Department of Natural Resources Policy -
Placement of Monuments, Memorials, and other Commemorative Works on DNR Lands
Policy Number:2005:01
Effective Date:    
See signed policy - Adobe Acrobat file

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I. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to identify the Department’s position on the placement of and to provide procedures for evaluating the appropriateness of commemorative works.

II. Scope
This policy is applicable to all lands and waters owned or controlled by the Department.

This policy applies to the following categories of commemorative devices:

• Living Memorials – (Landscape Features) Represented by individual trees, groves, gardens, or any planted landscape. (The Judge Solomon Liss memorial tree grove at Gunpowder State park is an example of this type.)
• Lasting Memorials – (Park Enhancements) Represented by benches, picnic tables, sculptures and other dedicated park enhancements. (The bench at Choptank Fishing Pier is an example of this type.)
  (Structures) Represented by the dedication of a permanent structure such as a picnic pavilion or visitor center. Also includes commemorative works within structures, such as displays, exhibits, statues, or plaques. (The Visitor Center at North Point State Park is an example of this type.)
• Commemorative works – Represented by exhibits, displays, and plaques/signs, usually within structures

III. Policy
It is the policy of the Department to prohibit the placement of monuments, memorials, or commemorative works on its lands and the naming of structures or other park enhancements unless these devices serve to highlight and advance the mission, goals, and objectives of the Department and meet all specified design criteria, including size, materials, color, location, etc. IV. Procedure

(1) Review Process - the established review procedure to evaluate proposals for monuments/memorials requires that all requests for monuments/memorials must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Department for evaluation. Upon receipt, the request will be circulated by Resource Planning for an internal review by an interdisciplinary team of resource professionals. The composition of the team may vary depending on the nature of the request.

(2) Evaluation Criteria -approved evaluation criteria, utilized to determine the proposal’s significance, the relationship to the Department’s mission, and a memorial/monument’s ability to blend with the natural surroundings are:

• Individuals considered for dedication should have made a direct connection to the advancement of the mission, goals, and objectives of the Department. They would have contributed significantly to the Department as a private citizen, contributed significantly to the protection and/or management of Maryland’s natural resources, or exemplify the essence of the Department’s mission. There must be a living witness to the actions of the individual or such actions must be a documented part of the history of the state. In order to assure objectivity and a consensus of lasting significance, an individual may not be commemorated until the 1st anniversary of their death.
• Events or actions considered for dedication should have either national or statewide significance or a direct relationship to the mission, goals or objectives of the Department (conservation, resource protection, heroic rescue, recreational safety, etc.). In order to assure objectivity and a consensus of lasting significance, an event may not be commemorated until its 25th anniversary. The donation of forest land by the Garrett Brothers to establish the first State Forest is an example.
• The request will be evaluated for its consistency with any existing land unit plan. In the absence of a plan, the request will be evaluated for its compatibility with existing resources and facilities. At this point, the Department will identify a preliminary location for placement of the monument/memorial.
• No new memorial shall commemorate an event or individual already commemorated. Exceptions include significant anniversaries and exceptional circumstances.

(3) Approval Process –The results of the evaluation by the interdisciplinary team and their final recommendation will be submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the managing unit for approval.

(4) Special Conditions -upon conceptual approval, special conditions will be imposed on the proposing entity regarding design, construction and maintenance of the monument/memorial. Conditions shall include at the minimum:

• The potential donor will be authorized to commence design at their sole expense and the completed design will be submitted to the Department for review by the same interdisciplinary group that conducted the project evaluation. This group will evaluate the design based on the following factors:
  1. Geographic justification- The proposed commemorative work must be located in surroundings relevant to the subject of the work and should be compatible with the park’s primary theme. Commemorative works should enhance appreciation for the park’s resources and be consistent with the park’s theme. A Gunpowder Ranger should not be commemorated on the shore at Sandy Point.

  2. The work shall not be aesthetically intrusive (See Figure 6).
     a. Proportion- The size, scale and shape of the work must match its setting. A work shall not dominate natural features or interfere with existing facilities or other commemorative works. Once the saturation point of a piece of land is reached, no new proposals will be accepted.
     b. Materials used- Materials should be visually compatible in color, texture, and other visual characteristics with the dominant materials of other structures in the area of the work and should not divert attention from the land’s natural features and/or theme.
     c. Integrity of setting- A work shall not undermine the unity and integrity of the visual setting and placement must pay attention to the scenic views of the land. A picture of the proposed site should be included for this evaluation. A pavilion should not be placed in such a way as to block a scenic vista nor should a building be placed in an undisturbed area.
• Prior to construction or installation, the Department shall determine that the proposing entity has sufficient funds available to complete the project. All installation costs, including any required modifications to existing facilities and infrastructure, shall be provided by the proposing entity. The proposing entity shall also make provisions for the coverage of all maintenance and repair costs throughout the existence of the monument/memorial. The establishment of an escrow account for future maintenance may satisfy this requirement. DNR is not responsible for replacement of commemorative works damaged by vandalism, accident, weather, or natural disaster.
• The department becomes the sole owner of any monument/memorial upon final placement and completion.

(5) Design Standards

• Symbolic significance- A commemorative work shall be appropriate in size and scale to the level of significance of the subject matter of the work.
• Structural Materials- should be chosen for their durability and low maintenance costs, in addition to their ability to visually enhance their surroundings.
  1. Monuments should be native stone or rock, cut granite. Material may not be a mix of different types of stone (See Figure 4). Self-weathering material is preferred.
  2. Plaques- Brass or bronze preferred; other non-ferrous metals allowed. Plastic, wood, etc. not allowed. (See Figures 1A-C and 2A-C)
  3. Benches (See Figure 2A-C)
     1. a. Seats and backs of benches will be manufactures using unpainted rot resistant wood or plastic/resin material that is colored and embossed to resemble wood.
     2. b. Wood will not be painted and surface protection treatments should be non-glossy in appearance and should allow for self-weathering.
     3. c. Legs and arms of benches will be unpainted non-ferrous metal.
  4. Size of Structural Materials
     1. Monuments shall be 1 foot or less in height. Tilted faces are allowed. Maximum cubic volume is 4 cubic feet. Short and broad monuments are preferred to tall and slender monuments (See Figure 3). Plaques on monuments shall be no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet. (See Figures 1A-C)
     2. Bench plaques shall be 2 inches by 4 inches. (See Figures 2A-C)
  5. Text and Images (See Figures 1A-C and 2A-C)
     1. a. Carving or etching in stone is allowed.
     2. b. Plaques
        1. The work shall be legible. Words must be in English and the work’s meaning must be clear and understandable to the public. Text is subject to Department approval.
        2. Plaque wording must be acid etched black landfill
        3. All plaques on monuments will have a 1 inch clear space border. Plaques on benches will have a ½ inch clear space border.
        4. Logos or Imagery for plaques on monuments should be solid line work picture. No imagery is allowed on plaques for benches
        5. Paragraph text should be left-justified. Non-paragraph text should be centered.
        6. Sponsors of commemorative works can be acknowledged but such acknowledgement may not distract from the commemorative nature of the work.
  6. Plant Materials
     1. All plant material must be Maryland native species and approved by the Department.
     2. b. Plant material will be inspected prior to planting to assess quality, structural integrity, and health (disease and pest-free)
     3. c. Plant material will be planted according to approved arboricultural standards, including width and depth of planting hole, soil additives, backfill techniques, mulch materials utilized, removal of wire and burlap and staking.
     4. d. Tree specimens will be a minimum of 8 feet in height and 1 ½ inches in diameter and will possess the branching architecture characteristic of the species in the natural environment.
     5. e. Shrub species will be a minimum of 1 foot in height
     6. f. Memorial trees and shrubs will not be marked in any way at the site. Alternatively, a book listing all living memorials at the facility may be maintained in the administrative office.
  7. Location of Plaques (See Figures 1A-C and 2A-C)
     1. a. Plaques attached to monuments and benches must be fixed by use of adhesives and non-removable bolts. Affixing plaques to trees or other plant materials is prohibited. Plaques should be centered.
     2. b. Plaques shall be centered on the backrest of benches
     3. c. Plaques on walkways must be flush with the walkway surface.
  8. 8. Color (See Figure 5A-C)
     1. a. Picking Specific Hues
        1. i. Monument color shall be matched to ground color (not sky), using earth tones whenever possible.
        2. ii. Colors on smooth surfaces should be two or three shades darker than background colors to account for the darkening effects of natural texture
        3. iii. Use Munsell’s plant and tissue color charts or similar guides
        4. iv. Avoid contrasts that will attract the eye. For example, dark colors next to light colors tend to attract the eye and become a visual focal point.
     2. b. Glare- use low luster paints (flat or semi-gloss) to create low levels of reflectivity (See Figure 7).

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Posted July 20, 2005