Rules and Regulations

Rules and Regulations of Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery

Memorials

Muscatine Memorial Park is a memorial park, meaning that memorials are placed flush to the ground. Although memorials can be made of different material, such as marble and granite, bronze is the preferred material because of its unequaled endurance and artistic flexibility.

Only bronze memorials may be placed at Muscatine Memorial Park.  We offer an extensive selection of individual, companion and family memorials.  These memorials are available direct from the nation’s best bronze manufacturers, and each memorial is custom cast to commemorate a loved one in a personal, dignified and permanent manner.  The choice of many memorial designs, personalized emblems, endearments, phrases and verses allow each memorial to be customized according to individual wishes.  Bronze vases built into the memorials allow convenient placement of floral tributes.

Because of the many personal choices, selecting a memorial at the time of death is very difficult for survivors.  This emotional burden can be prevented through pre-arrangement programs that allow bronze memorials to be selected and placed in storage until needed.

Monument and Marker Guidelines

Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery provides areas of interment to meet the needs and wishes of all.  In the flat bronze section, markers are required to have a granite base for ease of trimming and leveling of a marker.

Bronze size requirements: The only size of Bronze markers allowed are: 60 x 20, 56 x 16, 44 x 14, 36 x 13, 32 x 10 and 24 x 14.  We require a granite base of two inches around the Bronze. Only full size rectangle type bronze markers are allowed with no extensive granite etching.  Government markers must be 24 x 12 with an appropriate individual or companion sized granite base, with or without a vase.

Upright granite areas are available for those who desire the stately beauty and majesty of granite memorialization.  Either area has guidelines to follow as to size and type of memorial, direction monument or marker faces, flower vases, contemporary care and installation fees.  Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery staff is trained to assist you with your memorial selection, so you can be assured of total satisfaction.

Flower Regulations

In order to maintain lawns, it is necessary to curtail certain items during the mowing season. Your cooperation is needed for us to maintain the highest standards of maintenance and care possible.  If in doubt about any decoration, please consult the office for complete information and assistance.

· One floral decoration in a vase on a marker, or in a vase on a mausoleum crypt or niche and one decoration on a regulation staff.

· All flowers must be in a marker, mausoleum or niche vase or on a shepherd staff except on the following holidays: Easter, Mother's Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.  Only during the five days following these holidays may the flowers remain on the ground.  After five days the flowers will be removed.

· Grave blankets and holiday wreaths may be placed on the graves after November 15 and will be removed March 15.  Other decorations will be removed after five days.  It should be noted that grave blankets are a deterrent to grass growth and may result in unsightly graves.

· Artificial vase flowers and winter wreaths are available at the office.

· Flags must be in a government holder issued by the American Legion.  Flags in the ground or a vase will be removed.

The cemetery reserves the right to remove all flowers, wreaths or other decoration from lots as soon as they become unsightly.  The grounds will be cleared of decorations twice a year. Spring cleanup begins March 15, and fall cleanup begins October 15.  In order for a family to save any decorations placed on a grave, the decoration should be removed prior to these dates.  New decorations may be placed beginning March 22 and October 22 respectively.

Memorial Park is not responsible for damage or maintenance of any decorations.  If you have any questions, please call the office at 563-263-8842.

Special occasions: Please stop by the office so we may issue a work order to allow your decorations for your loved one’s special occasions, e.g. birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

Shepherd Staff Regulations

The use of Shepherd Staffs is not consistent with the Memorial Park standards.  For reasons of uniformity, maintenance and safety during the mowing season and in the winter when the ground freezes, Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery does not recommend staffs as a decoration and is not responsible for their maintenance or the staff itself.  If the Shepherd Staff does not conform to regulations or becomes unsightly or needs repair, it will be removed without notice.

One staff is allowed per marker with a single hook, black in color.

All staffs must meet the specific measurements as shown in the drawing, except for Babyland and in the cremation gardens, in which we recommend staffs be 48 inches high.

A staff must be coated with a black, rust proof sealant.

Shelves, solar lights, ornaments, animals or other metal additions may not be made to the staff, nor may any objects be tied to or leaned against the staff.

Shepherd staffs should be removed for the winter months from October 15 through March 15 to avoid damage.  Staffs not maintained and/or which do not have a floral decoration displayed on them will be removed every year by June 15.

Only one floral hanging basket or one wreath may be placed on the staff.  The Shepherd Staff may be wrapped with a single strand of garland.

The Cemetery is not responsible for damaged staffs.

Eternal Light Guidelines

The night illumination of the memorial for a loved one is a fitting tribute, although the Eternal Light must conform to the simplicity and uniformity of a Memorial Park.

All Eternal Lights must be on a single stake placed directly into the ground.  Only one eternal light per marker is allowed.  Hanging Eternal Lights from small stakes or shepherd staffs or Eternal Lights attached to full size shepherd staffs are NOT allowed.  The height of the Eternal Light shall not exceed 28½ inches from the ground to the top of the Eternal Light.  It must have a stake to retain it in the ground in a solid manner so it does not tip and remains upright.  Red would be the preferred color for the Eternal Lights.

In order to retain the simplicity and uniformity of the cemetery, it is suggested the Eternal Light be used during special times of the year and not be a permanent decoration.  The use of a 7-day candle, in a colored, round sleeve creates the appearance of uniformity during the night hours.

Solar lights or other types that do not meet requirements, will be pulled at each spring and fall clean up.

Again, the cemetery recommends the simplicity created by the original Memorial Park with the use of flowers only  in the vase of the memorial marker.

These rules and regulations are designed for the protection of owners of interment rights as a group.  They are not intended to restrain, but prevent the inconsiderate from taking unfair advantage of others.  Their enforcement will help protect our Cemetery and preserve its beauty.  These rules and regulations are hereby adopted as rules and regulations of the Cemetery, and all owners of interment rights, visitors and contractors performing work within the Cemetery shall be subject to said rules and regulations, amendments or alterations as shall be adopted by the Cemetery from time to time.

LifeLight Candlelight Program: This option ensures your loved one’s grave is marked by a beautiful warm and glowing remembrance light for those special days.   The warm glow of the candle represents the warmth it gives you to remember that your loved one is still with you in spirit.  It will give you peace of mind to know that we are taking care of this opportunity of remembrance for you on each and every special day.