One of the many accomplishments of the MGC during their 2008/09 season was the beautification of picnic areas along US1 in front of the Marathon airport.

Four locations were originally established during the 1960’s as a “park” by Monroe County officials with assistance from garden club members & are maintained by the grounds staff at the airport. Due to the community’s increasing interest in expanding use of the airport in an effort to bring people to the Keys & the garden club’s involvement on the City of Marathon Beautification Board, garden club members, affectionately called the “groomers & grunts”, agreed to take on the task of cleaning up these areas.

The project commenced on a Thursday morning in April 2008 with area #1 which is the one furthest south. A memorial plaque to Patricia Ann Smith was discovered on the property & research done by Linnea Cunningham resulted in contact with a relative who still resides in Marathon & was able to provide us with the history behind this memorial as well as make a donation to the project.

The second area, progressing north, was tackled in February 2009. The garden club installed a bronze plaque in honor of club member Ruth Bragen’s 100th birthday! Ruth has been an active member of the Marathon Garden Club since 1971, MGC President from 1973-1975 & a life member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. Her 100th birthday party was held at the garden center!

Areas #3 & #4 were completed in April 2009 marking the successful completion of a year long project! To our pleasant surprise we discovered a variety of wildflowers still blooming in these areas, perhaps planted there by our predecessors!

As we walk, bike or drive by these areas now we often notice people stopping to enjoy the respite of a picnic table beneath a shade tree along the scenic corridor of US1.

Welcome to Marathon…compliments of the Marathon Garden Club!