Mary Grunewald McGown Honored with Boise Pollinator Garden
A new pollinator garden in Warm Springs Park, Boise, has been dedicated to the memory of Mary Grunewald McGown, a prominent environmentalist and public servant. The Mary Grunewald McGown Pollinator Garden dedication ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29. McGown, who passed away in 2020, dedicated her life to conservation and community service.
Remembering Mary Grunewald McGown
Mary Grunewald McGown worked for several organizations, including the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, the City of Boise, Idaho Rivers United, and the Idaho Department of Water Resources, where she retired as the state floodplain coordinator in 2013. She also served on the Boise Parks and Recreation Commission from 2002 to 2012, acting as president from 2003 to 2004. She was a passionate advocate for native plants, which are featured prominently in the garden that now bears her name.
Doug Holloway, Boise Parks and Recreation Director, described McGown as "one of the most active conservationists we have in this community," emphasizing her exceptional advocacy for environmental health. He characterized her as an "environmental influencer."
A Life of Civic Engagement
McGown’s commitment to her community was evident in her extensive involvement. She was an active member of the League of Women Voters, serving as co-president of LWV Idaho and president of the Boise LWV chapter. She also represented Idaho in the Northwest Energy Coalition and chaired the Idaho Rivers United Board of Directors.
Her community involvement extended to organizations like the Audubon Society, Great Old Broads, Idaho Conservation League, Girl Scouts, Sierra Club, Idaho Master Naturalist Program, and the Idaho Native Plant Society. In addition, she shared her time teaching Sunday school.
Holloway highlighted her selfless dedication, stating, "People like her…do it because they have a heart for their community. She’s not getting anything out of it, not only pay wise, but also no recognition.”
Academic Achievements and Personal Life
McGown earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Northern Colorado, a master’s in landscape architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver, and a doctorate in forest, wildlife, and range management from the University of Idaho. Despite the demands of her studies, she successfully raised two children, Erin and Brenna.
Her husband, John McGown Jr., described her as a woman of "integrity, a warm person, an excellent parent, occasionally stubborn, and a good cook." He emphasized her love for the outdoors, noting that it was a central part of their lives together. Mary Grunewald McGown was an avid hiker and traveler, exploring mountains in the West and completing 10 walks in Great Britain, including walking the entire length of Wales.
The McGowns also embarked on a 15-month RV tour of the U.S. and Canada shortly after their marriage in 1978, during which they rafted the Middle and Main Forks of the Salmon River consecutively.
A Fitting Tribute
The naming of the pollinator garden after Mary Grunewald McGown is a fitting tribute to her life and work. Support for the naming came from organizations such as the Idaho Community Foundation, the Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Rivers United, the League of Women Voters, and the Northwest Energy Coalition.
Justin Hayes, executive director of the Idaho Conservation League, stated, "Boise is a better place because of Mary’s efforts, and Boise is a lesser place since her passing. Naming the Pollinator garden after Mary is a fitting honor for a person who gave so much to so many. And, (bestowing) her name on the garden is the right thing to do for the garden itself, for it is wonderful to name a city asset after a person that inspires others."
