The southeast corner of South Lake Powell Boulevard and Coppermine Road used to be one of the worst eyesores in Page. It was covered with weeds that would occasionally get knocked down by the property owners, which just knocked their seeds loose allowing them to grow back even thicker and more virulently than before.

But over the last couple years the weeds have disappeared and trees, a vegetable and flower garden and a shade and picnic area have sprung up in their place, making it one of the most-improved areas in Page.

One of the many people in town to notice and appreciate the changes was Page city councilman Levi Tappan, who awarded Pastor James Crosby and the Page All Nations Seventh-Day Adventist Church, with a Certificate of Property Beautification at last Wednesday’s regular city council meeting.

James Crosby and his wife, Nancy, arrived in Page in Sept. 2014 and immediately set out to improve the site. They first turned their attention to the building where they hold their services and meetings.

“It needed some pretty serious attention,” said Nancy.

Crosby and his family spent the majority of the first two years improving the church building and, after improving it to a much better state, turned their energies to the property’s exterior a year ago.

Pastor Crosby said they got a lot of help volunteers, friends and family, said Pastor Crosby.

They began by erecting a wall around the property’s perimeter. This summer they cleared a space near their house and created a picnic area with a shade structure and pavers. Pastor Crosby and his father, both of whom are carpenters, built half a dozen picnic tables.

“It’s a great space,” said Pastor Crosby. “We use it for fellowship meals, or times when we want to gather together outside.”

Throughout 2017 and this spring they planted an orchard with a variety of fruit and nut trees, and a garden with corn, asparagus, green beans, kale, peppers squash, zucchini and herbs flourishing in grow beds. Flowers growing in hanging baskets bloom throughout the garden as well.

“We mostly have the flowers because they look nice,” said Nancy. “They do well in the desert heat and the wind.”

The Crosbys say they really enjoy their garden.

“The garden is meant to be educational,” said Pastor Crosby. School groups, church groups visit and the kids get to experience first-hand what it takes to plant a seed, water it, weed it and harvest it.

As they move forward they want to open the garden up to more people in Page who, in return for time spent planting, weeding and watering the garden, will be allowed to harvest the vegetables.