Vandals Destroy “Daddy’s Garden” Memorial In Great Falls

I bet you didn't know that under the bridge at Central Avenue West near the Missouri River Courthouse, there is a memorial garden started and maintained by the Korst family called "Daddy's Garden".

From an interview the Korst family did with KRTV, the memorial garden happened by chance, a different route taken on a routine walk.  Mary Geer said she used to take her mom for walks around the trail.  One day by chance, they happened upon the spot and her mom immediately fell in love.  She wondered if the city would let them put a secret little garden in the nook for passersby.  After her mom passed away, she and the rest of the family made it a reality.

It was decorated with a rose bush, some driftwood, a prized bird bath from the Korst family home and the love and dedication of the Korst family.

Then on Monday, April 10, 2023, Mary went to tend the garden, and saw that it had been vandalized.  They tore out the bird bath and rose bush and left a mess of the little area. You can see how they got the bird bath off the concrete slab in the picture above.

Even through the "why"'s and the devastation of a dream destroyed, the Korst family plans to rebuild the spot and make it even better than before.

While the Korst family knows they may never know who vandalized this little memorial garden, they are hoping to locate the bird bath.  Keep an eye out.  If you see it get a hold of the Great Falls Police Department.  Here's a picture: