Below is the finalized report on the Rock Garden:
During the 2006-2007 academic year at Youngstown State University, the Student Government Association turned its attention to the dilapidated state of the Rock Gardens at the Wick-Pollack Inn. A former student brought the garden to the attention of SGA’s former Executive Committee, which investigated the means by which the garden could be reactivated.
The final reactivation plan, created by the Grounds Department, a consultant from Kridler Gardens, and the SGA Executive Committee was finalized in the 2007 spring semester. The reactivation of the garden required cleaning, mulching, and planting the entire garden, and took place over a few weeks. Volunteers from SGA, the student body, the YSU classified staff, and the community participated in the project. The Student Government Association funded the purchase of the annuals, the Kridler garden consultant, and two benches handmade from recycled wood. Support for this project was provided through discounts on both the annuals and the consultant services, which were sold to SGA at half their regular price.
Throughout the duration of this project, volunteers have invested over 100 hours into the reactivation of the garden. The response to Student Government’s work from the campus and the community has been largely positive. Continued restorative work may include reactivating the fountain and repairing the original fence that surrounded the garden. Perennials may be planted this fall semester, as only annuals have been planted in the reactivated garden. Research on the history of the garden is ongoing, and any information or pictures are welcome.
This was penned by Eri Raib and was later edited/added to by Chad Miller. At the time of this posting the Rock Garden is completely finished in terms of the restoration Chad’s SGA set out to do. We will be investing in some signs for the garden sometime in the near future as well as looking into coordinating new florals for the Garden come next spring.
-Dave
We all love to have nature around us it helps us to relax when walking, talking or even studying, the care of the area is paramount not only to stop our towns and cities becoming concrete monsters but to help the earth keep a little of its influence in in vast cities, tree, plants, lawns and even a few benches can help to give us the calming effects of being in the country, people will always sit on grass, lay out in the sun and find a place where they can totally relax, this is usually a garden area or park, fountains add that extra something, hearing the water plash down while smelling the grass and flowers around them give them a sense of tranquility, this helps businessmen, students and everyone from all walk of lives. There is always room for more parks and gardens, for more lawn areas and flower beds, we are a part of nature and that is why we love being near it so much.