For Nina Bair, the headstones in a small section of Memorial Park Cemetery read like a family tree. She has 11 family members buried there, including her brother, sister and husband. So seeing the cemetery’s grass cut and headstones visible – thanks to the city’s maintenance – gives her a deep feeling of peace.

“Before they took it over, it was a mess. Dead trees, grass growing up over the headstones and everything. The city has taken it and cleaned it up,” Bair said Friday. “It makes a restful place for them.”

This Memorial Day marks two years since the city took over maintenance of the cemetery, 1517 E. 15th St. Since crews began working there in May 2005, officials estimate they’ve spent about $214,000.

“We’ve averaged about $8,000 to $8,500 a month out of the parks and recreation budget,” said Mitch Young, Lawrence cemetery supervisor.

The city took over maintenance of the cemetery after state prosecutors said its owner, Mike Graham and Associates, was not adequately operating the property, although the city does not have permanent control of the cemetery. At a court hearing in November, a judge granted the owners time to prove conditions were not as bad as the state claimed.

Many people who own plots at the cemetery want to see the city granted permanent ownership of it. While the case is in court, the city has not had access to a trust fund to pay for maintaining the land.

The city has one office staff person working 20 hours a week at Memorial Park Cemetery. The rest of the money is spent on maintenance.

“We hope to say it looks 100 percent better,” Young said. “That was our goal. We strive to take care of people’s loved ones.”

In addition, Young said that city crews have torn down 35 trees, planted about 15 new trees, cleaned up the retention pond, reset damaged stones and done some patchwork on the streets.

While crews still have more work they want to do on streets, for example, the work they have completed goes a long way with the people who have family members buried there.

“It makes me feel good because I know he’s got a nice clean place to lay at rest,” Bair said of her husband.