Pajaro Valley cemeteries filling up
WATSONVILLE — Cemeteries in the Pajaro Valley are facing a crisis in burial space.
Of the Pajaro Valley Public Cemetery District’s five cemeteries, only Valley Public Cemetery in Watsonville has availability for new burials but only for single plots. However, even those spaces are limited, putting the district in a spot where all cemeteries are likely to fill up in terms of ground burials within the next five years.
“We’re looking for more land to expand,” said District Manager Elizabeth Lopez. “We haven’t found anything yet, so right now, that’s our high priority for the district.”
The Pajaro Valley Public Cemetery District is a special district funded through the taxes paid by community members and governed by a board of directors. It oversees Day Valley Cemetery in Aptos, and Pioneer, Valley Catholic, Watsonville Catholic and Valley Public cemeteries in Watsonville.
Lopez said there has been a spike in burials at the cemeteries in recent years, something she largely attributes to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the years since the pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization, the district saw 207 burials in 2020, 282 in 2021 and 228 in 2022.
“Right after COVID, we were extremely busy,” she said. “We had close to 300 burials during 2021. That was our highest that we had, and it was during COVID.”
Currently, Lopez said the district has been working to find more land to expand the cemeteries and accommodate more space. The land must be within the district’s boundaries, which primarily cover South Santa Cruz County.
Lopez said one privately owned lot next to Valley Public was strongly considered, but the family who owns it was not interested in selling the land.
“We were hoping to find something that would be closer to that cemetery, but we haven’t found anything that would be adequate for a cemetery,” she said.
In the event the district runs out of space for ground burials, Lopez said there is a columbarium with niches for cremated remains.
“That’s the only one we have a lot of space available, but in terms of ground, we are getting really limited on space,” she said.
The district’s board will be meeting Tuesday and will receive an update from Chuck Allen, who has been tasked with talking to residents about their willingness to sell land for cemetery expansion.
“Hopefully he’ll have news this coming-up meeting in terms of any land possibilities he’ll be able to find,” she said. “We’re still just waiting to see if we find a space.”
Lopez said if anyone knows of land within the cemetery’s district boundaries they would be willing to sell, they should contact the district.
“I know a lot of the ag people, they’re either not using their land or it’s just sitting there and are willing to sell and would be good for a cemetery, it would be nice if they could talk to the district that way,” she said. “They could talk about it and see if it would be useful for a cemetery.”
Anyone interested in discussing options for the district may call 722-0310 or email pvcemetery@cruzio.com.
Staff writer Jessica A. York contributed to this report.