Wichita Falls Council Will Consider Cemetery Proposal

The City Council will discuss acquiring the 28-acre Eastlawn Memorial Cemetery during a meeting this Tuesday.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in City Hall

Isometric editorial illustration of a weathered wrought-iron gate in an open field, symbolizing municipal property acquisition and care. — The Wichita Falls City Council is scheduled to discuss the acquisition of the Eastlawn Memorial Cemetery on Tuesday to address property maintenance concerns. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your local government take over responsibility for maintaining abandoned or neglected rural cemeteries?

Wichita Falls officials are set to evaluate a proposal to acquire the Eastlawn Memorial Cemetery on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The city is considering the transfer to address long-standing concerns regarding the maintenance of the property.

Why it matters

The proposal aims to ensure the ongoing care of the site, which has fallen into disrepair over the years. By taking control, the city would be responsible for the perpetual maintenance of the 1,354 graves currently located there.

The City Council will review the acquisition proposal at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall on 1300 Seventh Street. This potential addition would expand the city's cemetery holdings from the four currently under municipal ownership.

The players

Wichita Falls City Council

This is the legislative body responsible for the governance of Wichita Falls, Texas, and the oversight of municipal services and public property.

East Lawn Memorial Park Corp.

This organization currently holds the title to the Eastlawn Memorial Cemetery and has offered to convey the property to the municipal government.

The details

The site, which opened in 1956, is owned by East Lawn Memorial Park Corp. and sits within the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. City staff have been instructed to conduct due diligence to evaluate the feasibility of assuming perpetual maintenance duties.

The cemetery first opened in 1956.
Property rights were transferred to the cemetery corporation in February 1986.
A controversy regarding a missing grave occurred in 2020.
The City Council will meet to consider the proposal on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

Political Context

Opponents or skeptics of the acquisition may cite the potential for increased long-term maintenance costs on the municipal budget. Some residents might also argue that private entities should remain responsible for their own properties rather than transferring financial burdens to taxpayers.

Residents with family members interred at the site may see improved groundskeeping if the city assumes control of the property. The move could also clarify long-term access and visitation rights for the local community.

The takeaway

The move underscores the growing role of municipal governments in maintaining aging, privately owned infrastructure. Residents should track council agendas to see how such acquisitions affect public funding and future infrastructure priorities.