Politics & Government
Another garden coming to Palmer Township?
'Compassionate Friends' makes proposal to supervisors.
Another memorial garden could be coming to Palmer Township.
The Palmer Township Board of Supervisors heard a presentation at its meeting Tuesday night for a "Compassionate Friends" garden near the Pierce Memorial Garden at the Charles Chrin Community Center.
John Szabo Jr. stated that he represents the Easton chapter of the self-help group for families who suffered the loss of a child.
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"When I drove on Route 22, I thought the garden proposal would be perfect there," he said.
Supervisors, in passing a motion for the concept, seemed to agree.
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"It sounds great," Supervisors Chairman Dave Colver said. "We're giving you the OK to go to the next level. Come back to us in a month or two."
Szabo and landscape architect Jamie Collins -- who helped set up the Pierce Memorial Garden -- explained that the group would cover costs other than cutting grass.
The garden would have a circular patio with the group's logo, and memorial bricks would be sold in memory of the children.
"This garden has been a dream of mine for the last four years," said Szabo, who wants to expand the organization so it covers Monroe County, Quakertown and Stroudsburg, thus becoming the Greater Lehigh Valley chapter.
"John said he liked the location and prefers to contribute to our garden," Collins said. "The garden would be entirely donated and built by the organization. I personally feel satisfied."
Colver said it needs to be determined what equipment and trucks would be needed to build the garden.
He also wondered how much it would cost to maintain the garden. Szabo said the garden could be ready by next spring.
Meanwhile, the Pierce Memorial Garden continues to seek volunteers. Anyone interested should contact Diane Grube at the Palmer Township Municipal Building (610) 253-7191 to inquire about meeting dates and volunteer days.
Pierce Memorial Garden was made possible by a bequest from the estate of Pauline Pat "Peggy Lynn" Pierce, a longtime local radio personality and Palmer resident who died in 2008.