,
damaging them, Hepburn said. Heavy watering can also damage concrete walkways
and discolor headstones over time.
"The most important thing for a cemetery is to look good at all times, to
look beautiful inside," Hepburn said.
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The Associated Press



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