1. October 23, 2014
Rotary/Rutgers Enabling Gardens Partnership
Grows Lives One Seed (and Pergola) at a Time
Freeholder Peter S. Palmer presents a citation commending members of Rotary District 7510 on
the creation of a healing space, which includes a pergola and container plantings, in the courtyard
of Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center in Bridgewater. Participating in the presentation
are, from left to right, county Park Commission Director Raymond Brown, Park Commission
Leisure Services Division Deputy Director Cynthia Sullivan, Park Commission Therapeutic
Recreation Manager Dina Trunzo, Branchburg Rotary Club President Victoria Maloney, Freeholder
Robert Zaborowski, Branchburg Rotary Club President-elect Mike Cohen, Branchburg Rotary
member Senator Christopher (Kip) Bateman, Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, county Department of
Human Services Director Michael Frost, Rotary District 7510 Director of Club & Community Service
and Branchburg Rotary Club member Laura DePrado, and Park Commission Senior Program
Coordinator Leora Shahay.
BRIDGEWATER – Into every garden, a little rain must fall. Such was the case when the Board
of Chosen Freeholders presented a citation commending the Rotary/Rutgers Enabling
Gardens Partnership on the creation of a healing space, including a pergola and container
plantings, in the courtyard of Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center.
(more)
News from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Patrick Scaglione, Freeholder Director  Mark Caliguire, Freeholder Deputy Director
Peter S. Palmer, Freeholder  Robert Zaborowski, Freeholder  Patricia L. Walsh, Freeholder
Somerset County Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

2. Rotary/Rutgers Enabling Garden Partnership – cont’d
Page 2 of 2
Oct. 23, 2014
“Because the open courtyard takes in a great deal of heat during the summer, the addition of
the pergola, along with some climbing plants, will provide shade and color for the benefit of
patients of the Mental Health Center, especially those who participate in the Therapeutic
Horticulture program,” said Freeholder Peter S. Palmer. “The horticultural program offers
organized gardening sessions with opportunities for patients to participate in hands-on
activities for the therapeutic benefits that gardening can provide.”
Horticultural activities that take place in the courtyard have included the planting, harvesting
and sampling of a variety of fruits and vegetables, floral arranging, sensory activities and
crafts.
The Enabling Gardens initiative is a partnership between Rotary District 7510 and the New
Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension of Rutgers University. Funding
for the project was provided by Rotary District 7510, local Rotary Clubs and Rotarian business
owners. The pergola was installed by Archadeck of Morris County.
The Therapeutic Horticulture program, which is run by Park Commission Senior Program
Coordinator Leora Shahay, is supported by the Somerset County Park Foundation in
conjunction with an annual grant from the Garden Club of Somerset Hills.
Somerset County Is An Equal Opportunity Employer