Memorial Living Gardens is an Oasis of Beauty in Sidney; Spring Clean-Up Set for April 20

MIKE MOTZ

Sidney Sun-Telegraph

SIDNEY--Cheyenne County residents generally are familiar with the Living Memorial Gardens at Legion Park, and if they’re not, once they discover the natural beauty waiting there, it quickly becomes one of their favorite places in Sidney. For many who frequent the gardens, it is not unusual to run into tourists and travelers who specifically have stopped off in Sidney to enjoy the natural beauty, as the Living Memorial Gardens has become a well-known attraction.

Living Memorial Gardens board president Colleen Langdon is getting ready for Saturday’s “Clean Up Day”, where every year, garden plot-holders and supporters turn out to give the gardens a cleaning and sprucing up as they prepare for the season.

“Each Garden plot is controlled by a different person, and they can plant whatever they want and arrange it in their own way. Some people have more than one plot, and they use those to put their personal touches on the flowers and plants they like,” said Langdon.

She continued, “We have plots open as there is turnover on them all the time. People move, have children, get sick--so we usually have a few plots open and are looking for people who would like to work their very own plot.”

There is no cost to manage a garden plot. All that is required is the desire to turn the space into something beautiful and keep up with the maintenance through the season.

“The Living Memorial Gardens are truly unique and a bright spot here in Sidney. Often people who move into the area are amazed by the beauty the first time they discover the gardens are here,’ Langdon said.

The Living Memorial Gardens are adjacent to Legion Field. In season, the gardens are a unique blend of flowers and plants that are personally designed and cared for by private citizens. Nature lovers can stroll along the pathways of the park and enjoy the natural beauty the gardens have to offer. Located right next to the former site of the original Sidney Swimming Pool, there’s a gazebo next to the gardens that offers a great place to catch some shade and rest for a while on a hot summer’s day.

“We have a great relationship with the city, as they provide water, land, insurance, and other essentials we need to operate the garden. But just about everything else is provided by the plot-holders and private donations. We are looking to raise about $25,000 for some necessary upgrades and fixes,” said Langdon. Next to the gardens is a structure known as “The Bath House”, which was built to service the original Sidney pool, which was located where the gazebo now stands. There were a few incidents involving vandals earlier in the year that needed to be cleaned up, and a door that had to be replaced. Determined vandals can get inside the structure due to part of the building having no roof. “That used to be the boy’s changing room back in the day. Vandals were able to drop down because of the lack of a roof, and then had a tough time getting back out, which caused some damage,” said Langdon.

Along with repairs to damage from vandalism, the Bath House needs some concrete work and painting. Langdon has been trying to get concrete work done on the trail area in the gardens, but the cost was prohibitive. But combining that work with repairs to the Bath House might make the project a reality now.

“We’re looking for about $25,000 overall, and once we get some solid bids, I will start going around for donations from some private benefactors and financial institutions in the area. Everyone loves the gardens and is usually willing to chip in to help,” she said.

In addition to the April 20 clean-up day, which starts in the morning, the Sidney Garden Club will be holding a tour of prominent private gardens in Sidney. For $15, garden fans will be taken around town and shown beautiful residential gardens. All of the money earned will be used for Sidney’s beautification projects.

The parking lot adjacent to the gardens will be repaved, sometime in late July. The timing falls after the garden tour and baseball season, and before Gold Rush days.