Locust 3rd Graders Did Their Part to Beautify Marengo

The new tile sign in the municipal parking lot, made up of nearly a hundred hand-painted tiles by Locust Elementary 3rd graders

The 3rd graders at Locust Elementary School definitely did their part to Beautify Marengo.

As part of a classroom study of Illinois native plants, each student picked a favorite and painted it on a tile. Put together, those tiles now make up the colorful new sign standing in the municipal parking lot downtown, surrounded by the new brick pad and plantings.

Go check it out in person. The detail the kids put into every tile is worth the trip: sunflowers, coneflowers, violets, prairie blooms of every color, and even a few bees.

This project happened because of Ann Anthony, the brains and motivation behind the tiles. Ann reached out to Locust Elementary and coordinated the project with the school, designed the gardens planted beneath the sign, and rallied family and friends to see it through to completion.

And a huge thank-you to Darrel Strege, Sara Schirmer, and Steve Anthony for assembling the sign and hanging it for the whole town to enjoy.