SIDNEY - More than a decade after flooding devastated parts of Keith Clark Park, volunteers and local gardeners are bringing new life to the community’s public gardens.
The gardens were damaged during the 2011 flood that swept through Sidney leaving several established flower beds neglected for years. Recent volunteer efforts have helped restore sections of the park with new plantings, renewed landscaping and a fresh focus on the walking trail’s natural beauty.
During two spring community work days, volunteers cleared weeds, removed overgrowth beneath trees and reclaimed former garden areas. Volunteers from Sidney Federal Credit Union created a colorful annual flower garden that they continue to maintain throughout the season.
The Hill & Valley Garden Club of Sidney has also taken a leading role in restoring the gardens surrounding the Fireman’s Memorial along the park’s walking trail.
In spring 2025, club members removed invasive growth and excess plantings from the garden’s left side, improved the soil and added new identification markers to help visitors learn about the plants growing there.
The markers have become a popular feature for walkers who want to identify flowers and perennials they may wish to add to their own gardens.
Last fall, many plants from the right side of the memorial garden were removed, potted and stored through the winter in a club member’s garden. This spring, the area was prepared again with fresh soil amendments and tilling before the plants returned.
New varieties were added following the club’s annual plant sale in May, where proceeds helped purchase a dozen additional perennial plants. The garden now includes both new selections and established plants that survived the winter.
The Hill & Valley Garden Club’s annual plant sale has long attracted gardeners who appreciate locally grown perennials shared from members’ own gardens.
Club members said the effort is about more than landscaping - it is about creating a place where residents can connect with nature.
The club is inviting residents and visitors to walk the trails at Keith Clark Park and enjoy the renewed gardens.
“Spreading the joy of gardening” is part of the club’s mission, members said, helping make Sidney a more welcoming and beautiful place to live.
