ph: 361-935-1556
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Memory Meadows Pet Memorial Park:
A MASTERFUL LANDSCAPE PLAN
November 29, 2015
By Charla Borchers Leon/Victoria County Master Gardener
PHOTO BY CHARLA BORCHERS LEON
After seven years of planning and more than a year of design, construction and landscape work, Memory Meadows Pet Memorial Park is dedicated and open to visitors. It is located adjacent to the Dorothy O'Connor Pet Adoption Center near the Victoria Regional Airport.
The sun sets to the west of Memory Meadows Pet Memorial Park overlooking a beautiful etched monument honoring the life of a companion animal.
The park is comprised of a pavilion with benches, three arbors with columbarians, a trickling water feature, lit flag poles and an etched monument on two acres of newly-planted landscaping. It offers a final resting place in a black stone columbarian for military or law enforcement animals or for a beloved pet situated in a peaceful and comforting setting.
For more information, call 361-574-8552 or visit memorymeadowspetmemorialpark.com
• Monday through Friday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Closed Sundays and holidays
Memory Meadows Pet Memorial Park
135 Progress Drive
Victoria, TX 77905
Next to Dorothy O'Connor Pet Adoption Center, adjacent to Victoria Regional Airport
Every successful garden requires a master plan for anticipated results. Whether a small setting or a large-scale park, attention to design, sunlight, water (and its drainage) and plant selection is necessary for overall effect and appeal. The newly dedicated Memory Meadows Pet Memorial Park is a prime example of the impact of detail.
Background
A 2-acre setting, Memory Meadows Pet Memorial Park offers a final resting place for beloved pets. Affiliated with the Dorothy O'Connor Pet Adoption Center and located next door to it off U.S. Highway 59 North adjacent to Victoria Regional Airport, it is a masterpiece in design to only be enhanced with time.
Some seven years ago, key players of the Dorothy O'Connor Pet Adoption Center Board of Directors began research and visits to pet cemeteries in Texas and as far away as Florida. Through much discussion and input, it was determined that entombment of animal cremains in a columbarium niche was the type of final resting place to be provided at the park and it would include a setting for K-9 unit entombment staged against a backdrop of waving flags.
Design selection
Designs were requested and subsequently submitted with a master plan selected a year and a half ago in the summer 2014. John Fossati and Four Seasons Garden Center took the lead in transforming an uneven virgin piece of land into a serene, breathtaking, landscaped, fenced and lit memorial park.
The design evolved around a symmetrical square perimeter with a focus on triple elements embellishing three stately flag poles. A center pavilion with attached benches welcomes family and friends for a service or to simply reflect in peace on the animal that was very much a part of their life. About half the property was to be developed, leaving remaining land for future expansion.
Every detail considered
The master plan included overall design with garden structures, flag poles and groupings of plants.
Site preparation
Ground was broken at the site a year ago. Initially, the natural terrain had to be graded for leveling and drainage. To prepare the ground for the massive flag poles, pavilion, sidewalks and columbariums with arbors, 66 12-cubic yard truckloads of top soil were added to the location to bring it up to grade.
Irrigation
With perpetual beauty a primary goal, an irrigation system was designed with a 250-foot water well drilled as its supply for environmental conservation in watering the lawn and plants. Drip irrigation with individual spigots has been placed at each tree and planted area.
Garden structures
A central pavilion was designed with location set from laser light beam measurement from each exterior side of the property. Walkways comprised of 5,300 square feet of concrete run throughout the park and lead to two similarly designed arbor-covered black granite columbariums for families of pets to provide a final resting place for companion animals. Additionally, a focal point arbor and columbarium is situated near the flag pole setting for entombment of cremains of military and law enforcement K-9 dogs.
A black granite monument detailed with gray tree trim has a meaningful epitaph etched on it and spotlighted at its own focal point location. Directly in front of it is an arbor with a trickling porous moss boulder water feature with three continuously-flowing water bubbles.
Lighting
Aesthetic outdoor lighting has also been put in place for evening tranquility and proper display of flags. Care was taken to use soft LED moon light fixtures at every turn of the walkways and on plantings. Nonglare brighter lights were used to impact the pavilion and flag pole settings.
Perimeter enclosure
There is 630 feet of black-coated fence installed around the park with entrance and service gates flanked by various blooming plantings and trees. In time, they will encircle the property in a serene natural setting. Plants selected are all suitable to this area with light and water requirements addressed for a lasting park setting.
Dedication, grand opening
After nine months of continuous work and attention to detail by John Fossati and crew, Memory Meadows Pet Memorial Park was dedicated and opened Nov. 24 in the spirit of giving thanks the week of Thanksgiving. The open air event was at sunset with lighting precisely as the day ended for the dedication of the park. Nine handlers with their K-9 units were present with the Victoria County Sheriff and Victoria Police Chief present. Various county, city and state officials were present for the dedication of the park ,which is the first and only of its kind in the Victoria and surrounding areas.
It is a landscape project to behold as a result of a master plan in great detail. A beautiful setting embraced by sensitive emotion of solidifying a final resting place for companion animals, it is a site to be seen.
I am extremely proud to be a part of the effort that brings this perpetual gift to the community from the O'Connor-Hewitt family in continuing the vision of Dorothy Hanna O'Connor in humane and loving treatment of all animals from cradle to their everlasting resting place.
Next week's article will complete the project description of plants and trees placed in the park.
The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com.
ph: 361-935-1556
nancyk