Fallen Tree Removed that had Impeded Cemetery

By JOE POTTER

A massive tree that fell inside Indian Pond Cemetery on Oct. 9 as a result of Hurricane Milton has been cut down. The cemetery is situated on Indian Lake Cemetery Road, located in an unincorporated area of Pasco County. Indian Pond Cemetery was the primary site for the burial of Black people before rules were changed that allowed integrated burials in other cemeteries. There are currently records for 351 burials at the cemetery, and it is still active, so additional burials may be done there.

It cost approximately $3,000 to have the tree cut into smaller pieces, according to Normita “Angel” Woodard, a member of the Indian Pond Cemetery Association.

The members had been trying for a few months to obtain a temporary burn permit. That was because they initially thought that some parts of the tree would have to be burned on the cemetery’s property. After all, the debris would have been too large to haul off. Acting City Manager Marieke vanErven said it was no longer necessary to get a temporary burn permit issued because “the tree was able to be cut so it could be hauled off.”