Photo: Jamestown Sensory Garden at Solien-Denault Park Facebook Page
By Joan Morris
JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Jamestown’s Sensory Garden ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled at the Solien-DeNault Park for August 11th at 4:30 PM.
Immediately following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Business After Hours” event.
“In the Spring of 2016, Doug Hogan, asked me if the Chamber’s Beautification Committee would be interested in working with Jamestown Park and Recreation to develop a sensory garden somewhere in the city’s park system,” said Joan Morris, Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee member. “Our committee first researched that a sensory garden is specifically created to be accessible and enjoyable to visitors, including the disabled, and provides the visitor different sensory opportunities that they may not normally experience.
When we started off with this project, we thought it would be nice to have a walkway through an unused part of the Solien-DeNault Park that would showcase plants and trees that would stimulate the senses. Another goal was to make the sensory garden accessible to all. But, with the receipt of donations and grant funds, our project grew to include a boardwalk and a stunning water feature.”
“I found a water feature design that I liked on the web,” said Paulette Ritter, Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee Co-Chair. “But, this water feature was designed for Arizona temperatures, not North Dakota winters. I asked Dan Poland, Dan Poland Machine, Inc. if he could design a similar water feature, but adapt it to our climate. Dan’s design is a 10 foot tall feature, that drops a wall of water and even includes lights. The water feature is directly across the ravine from a boardwalk that was constructed in the middle of the sensory garden. We envision the visitor being able to wander through the garden and then sitting on the boardwalk benches and watch and listen to the water falling.”
“We are very grateful to our local contractors, including Schumacher Construction, Scott’s Electric, Dan Poland Machine, Inc. and Traut Lawn Irrigation for working with our all-volunteer group to get this garden finished,” said Bob Martin, Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee Co-Chair. “Plans for the garden and the water feature kept changing (source of water, locations) and they provided great advice and service.”
“What strikes me about this project is the wide range of residents that helped make this garden a reality.” said Morris. “Mary Lewis, an educator at the Anne Carlsen School and Beth Dewald, Freedom Resource Center were part of the volunteers that kept us on track regarding the garden’s access for all. Mary also provided her gardening expertise and ‘baby sat the garden’s plants over the winter seasons.
We asked Jamestown Vocational Center students to design the first 24 planters in the garden and perform maintenance work on the two bridges that connect the garden to the rest of the park. A few years later, we needed four more planters and another class of students at the Vocational Center built those.”
“Paulette was responsible and successful for receiving three grants for this project: a Garrison Diversion Grant, a North Dakota Outdoor Heritage Fund Grant and a Jamestown United Way grant”, said Martin. “Combined with grants from Jamestown Tourism and the Jamestown Community Foundation, funds from Park and Recreation and private donations, our budget for the garden was over $70,000.”
“We are grateful that we could collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce’s Beautification Committee, City of Jamestown Forestry Department, Anne Carlsen School employees, Freedom Resources and several master gardeners on this project,” said Doug Hogan, Jamestown Park and Recreation. “This garden is unique to Jamestown and we are hopeful that everyone will be able to enjoy it for years to come.”
Other Sensory Garden Committee members include Michelle Neumiller, Bonnie Ukestad, Laurie Podall, James Dixon, Felicia Sargeant, and Erik Laber, Jamestown City Forester.
Below are some photos from the Jamestown Sensory Garden at Solien-Denault Park Facebook Page.
