What began as a simple planting plan request evolved into Dix.Hite + Partners' most profound projects, and a testament to how landscape architecture can bridge past and present, healing and hope, memory and renewal.

When the design team first visited the historic African American cemetery in Groveland (originally known as Oak Tree Union Colored Cemetery of Taylorville), they met with the local fire chief, who had become the project's unexpected champion. The site, which was vandalized during racial violence stemming from "The Groveland Four" in 1949 and then neglected for over 70 years, had been rediscovered and was being restored through a small group of passionate community volunteers. Although there was a simple plan for locating the new components of the pavilion, memorial features, and walks, the Landscape Architects immediately recognized that this sacred space had the opportunity for a reflective sequence more than just accessibility - it needed a framework for honoring both the deceased and the living. The site plan was tweaked to shape spaces for gathering, reflection, preparation, and respect.

 
"There are only a few times in a career when you encounter a project that stops you in your tracks," reflected Dix.Hite Principal Greg Bryla. "This was one of those moments."

Bryla reminded the team that the project was much more than beautifying the cemetery. "From the WW1 veterans interred there, to the racial violence in the 1950s, the history of healing that this site holds for its community is profound. It was humbling and sobering to be a part of the preservation of such a sacred place," he said.

The project began with research including extensive conversations with state archaeologists who used ground-penetrating radar to locate burial sites, and deep dives into African American burial traditions across the South. Cultural elements were taken into consideration, from the significance of the Sankofa bird to the symbolic meaning of shells, which represent the transport across the Atlantic. These elements became integral to the design narrative.

Rather than create an overly manicured space, a living memorial was prioritized. The design incorporates plants that attract butterflies and bees, transforming the cemetery into a vibrant ecosystem. This approach allows this commemorative space to simultaneously honor the past and nurture present life, which embodies the firm's "designing for life" philosophy.

Local businesses and residents have donated time, hardscape and landscape materials, and irrigation systems. A dedicated team of volunteers continues to maintain the grounds. What could have remained hidden history has become a catalyst for conversation and connection for the Groveland community.

This project reminds us that landscape architecture at its best doesn't just create spaces - it creates opportunities for healing, understanding, and life itself to flourish.

As seen in LASN magazine, April 2025.