CRESTVIEW — Crestview artist William Walton has donated a handmade sign for Garden Park in advance of the recreation area’s April 25 dedication.
Walton, who owns PortraitCarvings.com, a local business, created the sign from red cedar, Dogwood Garden Club member Thea Duhaime said. She is spearheading the club's project to dedicate the park in honor of the defunct Crestview Garden Club.
"When the Crestview Garden Club finished their work on the park in 1982, they named it Garden Park, but not officially," she said. "It wasn't until May 23, 2011, that the Crestview City Council officially named it that, in honor of the Crestview Garden Club.
"There was never any official dedication that I can find in my researching. So, with the donation of the new sign, we thought this was the perfect time to dedicate the park and to bring attention to it."
When the Crestview Garden Club disbanded as its members aged, the Dogwood Garden Club stepped up to continue their predecessors' work in beautifying the park.
"We're carrying on the tradition," Duhaime said.
Want to go?
A dedication for Garden Park, at the foot of Main Street at State Road 85, is at 10 a.m. April 25. The public is invited.
Note: In the March 2 edition of the News Bulletin, it was erroneously stated that Garden Park would be renamed Dogwood Park. The park's name will not change. We regret the error.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Local artist’s gift erected in advance of Garden Park dedication