The Sunset Gardens Cemetery expansion project has reached 95% design completion, bringing the community closer to adding approximately 125 new burial plots as soon as funding is available.

The project also includes the installation of a new columbarium — which has already been purchased — with space reserved in the site plan for additional structures to hold more cremation urns as future needs arise, said Amber Al-Haddad, the Capital Projects Department director.

Borough officials plan to finalize the design and specifications for the site work, positioning the project for immediate land clearing, any excavation and grading once funding is secured.

The cemetery is on the uphill side at 1.5-Mile Zimovia Highway. The work will add new plots toward the back of the cemetery.

According to Al-Haddad, engineer estimates for the project last year were in the range of $235,000 to $285,000.

The cemetery, which the municipality has operated since 1966, is running low on available plots, prompting the need to expand.

According to Borough Clerk Kim Lane, there are two full casket plots available at Sunset Gardens, with 10 plots that may or may not be large enough to accommodate a full casket. Those are reserved for the burial of cremation remains.

Lane said there are nine niches available in the existing columbarium, and when the new columbarium is installed, there will be 100 spaces available.

According to Al-Haddad, the work to prepare land for the additional burial plots would take approximately three months.