People who have recently stopped by Pokagon Township’s “church without walls” may have noticed the surroundings look more lively and vibrant than ever before.

Volunteers with The Old Rugged Cross Memorial Garden have recently wrapped up work on the first phase of improvements to the half-acre nondenominational Christian park, located across the street from Pokagon United Methodist Church, 31393 Kansas St., Dowagiac. With the assistance of Niles’ MAAC Property Services, members of The Old Rugged Cross Association have planted new flowers and replaced some of the landscaping in order to freshen up the appearance of the garden.

The greenspace now has a new bed of perennial flowers at the base of garden’s altar, which includes species such as sage, phlox, Arizona Apricot Blanket Flowers, lavender and yarrow. Lavender plants have also been planted along the garden’s sidewalks, new mulch has been placed throughout the garden’s flowerbeds to improve the health of the plants, topsoil and grass seed have been planted near the picnic shelter, and new stones have been installed inside the garden’s dry riverbed.

According to volunteers, the work is the most extensive set of improvements made since the Old Rugged Cross Garden opened in 1998. Since then, many of the flowers and plants located inside have surpassed their prime, and many of the blue spruce pine trees have suffered damage from a fungal disease.

“It [the work] was needed,” said Bev Bennett, co-chair of the Old Rugged Cross Association. “This garden will be 20 years old next year. It was not looking as well as we wanted it to look.”

The association spent around $4,000 it has raised through contributions over the years to pay for the work, Bennett said.

In the fall, volunteers plan to replace many of the dying spruce trees with 16 green giant arborvitae conifers. To help cover the cost of the work, the association is asking people to make a contribution of $50, which will be used to sponsor one of the trees in memory of one of donor’s loved ones, Bennett said.

Located behind the historic Old Rugged Cross Church, Bennett and others in the community established the Old Rugged Cross Memorial Garden in 1998 in order to provide a space for people to gather and worship. The park is located on the grounds of where the famed “The Old Rugged Cross” hymn was first publically sang in 1913. Funded entirely through donations, the garden was created with the assistance of Stan Beikmann, with Niles’ Fernwood Nature Preserve, and other volunteers.

Over the years, thousands of people from across the world have visited the site to quietly pray, enjoy lunch inside the patio area or just take in the scenery, Bennett said.

“We have a lot of visitors who come just to enjoy the peace of the garden,” said Fran Klees, another member of the association.

The garden has also hosted weddings in the past. Association members hope that more couples will consider the site with the new improvements in place at the garden, they said.

The association also hopes to make other improvements in the future, including removing the remaining spruce trees and building a new fountain on the premises.

The Pokagon United Methodist Church will host a chili supper in November to raise additional money for the garden. People may also make a contribution or volunteer to help maintain the garden by calling (269) 684-8121.

“With all the unrest in the world today, it is important that we have a spot people can come to that is so peaceful,” Bennett said.