Plano entered its boom years in the 1980s. New residential developments were plowing up the blackland prairie to make room for thousands of new families to come. Office complexes and shopping centers were mushrooming. The city's first mall, Collin Creek Mall, opened its many doors.

Excited about this growth and potential, but also wanting to maintain a beautiful city image, the Plano Chamber of Commerce Women's Division decided to stake out a prominent entry area to make an attractive and welcoming impression.

Under the leadership of Markita Thompson, Women's Division president 1981 and 1982, the organization financed and orchestrated the median beautification just west of North Central Expressway at Norman F. Whitsett Parkway (commonly known as 15th Street). This is across from On the Border Restaurant today.

The project, dedicated with a lovely monument after its completion in 1981, "turned out to be a huge factor in Plano receiving the Governor's Community Achievement Award as part of the state-wide Beautify Texas Program," Markita explains.

On May 15, 2012, in honor of the Women's Division's 40th anniversary, Markita again organized a sprucing up and rededication of that inaugural median beautification project.

On hand to receive the official City of Plano Proclamation presented by Mayor Phil Dyer were: Markita Thompson, coordinator of the rededication and beautification; State Sen. Florence Shapiro; Plano Chamber of Commerce CEO Jamee Jolly; Plano Chamber of Commerce president Tammy McSwain; current Women's Division president Janeen Browning; publisher of Plano Profile magazine and former Women's Division president Jean Newman; Plano's Chief Park Planner Robin Reeves; Plano's Urban Forester Denise Moore; and immediate past president of Women's Division Kathy Blank.