Living Memorial Gardens Seeking Donations for Restoration Projects

SIDNEY--For many years, the Living Memorial Gardens has been an oasis of natural beauty in Sidney, created and maintained by dedicated citizens of Sidney who have a love for flowers and gardening. Living Memorial Gardens president Coleen Langdon has announced a fundraising effort for the grounds and buildings attached, seeking contributions and grants from the Sidney business community and charitable citizens. There are several projects in the gardens that require funding to accomplish, and Langdon hopes that once again the Sidney citizens and business community will come through and help keep this special place a beautiful and thriving spot for all to enjoy.

Located in the middle of beautiful Legion Park, the gardens are at the center of a hub of activity and well-managed public space. The area boasts a fishing pond that is stocked every year and has a bridge over the water, gazebos, a covered picnic area, the "Shelter House" multi-use building, and to the west of the park is the tallest flagpole in Nebraska with concrete dividers adjacent to the pathway going towards the base of the flag and the back side of the monument. The dividers bear plaques with the names of veterans honored by their families.

In the center of all this lies the Living Memorial Gardens. In the 1940s, an octagonal swimming pool and bath house were constructed and used by the citizens of Sidney until 1982 when a larger new pool was constructed. The city earmarked $10,000 for the removal of the old pool and bath house, but forward-thinking citizens requested the money be granted to them to create the Living Memorial Gardens, and the city agreed. The bathhouse was kept and used for storage while the old pool was demolished and filled in with soil, and the surrounding area was turned into the Living Memorial Gardens. The Angel of Hope monument was created, and this inspiring area is dedicated to those who have passed, especially children, and plaques bearing the names of the deceased adorn the walls surrounding the area. It is one of only about 100 such monuments in the United States.

As time passed, the gardens in the old pool area were transformed into a grassy space, and a large gazebo was erected. This space is often used for weddings, picnics, parties, and other events. The bath house still stands in the southeast corner of the area, with its art-deco architecture of the past giving balance to the new structures and natural beauty of the gardens. The land west of the main gazebo was turned into the Living Memorial Gardens. Although the City of Sidney provides water, electricity, tree trimming, mulch, and compost and pays for a part-time employee to upkeep the area, a local foundation donates annually for the costs accrued while maintaining the underground watering system, fertilizing service for the grass around the gardens, mowing, and stipends for individual gardens for the cost of plants. There are currently about 25 gardening plots in the Living Memorial Gardens, and each plot is maintained and cared for by a volunteer.

There are currently projects to refurbish and restore areas of the Living Memorial Gardens, and the space has been traditionally the benefactor of generous donations by the Sidney business community and civic-minded citizens. An effort started a few years ago to replace the brick walkways through the gardens, but only about 25 percent of the project was completed. The remaining walkways are made of brick that was laid in the park in the 1980s, and although they have been maintained, age and wear and tear have made the bricks break apart and become unstable. It has become a safety issue for those walking these paths, so the Living Memorial Gardens has proposed replacing nearly 275 feet of brick pathway with a concrete stamped walkway to match what has already been improved and to provide turning "bubbles" for those in wheelchairs. The cost is approximately $13,000, and the timeline for the project would be in August or early September to coincide with the re-paving of the parking lot around the gardens and American Legion Baseball field. There is also another $1000 required to repair parts of the underground watering system which will be necessary when installing the concrete pathways.

Another important project is the restoration of the bathhouse. Although its art-deco architecture is striking, weather and wear-and-tear have given the structure a "run-down" look that does not contribute to the beauty of the gardens. Even worse, vandals have damaged the doors and walls of the structure. The doors and frames have been patched, but this temporary solution has allowed leaking in the structure and has attracted rodents. The front of the building had windows long ago, but they were taken out and replaced with Blandex, which is deteriorating and has compromised the outside appearance of the structure. The partial roof on the north side of the building has deteriorated to the point of being able to see the outdoors from the inside roofline. This part of the building is used to store tools and equipment, and every time it rains or snows, moisture gets into the space and damages the stored items.

The northwest wing, used to store hardscape materials, has no roof, and in 2023 vandals climbed into the space and tossed bricks and native stone out of the building and onto the adjacent parking lot. A new roof and interior door will be needed, as well as electrical work which is estimated to cost about $3000. The current appearance of the bathhouse is a contributing factor to its recent vandalism with spray paint and damage to the walls, as the structure looks like it is in disrepair, which leads to vandals adding more damage. Other touches to the area would like to be added, and Langdon is working hard to bring this project to the attention of the Sidney community. She is looking for donations and grants, with a total cost, excluding electrical upgrades, of about $26,000. Other than some paintings, there has been no true refurbishing of the bathhouse building for decades.

The Sidney community and the Living Memorial Gardens volunteers are appealing to local businesses and organizations to donate to this very worthy project, which has been enjoyed by community members and travelers alike. The Living Memorial Gardens are a frequent stopping point for travelers passing through the area to enjoy and then shop in Sidney. Langdon will be calling on many Sidney businesses to raise the money necessary for these restorations, and private citizens are also encouraged to donate to this worthy cause. Landon can be contacted at 308-249-6572 for more details about helping the Living Memorial Gardens continue to be a place of beauty and serenity in Sidney.