Beatty Memorial Park was named for Mary Lou Beatty, longtime Olympia resident. Born in Tacoma Washington and a graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla Wa. Lou was a proud Delta Gamma sorority member and a Board emeritus member of St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wa and an active member of St. Every year on Lou's birthday she would put grass seed on an open spot on the sidewalk of Buck's Fifth Ave
nue on 5th where she was a volunteer bookkeeper (and in front of which the Park sits). Lou would always say "this is my memorial park" so when Lou died the unofficial park was officially dedicated to her and a brass plaque was installed. The "Keep Off the Grass!" sign has been present in the Park ever since Lou started planting the park. A Professor from Evergreen State College was the gardener, and he used his own eqipment (brought down his tiny scissors) to maintain the grounds and cut the grass when needed. Since then, other community members have taken on the formidable grounds keeping tasks.
