Newton Cemetery and Arboretum is an example of the rural garden cemetery movement of the 1800s, which strove to create park-like cemeteries by utilizing the natural landscape to create a tranquil resting place and serve as a location where the public could escape the city and enjoy nature. The garden cemetery concept was a forerunner of public park development in America and features winding paths, large shade trees, flowers, shrubs, and appealing vistas. Today, Newton Cemetery and Arboretum is still a place where the public is welcome to explore the beauty of the grounds. With its rolling lawns and network of ponds, it serves as a park for the community and a valued green space in Newton.

The Newton Cemetery and Arboretum serve as an oasis to a diverse ecosystem in an urban area. With 100 acres of open space, hundreds of trees, and a natural pond system that moves through the grounds, many species of wildlife call Newton Cemetery home. Turtles, frogs, chipmunks, deer, or an occasional coyote may be spotted on a visit to Newton Cemetery. The grounds are also a favorite of bird watchers, where you will find a variety of hawks, ducks, warblers, herons, and doves among the migrating species.