Homegrown: Greenhouse dedication

Marion's new greenhouse was dedicated Sunday, Oct. 24, at Lowe Park on North 10th Street.

The greenhouse will be given to the city of Marion by the Linn County Master Gardeners, who donated volunteer labor and more than $21,000 to the project.

The Marion Parks and Recreation Department also worked on the construction, which began in the spring.

Master Gardener Devon Dietz said classes could start in the greenhouse as soon as this fall.

Parks Director Richard Fox said the $48,500 project was also paid for through city hotel-motel taxes; the parks foundation, a Rockwell Collins grant, Friends of the Marion Parks, an I-Jobs grant and Lowe Park development fund.

Besides offering classes for students and the public, master gardeners will provide the city with annual flowers that will be started in the greenhouse beginning next spring.