Chris Makowske says his organization’s core mission is to “reimagine the role of a cemetery in modern life.” A 13-year employee at the Minneapolis cemetery, he plans to spend much of the new year ensuring that the new 25,000-square-foot welcome center building remains on schedule to open in spring 2024. Makowske is determined to raise the urban cemetery’s profile and attract more guests. The new welcome center, he says, “is going to make our campus more inviting, accessible, and environmentally friendly.” A nonprofit founded in the late 1800s, Lakewood is also working to become an accredited arboretum.

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