George Marston said, "In building the city let us remember that the material things which will endure longest are those that express the spirit of man in art. In the arts of landscape and architecture the spirit of a city can be preserved for ages."

Preserving historic and cultural landscapes reflected George Marston's life values: beauty, love of nature, parks, culture, historic preservation, history, and philanthropy.

Running concurrently with the planning and construction of his home in 1904-05 was the movement to address the unplanned and fallow City Park. The park had suffered from municipal and private encroachments, arbitrary tree planting programs, and exhibited an overwhelming need for some sort of a master plan. He and friend horticulturist Kate Sessions had been the leading advocates for the park and the two of them persuaded the Chamber of Commerce to establish a park improvement board in which Marston subsequently chaired, effectively saving the park for generations to come. Though future battles to protect the park would consume much of his time throughout his life.

Courtesy Coons Collection