Local museum honored for sustainable landscaping and community impact

MELBOURNE, FL, Aug. 20, 2025 — Keep Brevard Beautiful’s (KBB) South Action Team presented the “We Noticed” Beautification Award to the Melbourne Founders Museum on August 20. The historical museum has been operating for several years; however, native and Florida-friendly plants were added to the landscaping last fall after the building was relocated.

“We wanted our facility to visually invite visitors to learn our area’s history while incorporating nature,” said Jim Shackleford, lead volunteer for the museum. After months of planning and receiving a sponsorship from Keith Donald, the facility’s landscaping now includes all Florida-friendly or Florida native plants selected by museum volunteers and Change of Greenery. The design has plants surrounding the parking area and museum using a dozen different species, from beach sunflowers to coonties, attracting several types of wildlife. The flowers and trees are a beautiful vision from Lipscomb Street. A special touch was installing crushed shell to help stormwater percolate into the ground. Appropriately, the museum’s current location is at the corner of Lipscomb Street and Brothers Avenue, named after two founding families of Melbourne. The all-volunteer run museum has its original wood and furniture. A partnership with Greater Allen Chapel AME Church across the street has broadened the neighborhood impact, spreading the word about the historical value of the museum and allowing community members to volunteer and become more active close to home. The museum has come to life with the new exterior, inviting community members to visit and learn about Melbourne’s origin.

Attending the “We Noticed” presentation were lead-volunteer Jim Shackleford and other museum volunteers, Pastor Cheryl Wilcox from Greater Allen Chapel AME Church, City of Melbourne employees, City of Melbourne Government Affairs Manager Jordin Chandler, KBB Executive Director John Nico, and KBB South Action Team members.

Throughout the year, the South Action Team recognizes property and business owners from the southern part of Brevard County for their efforts to beautify the area and environmentally improve their landscaping. The program has been in operation since the 1990’s and has recognized dozens of properties throughout the County.