Work will be starting later this month on a quarter-million-dollar renovation project at Shreveport's historic Oakland Cemetery next to the Municipal Auditorium.  

Oakland is Shreveport's oldest cemetery, dating back to 1847, and holds a major link to much of Shreveport's history.  The cemetery is the final resting place for 16 of the city's mayors as well as officials from every level of government from the antebellum period.  It's the home for the bodies of more than 300 Civil War veterans, 800 victims of the 1873 Yellow Fever epidemic, and thousands of other Shreveport citizens from all walks of life.

The $279,000 renovation project is a joint venture between the City of Shreveport and the Oakland Cemetery Preservation Society and the result of several years of work.  When completed, it's expected to greatly improve the appearance of the historic cemetery and provide for better public access.

The project will include a new main road through the center of the cemetery, paved walkways, a repaired Christian Street wall, an upgraded security fence, a water system for landscaping, pruning and removal of damaged trees, and a handicapped parking lot. Work is slated to begin June 24th and be completed sometime in October.

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