MERCED, CALIF.—Volunteers from this San Joaquin Valley community recently worked together to beautify the town’s train station by planting a colorful variety of drought-resistant flowers and shrubs. Amtrak contributed funding for the needed materials. The Merced station is located about four blocks northeast of Courthouse Square Park. Inspired by Arts and Crafts design, the depot was constructed in 2000 using funds provided through the Rail Program of the California Department of Transportation. Councilman Michael Belluomini initiated the project because “For some of the tourists – visitors to Merced – the Amtrak station is the first or last thing that they see…so we want to leave or give a good impression.”
Read more about the landscaping project in the Modesto Bee.
Amtrak established the Great American Stations Project in 2006 to educate communities on the benefits of redeveloping train stations, offer tools to community leaders to preserve their stations, and provide the appropriate Amtrak resources.
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