Garden of Freedom - Murray, UT - Peace Memorials on Waymarking.com

This Rose Garden, near the State Street entrance to Murray Park, is located at the western end of the park. Murray City Park had its beginning in 1924 with the purchase of 22 acres of land near the present-day entrance at State Street. During the Depression of the 1930’s, Murray Park benefited from the government’s “Works, Progress
and Administration” projects. Over the years, more land was purchased to expand the park.

In 1950, Murray City established a rose garden in the park to honor all war veterans. It was called the Garden of Freedom. During 2005,
the rose garden was redesigned with not only beauty in mind, but also less maintenance. Today, there are eight separate theme beds. The
themes are the following: Memorial, Peace, Presidents and their Wives, Fragrance, Shrub, Floribunda, Celebrity, and Exhibition Roses.
On the sidewalk in front of each rose bush is a brass nameplate identifying the individual rose. A number of memorials are placed in the area. Memorial #1 reads:

MURRAY CITY PARK AND ROSE GARDEN

Murray City Park began in 1924 when the city purchased this tract of land on State Street from William and Sherman Freeze. Workers planted numerous trees, including sixty-five Blleana Poplars, Eight Norway Maples, and three Sycamores. Later the same year, a Fraternal Organization, The Woodmen of the World, placed a flag pole near the front entrance and the Volunteer Fire Department donated a rock drinking fountain to create Murray City's first park.

In 1950, the City designated this area of Murray Park as a WAR MEMORIAL PEACE GARDEN. Mayor Clifford Hansen invited Elva Bowen, a gifted Horticulturalist who was later selected as Utah's Gardner of the Year, to design a rose garden in MEMORY OF THE LOSSES OF WAR AND THE HOPE THAT PEACE WILL PREVAIL. The Memorial, which originally included 500 rose bushes, became known as the Rose Garden of Freedom. One of the first of its kind in the United States. The Murray Women's Club, under the direction of Lovenna S. Cook, assisted in the garden's development and evolution. by 1966 the garden had expanded to 1330 rose bushes in 45 beds.

In 2005 Mayor Daniel C. Snarr asked the Parks and Recreation Department to completely redesign the rose garden and feature newly planted rose bushes surrounding an architectural element called a pergola. the Murray Women's Club, the Murray Exchange Club and numerous volunteers from throughout the community assisted in the project. The pergola was purchased with donations from Richard and Joyce Stauffer and Desert Star Theatres' owners Michael and Alyce Todd.

Memorial #2 reads:

GARDEN OF FREEDOM

Honoring our Men and Women who served their Country

This Rose Garden sponsored by
The Business & Professional Women's Club of Murray
1950

Elva Bowen City Chairman Lovenna S. Cook Club Chairman

Text on Monument/Memorial Sign or Plaque: MURRAY CITY PARK AND ROSE GARDEN Murray City Park began in 1924 when the city purchased this tract of land on State Street from William and Sherman Freeze. Workers planted numerous trees, including sixty-five Blleana Poplars, Eight Norway Maples, and three Sycamores. Later the same year, a Fraternal Organization, The Woodmen of the World, placed a flag pole near the front entrance and the Volunteer Fire Department donated a rock drinking fountain to create Murray City's first park. In 1950, the City designated this area of Murray Park as a WAR MEMORIAL PEACE GARDEN. Mayor Clifford Hansen invited Elva Bowen, a gifted Horticulturalist who was later selected as Utah's Gardner of the Year, to design a rose garden in MEMORY OF THE LOSSES OF WAR AND THE HOPE THAT PEACE WILL PREVAIL. The Memorial, which originally included 500 rose bushes, became known as the Rose Garden of Freedom. One of the first of its kind in the United States. The Murray Women's Club, under the direction of Lovenna S. Cook, assisted in the garden's development and evolution. by 1966 the garden had expanded to 1330 rose bushes in 45 beds. In 2005 Mayor Daniel C. Snarr asked the Parks and Recreation Department to completely redesign the rose garden and feature newly planted rose bushes surrounding an architectural element called a pergola. the Murray Women's Club, the Murray Exchange Club and numerous volunteers from throughout the community assisted in the project. The pergola was purchased with donations from Richard and Joyce Stauffer and Desert Star Theatres' owners Michael and Alyce Todd. Website about the Peace Monument/Memorial: Not listed

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