The urban areas within American cities continue to increase in population density. Urban planners must continue to provide sufficient public open-space in response to population influxes. Intense competition for land in urban areas impedes the development of essential public open-spaces. Creative methods to generate land for parks are continually being suggested, but cemeteries are rarely a part of comprehensive plans, revitalization plans, or community conversions. Public open-space is generally provided by parks alone despite the fact that cemeteries possess an innate ability to serve as public open-space. A number of physical, cultural, and political constraints effectively devalue cemeteries and preclude the opportunity for planners to take advantage of these land-uses in long-range planning efforts. Associated constraints and opportunities are distinguished through an investigation of history, evaluation of contemporary conditions, identification and review of successful case studies, and an examination of typical urban planning policies.