Fort Gibson National Cemetery is planning an expansion that will keep it open until at least 2030.

Timothy Spain, cemetery director, said the growth toward the west has been planned for at least five years.

“The architectural phase began back in September,” he said. “We hope to issue contracts to bid by the end of May.”

The current cemetery has room for up to 1,500 burials, Spain said. The expansion work will take about 18 months and cost around $5 million.

“The main aspect of any national cemetery is always to be there to serve veterans in the area,” he said. “We are one of the sites that has an opportunity to expand.”

The expansion will add 1,000 conventional grave sites, 1,000 cremation sites and 3,000 crypts. The area will grow from 32 to 48 acres.

Crypts are concrete liners placed 7 feet into the ground by a contractor and then capped with a lid. Spain said each one can accept both a husband and wife.

There is also a long-range plan to add above-ground burial in columbarium niches. Additional landscaping will be one of the final phases of the expansion.

Development will include earth work excavation, road building and paving, including curb and gutter, automatic irrigation system, ornamental fencing and security fencing, construction of a new 3,000-square-foot maintenance building and related maintenance yard and demolition of the existing maintenance garage.

Spain said he has heard positive comments about the change from area veterans.

“A lot of them are really excited,” he said. “They are encouraged that the cemetery is not going to close. They seem really supportive.”

Veteran Jim Smith, a service officer with American Legion Post 15, said the cemetery is a location reserved for special people.

“That’s a place for honoring the people who served their country,” he said.

Smith added that the current management has done a very good job with the cemetery.

“They seem to always bend over backwards for the vets and their families.”