Liberty Garden Still Thrives 12 Years Later

If you use the Calera path in Rockaway on any given morning, you might run into Mike Mooney, who has been the caretaker of the Liberty Memorial Garden since 2001.

The garden is festooned with miniature American flags and figurines of animals around the foliage.

Mooney spoke in a thick Irish brogue when discussing the history of the garden. He pointed to a bench where his faithful companion sat, a Yorkshire terrier named “Lucky.”

The bench was his donation to the City of Pacifica, one which he installed himself. After the installation, on May 26, 2002, Mooney attended a dedication ceremony for the garden, attended by U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos, then Mayor of Pacifica Barbara Carr, and several others. In 2011, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, a photo and story were featured on the Huffington Post.

When asked if he has any helpers with the garden, Mooney shook his head.

“Not lately. For this work, I prefer to do this on my own. I’m retired, and it’s great exercise. I don’t like to go by anyone else’s schedule,” he said.

After he posed for a few of photos, Mooney pointed to a red binder in a wooden holder nearby.

“There’s more information about this garden and the bench in that binder over there. Read through it.”

Mooney then went back to his volunteer job, the garden he has lovingly tended for almost 12 years.

Have you visited this garden lately?