Stirling Council invests £600K in community projects as it celebrates local hero who made his mark in San Francisco

Stirling Council has allocated investment of £600,000 in community-led projects on the anniversary of one of Bannockburn’s most famous sons.

Four projects across the area will receive awards ranging from £25,000 to £300,000 to support regeneration and economic growth, with funding provided by the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP).

Among the funding is £300,000 for improved transport infrastructure to Bannockburn House, with a carbon offset project. The award is announced today (12 Jan) on the 80th anniversary of the death of fabled horticulturist John McLaren, a contemporary and close friend of John Muir.

McLaren, born in Bannockburn in 1846, started his career as a gardener at Bannockburn House, now a community-owned asset, before emigrating to the United States in 1870. He established and developed the world famous Golden Gate Park in San Francisco for almost 60 years before his death in 1943.

Real difference

McLaren’s park was the only one in the United States that refused to display ‘Keep off the Grass’ signs and he was credited with transforming San Francisco into a beautiful city after the gold rushes of the 19th century when many considered it to be ‘unlovely’.

Stirling Council’s Convener of Finance and Economy Committee, Cllr Margaret Brisley, said: “The spirit of John McLaren lives on as all of these projects will make a real difference to their communities and deliver significant regeneration that will have a long lasting impact. I am sure John would be proud that the house in which he first worked as a gardener is thriving again today as a vibrant community asset.

“John was a visionary, hugely respected as a horticulturist and his world-class work is still revered by environmentalists. Like the people of Stirling he was proud of his past, but always looking outwards. We’re proud this son of Bannockburn made such a huge difference in the lives of millions of people in San Francisco and beyond.”