The lasting legacy left by the man who managed the £2 million refurbishment of MacRosty Park in Crieff has been honoured.
The Friends of MacRosty Park have planted a “handkerchief” tree and unveiled a plaque in memory of Michael Messenger, who died last year.
As parks development officer for Perth and Kinross Council, he was not only responsible for the refurbishment but also for the successful bid for Heritage Lottery money.
Sadly, the landscape architect didn’t live to see his work in Crieff fully appreciated, and his contribution will be further remembered next month when the park has its official opening on June 11.
Perth and Kinross Council’s parks development manager Andy Clegg paid warm tribute to Mr Messenger.
He said, “The planting of the handkerchief tree is a wonderful and very fitting tribute by the Friends of MacRosty Park to the hard work and dedication Mike put into working with them for the benefit of the park and its users.
“Mike led the team who have brought the £2 million refurbishment of MacRosty Park to fruition, including securing £1.2 million external funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“It was one of Mike’s key ambitions to see this project through to completion, an ambition which was tragically denied. The MacRosty Park works, which were largely completed at the beginning of April, have been successful beyond all expectations.
“The finished result very much reflects the passion, enthusiasm and talent this gifted individual brought to his work.
“A celebration day to mark the formal opening of the park is planned for Saturday, June 11, and further details of this will be made available shortly.
“Mike worked for the council for almost 30 years, and made his mark with his design flare and wealth of horticultural knowledge.Award-winning”He completed several award-winning schemes including the Beatrix Potter Garden in Birnam (1991) and the Rodney Pavilion in Perth (1992), all of which continue to flourish and provide huge pleasure to those who visit them.
“In 1993, he also designed the external landscape works for the new AK Bell Library. Mike is, and will continue to be, missed by all his work colleagues with whom he had a warm and close working relationship.
“His legacy very much lives on in the parks and open spaces he worked on right across the area.”
Mr Messenger was also behind a number of other high-profile projects including the Greyfriars Cemetery Restoration Project and the Broxden roundabout stone walls, tree planting and landscape design work for the Perth flood prevention measures, and Perth’s old High Street upgrade.
He was further involved in the Friends of Parks Initiative and redevelopment of St Magdelene’s Hill in Perth, Scone Park, Kirkgate Park in Kinross, Larghan Park in Coupar Angus and Aberfeldy’s Victoria Park.