A cemetery that dates back to the mid 1800's is showing its age.

Monday, the city of Elkhart closed the gates at the Grace Lawn Cemetery amid concerns that parts of the property would crumble into the Elkhart River.

Mayor Dick Moore says this decisive action has been a long-time coming, and an issue he did not want to pass on to the city's next administration.

"The time has definitely come that we cannot ignore it,” he said. “We have to put back that soil that's been washed-away over the years, then we have to reinforce that with some rock and stones and things that will hold that soil there for a number of years to come."

The city has already paid over $10,000 for a consultant which identified what exactly needed fixing along the bluff.

Using that guidance, the project is expected to cost about $59,000, paid for using cemetery department funds.

It is too early to know for sure how long crews will be reinforcing the ground at Grace Lawn. However, anyone who would like to visit a loved-one can call the cemetery department at 574-293-2811 to make arrangements for free escorts, available Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.