The Macomb Beautiful Association will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a public reception on Wednesday, September 12, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm at the West Central Illinois Arts Center, 25 East Side Square.
MBA President Rosemary Aten said the group maintains the memorial gardens in Chandler Park. It also maintains a memorial garden and the flower boxes at the Macomb Travel Center, and it provides the Christmas trees and lights for Chandler Park and the depot.
In addition, the group gives out annual beautification awards to home and business owners. She believes this encourages others to strive to beautify the city.
“Once your neighbor sees the yard next door that's all landscaped and so forth, it sort of has a ripple effect. You want your yard to look that way too,” Aten said.
Aten said MBA is a non-profit organization that works closely with the city. She has served as the group's president for 11 years.
“It's really been a big part of my life and I'm very happy to have participated as much as I did with it.”
