Dayton landmark gets shout-out for thinking outside of the coffin

Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum, 18 Woodland Ave., is mentioned in a Philadelphia Inquirer piece published online March 7 about cemeteries bringing in "new blood" with special events and activities like picnics, yoga and festivals.

The article acknowledges Woodland as one of the oldest garden cemeteries in the country and mentions its annual Free Your Sole 5K slated this year for 9 a.m. Sunday, April 28.

Aside from Philadelphia-area Victorian-era cemeteries, the article  also mentions Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery in New York and Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery.

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"Cemeteries are a natural gathering place for obvious reasons but also a place for education and recreation," the Woodland staff says in a Facebook post about the Philly.com article.

The institution, voted third best Dayton landmark in Dayton.com's 2018 Best of Dayton contest, hosted a fundraising bash in August to help cover repairs to gypsy queen Matilda Joles Stanley's deteriorating monument.

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Woodland has a variety of walks and tours on topics ranging from bird watching to murder, mystery and mayhem.

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The cemetery is also known as one of the most romantic spots in the city due to its view overlooking Dayton.

Woodland’s Lookout Columbarium helped earn it first place in the best view contest in Dayton.com’s Best of Dayton 2018 and each year since the contest launched in 2015 under Dayton.com.