SIDNEY -- Today a gathering of gardeners and public officials met at the Living Memorial Gardens. The event was a ceremonial "ground breaking" to announce the upgrading of sidewalks and walking paths in the garden.

Coleen Langdon, president of the Living Memorial Gardens committee, explained the project.

"We're here at the Living Memorial Gardens in Sidney, Nebraska in our beautiful Legion Park. And the Gardens have been here a long time. We think since 1985," Langdon said.

She said after nearly 40 years, some of the paths are rough, especially for people with walkers and strollers.

"A few months ago, we got this idea: let's replace it. We've had other people who have had this idea for a couple of years now. So I went on a journey, and started asking for money and low and behold, we got the money we needed to start this project," she said.

Langdon said the sidewalks is the first of several projects at the Living Memorial Gardens. 

"This is going to be the first of many major projects. What we're looking at is the building behind us and the gazebo, and make this a true event place," she said.

Cheyenne County Tourism Director Kendra Mitchell said the new sidewalks will be a big asset to the Living Memorial Gardens.

"It's going to be really great for visitors that want to come. Like she (Langdon) said, some of the paths are hard for people with certain disabilities, or even pulling a stroller to get through the gardens to see the whole thing," Mitchell said.

Marva Ellwanger talked about the abundance of photographic opportunities in the Memorial Gardens.

"I take pictures here probably every week. They've been the cover of Nebraska Through the Lens quite a few times. I have family members who are like 'where is this magical garden that you keep going to?" she said.

The next stage will be the building adjacent to the Living Memorial Gardens that once housed showers for the swimming pool.