A Tradition in Bloom: Civic Pride at the Alton Train Station

Visitors arriving in Alton by train are greeted by a simple but meaningful display of community pride: colorful flowers blooming near the entrance of the Alton Regional Multimodal Transportation Center.

For the past six years, Pride Incorporated board member John Meehan has volunteered his time to plant, water, and care for the four large concrete planters located outside the station’s main entrance.

The project continues a tradition started years ago by Dale and Carol Nuedecker at the former Alton train station on College Avenue. Hoping to create a more welcoming first impression for visitors, the Nuedeckers built window boxes, planted petunias each year, and carefully kept them watered throughout the season.

When the new station opened, John noticed the planters near the entrance were filled with soil but remained empty. He decided to carry the tradition forward by planting petunias, which thrive in the full sun and bring a bright splash of color to the station.

Today, the flowers serve as both a welcoming sight for travelers and a heartfelt memorial to Dale and Carol.

Like many beautification projects, the work requires regular watering, fertilizer, and a little patience. But for John, the effort is worthwhile.

“It’s a rewarding project,” he said. “It makes a positive statement for Alton. That’s fine for me.”

Sometimes civic pride is found in the big projects. Other times, it is found in a few pots of petunias, quietly tended by someone who simply wants their community to look its best.