SPRINGFIELD — Ferncliff Cemetery in Clark County has faced over $100,000 in damages as vehicles repeatedly crash into one of its gates.
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The accidents happen on a small stretch of McCreight Avenue, often during inclement weather such as rain or snow, leading to costly repairs for the cemetery.
“As much fun as it is to talk about on social media and poke fun at the Ferncliff fence, it is a distraction. It’s an expensive distraction,” Shelley Baker, Executive Director of Ferncliff Cemetery, said.
Baker, who became the executive director in 2018, quickly noticed that the crashes were concentrated on a specific curve of McCreight Avenue.
Baker explained that most accidents happen towards the bottom of the curve, which leans slightly into the fence, exacerbating the issue.
To address the problem, Baker has collaborated with city engineer Chris Moore to implement a solution that includes installing a berm barrier and moving the fence back 10 feet.
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“We’re hopeful that if a car does leave the road, it will hit that barrier first and then not get to the fence,” Baker said.
She hopes that reducing the frequency of these accidents will allow the cemetery to allocate funds to other projects, such as the renovation of their pet cemetery, Whispering Memories, and the development of a green burial area.
Ferncliff Cemetery plans to complete the installation of a new steel gate and the berm barrier in the coming weeks, aiming to prevent further damage and focus on future projects.
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