The Parks Foundation received a $5,000 donation from the Vancouver Women’s Club to support construction and maintenance of a vignette garden at the Jane Weber Evergreen Arboretum. The arboretum is on a seven-acre site that is one of the last undeveloped pieces of property fronting the Columbia River in Vancouver.
On-site manger Kelly Punteney said the generous donation will bring to life the plan for a series of vignette gardens to be known as the Path of Heroines. They will feature rock walls and plantings along the meandering stream that runs the length of the property, all paying tribute to women who have made a difference in the local community.
Several tributes are already in place. The Florence B. Wager memorial bench is installed at the north boundary of the property overlooking the stream. A marker is installed alongside with a quote from the much beloved community activist and parks advocate who passed in 2012. Marie Day, a longtime resident and employee of local government, is recognized with a commemorative rock bench and a 50-year-old southern magnolia witness tree.
The arboretum itself is a memorial tribute. Dr. Vinson Weber made the donation of the property with the wish that it be named after his wife Jane, a respected teacher with Vancouver Public Schools. Many friends and former students honor her memory by volunteering at the arboretum.
Each of the vignette gardens will have a distinct character but with a consistent theme of women as heroes. Visitors will be able to pause and reflect on their accomplishments while enjoying the natural beauty and history represented at the arboretum. It is home to the John Stanger House, the oldest house on its original location in Vancouver.
Said Punteney, “There are many strong women who have lived here, raised families, worked jobs, built businesses and contributed in countless ways to the vitality of this community. We want to keep their stories alive and inspire future generations.”
There is opportunity for community partners to take on pieces of the project, and especially for groups such as the Vancouver Women’s Club that wish to contribute to the vignette gardens on the site. For more information, contact Kelly Punteney at[email protected] or call 360-921-8374.
