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Legacy Plaza dedicated at Fountain Park
Plaza dedication
Posted
A long history of quiet advocacy for the Town of Fountain Hills was recognized with the dedication of Legacy Plaza in Fountain Park March 17.
The plaza was constructed with a donation from the family trust of Joe and Marge Brown in recognition of their long-time support for Fountain Hills.
“Joe and Marge were the type of people who always paid back to others all of their lives, that is how they were raised,” said Bruce Boland, executor of the Brown estate.
The new plaza in Fountain Park includes a long stone bench with a tree to grow and provide plenty of shade in the future. At the other end is a sculpture entitled “Spirit of the Saguaro” by artist Don Kenworth.
Boland said the artwork was designed with loving care to include the items Marge so loved about the desert, the stately saguaro itself, along with butterflies, hummingbird, cactus wren and flowers.
“Marge saw the saguaro as a special beauty ever present and watching over the town, its world famous Fountain and its visitors,” Boland said.
Boland added that Joe and Marge loved Fountain Hills and enjoyed being involved.
They contributed to the growth in the early stages by building commercial buildings on Laser, Shea and Saguaro, as well as apartments, condos and homes -- all while helping bring small business to the town.
Marge also gave back to her hometown in Badger, Iowa. A donation by her provided for a flower garden and flagpole in Knudson Park, named for her grandfather, a founder of that community. A separate donation went toward a renovation at the Badger Lutheran Church.
A plaque included at the Fountain Park Legacy Plaza states: Joseph E. and Marge Knudson Brown were early town pioneers from Iowa (1970-2013). They were visionaries, risk takers, entrepreneurs and quiet advocates for many Fountain Hills community causes, including continuing enhancement of Fountain Park.
This plaza and its sculpture reflect their love for the Town of Fountain Hills and the beauty of the southwest.
Boland recognized the efforts of Jerry Butler and Jenny Willigrod of the Downtown Greening Committee in making the plaza a reality. Also, Vice Mayor Dennis Brown and his company Echelon supervised the construction.
