InTucker Magazine

Citizens of the Month – Matty Garrett & Steve Cook

For fifteen years, Matty Garrett and Steve Cook have helped lead the Henderson Park Community Garden and the Friends of Henderson Park by sharing their amazing talent and endless volunteer time. They have been deeply committed to the beautification and greener good spirit for the City of Tucker.

When Matty and Steve joined the Community Garden in 2010, it was still under construction. They became essential Board Members, running countless workdays, school group days, and other special projects.

Matty managed finances and grant writing for the garden, enabling the purchase of blueberry bushes that now surround the outside of the garden. Steve was in charge of facilities and managed water, fence, greenhouse, picnic tables, rain catchment, and maintenance of tools and plot rails. Whenever an issue with the garden arose, Matty and Steve were among the first ones on the scene to help.

In 2012 the Friends of Henderson Park received a Park Pride grant to build a major trail system that resulted in new bridges and wayfaring signage. Matty managed the reporting and budget for the grant, and Steve marked the trail system with the group year after year. He repaired many bridges so we could hike all the way around Lake Erin.

In 2020, Matty and Steve were an integral part of the Bee Board that guided the creation of the Honey Bee Habitat which opened in 2021 at Tucker Nature Preserve on Lawrenceville Hwy. As knowledgeable beekeepers, they provided key insights throughout the process and were one of two volunteer beekeeping couples to support the apiary. They have tended their hives over the last five years, helping to make the Bee Habitat a fun and educational park destination in Tucker.

Matty and Steve are devoted leaders. The Friends of Tucker Parks will miss Steve and Matty and the joy they brought to our group and to Tucker parks as they move on from Tucker to a new adventure.

Nominated by Pam McNall, Eve Spencer Shawn Stone and Vicki Warren