Staff photo / Patrick E. Litowitz Shown is the aftermath of July 5’s macroburst that heavily damaged Forest Lawn Memorial Park, located between Glenwood Avenue and Market Street in Boardman Township. Approximately 50 old-growth trees were downed in the storm.

BOARDMAN — While pedestrians and bicyclists remain discouraged from entering, vehicles continue to be barred access to Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Burials, however, are taking place at the cemetery.

A EF-1 tornado touched down in Canfield Township in the early afternoon of July 5 and an ensuing macroburst slammed Boardman and surrounding communities. The nearly century-old cemetery, covering approximately 44 acres, sustained heavy damage.

A spokeswoman said Monday that public access will be restricted for at least a week. The cemetery’s board will be meeting to determine what happens next.

“We have two full body interments tomorrow, but they’re interment only — no family,” the spokeswoman said. “Right now, it’s a liability to have cars and everybody come through here.”

The cemetery has a staff of five workers combing the grounds to collect debris. The removal of large trees and major limbs will be done in a few weeks.

“It’s not in just one area,” she said of the damage. “It’s probably going to take us another week or two. There’s certain areas that are really bad. Certain areas are impassable.”

Gates block access along Glenwood, while chains are strung across the two openings within the stone structure facing Market.

Cemetery staff are not turning back mourners wishing to visit interred family members. However, they are urging caution. They are accompanying visitors to grave sites to ensure the location is safe to enter.

“I’ve just talked to somebody who’s in town just for a few more days, and they wanted to see their brother’s grave,” the cemetery representative said. “I’m going to meet them at the front. They’ll follow me, and they can’t veer off or anything. … I go and check and make sure that area is safe for me to take them. Because if it’s not, then I won’t take them.”

Named to the National Register of Historic Places on Dec. 18, 2018, the cemetery was founded Aug. 18, 1930, when the Mill Creek Memorial Park Association obtained a state charter to form a nonprofit corporation. Forest Lawn contains 44,000-plus graves.

The cemetery can be reached at (330) 782-3386 or by emailing forestlawnohio@gmail.com. Its website is https://forestlawnohio.com/.