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Saco Rienk DeBoer (S.R.) was born in The Netherlands in 1883. While he was growing up, he studied architecture, engineering, landscape design, and botany. He became sick with tuberculosis and moved to America to seek treatment in 1908. He came to Bethesda when it was still located in Maxwell City, New Mexico, and then moved with Bethesda to Denver around 1910.
After his tuberculosis was healed, DeBoer began looking at the city around him. He thought American cities were cluttered and ugly, and he wanted to add gardens and green spaces. Denver’s Mayor at the time, Mayor Robert W. Speer, saw some gardens DeBoer designed and asked him to work on other projects. DeBoer became the Landscape Architect of Denver from 1910 to 1931. During that time, he helped design many gardens, parks, and public spaces, including City Park and Washington Park.
He also designed Bethesda’s gardens and lawns. According to the Bethesda "House of Mercy" document, “...the Bethesda campus is literally dotted with hundreds of trees that were planted circa 1910 to present. These trees add to the beauty of the campus setting, adding peace and tranquility. S. R. DeBoer contributed to the planting of the trees in such a way that they have the appearance of a lush grove. ...”
Resources
http://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/saco-rienk-deboer
http://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/files/OAHP/Guides/Architects_deboer.pdf
http://www.historicalinsights.com/docs/DeBoerDistrict-DLPCApp-v3.0.pdf
Around the Seasons in Denver Parks and Gardens, written by S. R. DeBoer
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