PHOTO #1: Two memorial plaques were installed Feb. 24 at the Memorial Rose Garden in Riverside Park, bearing the names of approximately 1,400 people whose family members and loved ones dedicated roses to them.
PHOTO #2: One of the plaques at the Memorial Rose Garden displays the names of honorees with last names beginning A-L.
PHOTO #3: One of the plaques at the Memorial Rose Garden displays the names of honorees with last names beginning L-Z.
PHOTO #4: A new sign installed Feb. 24 at the Memorial Rose Garden provides information about the garden’s history.
PHOTO #5: The Memorial Rose Garden is located in Riverside Park.
The City of Victoria Parks & Recreation on Feb. 24 completed the installation of two new memorial plaques at the Memorial Rose Garden in Riverside Park bearing the names of approximately 1,400 people who were chosen for commemoration by their family members and loved ones.
The garden previously featured individual dedication plaques, but many of these had become damaged or illegible after years of exposure to the elements. The new plaques at the entrance to the garden were designed to be longer-lasting, ensuring that honorees will be remembered by visitors to the garden for years to come.
Recreation services manager Jaymie Ring said in addition to being a popular site for weddings and photos, the garden receives regular visits from people who’ve dedicated roses.
“It’s a way for them to remember their loved ones,” she said. “Instead of going to a cemetery, they can come to the rose garden.”
The renovation also includes a sign to educate visitors about the history of the rose garden, which was created in 1979 and became a memorial site in 1996. Parks & Recreation also recently transitioned from double rows of roses to single roses, which will help with keeping the plants healthy and flourishing.
To reserve the Memorial Rose Garden gazebo for a wedding or other event, contact Parks & Recreation at 361-485-3200.