Master Plan Survey: Help Chart the Future of Congressional Cemetery

Historic Congressional Cemetery (HCC) is developing a Master Plan to help guide its growth, preservation, and stewardship over the next two decades—and we want to hear from you. As part of this process, we’ve launched a public survey to gather input on Master Plan alternatives.

Whether you’re a neighbor, visitor, K9 Corps member, volunteer, or someone who cares about this historic site, your feedback is essential to shaping our future.

Click HERE to to review the document and take the survey!

Take the survey by August 26, 2025.
All who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to win a jar of our iconic Rest in Bees honey.

What is a Master Plan?

A Master Plan is a comprehensive, long-term planning document that guides the future of Historic Congressional Cemetery. It helps us thoughtfully approach how we can further our non-profit mission, investing resources in charting the future of historic preservation, burial site availability, the visitor experience, landscape management and beautification, programming, and sustainability for the next 10–20 years. The plan will provide a framework for how we steward the cemetery’s historic character while adapting to future needs.

Who is working on the Master Plan?

In 2024, Congressional Cemetery contracted Rhodeside and Harwell (RHI), an Alexandria-based landscape architecture and planning firm, to lead a team of architects, engineers, and cost estimators to develop HCC’s Master Plan. This was approved by the cemetery Executive Director and the Board of Directors. A Working Group of cemetery staff and board members coordinate and work closely with RHI and their associates on the ongoing Master Planning process.

What stage of the process are we in now and when will it be completed?

We are currently presenting draft master plan alternatives—different visions for how the cemetery might evolve in the years ahead. These options explore potential improvements based on HCC’s current priorities, results of RHI’s site analysis, and proposed uses for the site based on previous community feedback, historical context, and organizational needs.

The Master Plan is estimated to be fully completed in February 2026.

Why are we conducting this survey?

We’re asking our community to review these alternative options and share their reactions, thoughts, and comments. This feedback will help us understand what resonates most and what concerns may need to be addressed. The input we collect will directly shape the Draft Master Plan that emerges from this stage.

Who should take the survey?

Anyone who has an interest in the cemetery’s future—visitors, neighbors, K9 Corps members, volunteers, families, history enthusiasts, and local residents. We want to hear from people who use the cemetery in different ways and care about its future, but everyone is welcome to complete the survey.

What’s included in the survey?

The survey is accompanied by a PDF document that illustrates the two draft master plan alternatives. The survey includes:

• Questions asking which aspects of each plan respondents like or what aspects they have concerns about

• Opportunities to provide written feedback

• Questions to ensure we’re hearing from a diverse cross-section of our community

How will the survey results be used?

The results will be reviewed by RHI and our Working Group of staff and board members. They’ll help determine which elements of the alternative plans should be prioritized or revised in the final Master Plan. Your participation ensures that the plan reflects the true voices of our community.

How can someone take the survey?

• Click HERE or use the below URL to take the survey!

• https://sites.google.com/view/hcc-summer2025

Is the survey anonymous?

Yes. Participants are not required to give their names unless they wish to be contacted for future updates or events, or be entered into the Rest in Bees honey

drawing.

What if I have questions?

If you have detailed questions about the Master Plan or the survey, please contact:

A.J. Orlikoff
Interim Executive Director
AOrlikoff@congressionalcemetery.org

Help Us Shape the Next Chapter of Congressional Cemetery

We hope you’ll take a few minutes to complete the survey and share your thoughts. As one of the nation’s most historic burial grounds and public green spaces, Congressional Cemetery depends on the people who use it, love it, and support it to help guide its future.

The survey is open through August 26, 2025. Thank you for being part of this important process.