Milton Arts Council, Inc.

UPDATE:

The overwhelming outpouring of love for Mark is being felt across the City by his family, friends, and colleagues. 

Your generosity has ensured Mark’s vision will become a reality by funding the purchase and installation of a horse statute at the new Charlotte Road roundabout in early 2020. This was just one of several passion projects for Mark, and as we continue to exceed our initial goal, please know that all additional funds will be exclusively dedicated to fund Mark Law-inspired projects that could include memorial signage for the Charlotte Drive roundabout or other legacy projects near and dear to Mark’s heart.

Thank you.

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Long-time and beloved City of Milton, Georgia, Arborist, Mark Law passed away after a long battle with esophageal cancer on Feb. 27, 2019. In addition to leaving behind a beautiful wife, Christine; two incredible sons, Anders and Deacon; and a host of family, friends, church members, and co-workers, Mark leaves behind an entire community of Milton residents who treasured his support and guidance over the years as their city Arborist.

A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in ornamental horticulture, Mark didn’t just process tree permits for city residents––he shared his love of trees, and it was undeniably infectious. His passion and love for his work was never ending. His wife lovingly tells the story of how during Mark’s final days of in-patient hospice care, he cornered one of his hospice nurses and told her how to properly prune her trees.


Mark’s work as an arborist is evident in the lush 57-percent tree canopy that covers the entire city of Milton. His contributions to the beautification of our community can also be found in the city’s welcome signs that greet residents and visitors as they enter our rural, but modern, north Fulton County community. Mark worked with his co-worker, Michele, to create the design for these gateway signs, and then personally built a life-size model to ensure that the manufacturing of the sign was perfect.

Prior to his health-related retirement in November 2018, Mark was honored with a proclamation by the Milton City Council proclaiming it “Mark Law Appreciation Day.” Mark had several professional goals, and his dreams for the city fill up four three-ring binders that remain at City Hall today. Some ideas Mark saw fulfilled during his career, while others remain a dream just waiting to be realized.


One of Mark’s early dreams was to achieve a Tree City USA designation for Milton, a city that was incorporated in 2006, and where Mark served as the city’s first arborist. Not only did he help the City obtain its first Tree City USA designation in 2009, he also ensured that the city retained that designation for 10 consecutive years. Mark also helped launch the 2018 tree canopy conservation project, which included an entire re-write of the city’s tree ordinance–– further solidifying the city’s commitment to sustainability.


Mark dreamed of opening an arboretum in Milton, and he saw that dream come true on Georgia Arbor Day, Feb. 15, 2019, as he watched the opening of Phase 1 of the “Mark Law Arboretum at Bell Memorial Park” via FaceTime from his hospital bed.

In anticipation of one day opening an arboretum, Mark requested a seedling from the American Elm damaged during the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing. Mark personally nurtured and cared for this seedling at his home until it was large enough for planting. Phase 1 of the arboretum includes nine tree installations: Hankow Willow, Cucumbertree Magnolia, Bald Cypress, Sweetbay Magnolia, Chinese Pistache, Persian Ironwood, Black Tupelo, Witch Hazel, and that American Elm.

So many of Mark’s professional dreams came true, but there’s one unfulfilled dream that Mark’s family, friends, and city colleagues are now working to achieve—a Milton roundabout (traffic circle) adorned with a custom equestrian sculpture, showcasing Milton’s rich equestrian history.


During Mark’s retirement celebration on Oct. 7, 2018, the City of Milton’s Public Works department unveiled the rendering of a new Charlotte Drive transportation project to be completed in early 2020. Mark’s idea was going to be implemented—the roundabout project rendering presented that day featured his horse concept.

Please help the Milton, Georgia, community make Mark’s dream come true by providing financial support for the production and installation of a custom horse sculpture, crafted by Icon Poly in Nebraska. The bronzed horse stands 6 feet tall by 8.5 feet wide.

Our campaign goal is $6,900.

This will be used in the following ways:

$4,900 production & delivery costs
$2,000 installation charges

Contributions for the “Mark Law Memorial Roundabout” project are being collected and administered by the Milton Arts Council, a local 501(c)(3) dedicated to promoting the arts in Milton, Georgia, and may be tax-deductible. Any donations that exceed the campaign goal will be dedicated exclusively to fund Mark Law-inspired projects that could include memorial signage for the Charlotte Drive roundabout or other legacy projects near and dear to Mark’s heart.


Thank you for reading Mark’s story and helping fulfill Mark’s dream! We will leave you with Mark’s words of wisdom offered to long-time Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood:

“By our actions, we can benefit others, generation after generation. If a tree dies, sure, it’s sad, but if you replace that tree, 200 or 300 years later, people are still enjoying and benefiting from that tree.”

Little did Mark Law know that he was describing his personal impact on the Milton community, because his legacy is found everywhere you look.