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Launching an Accessible Permaculture Garden at UCP
Left to right:
Sue Knaperek - UCP Director of School Services, Jim Mullins – UCP President & CEO, Vivian Manning – UCP, R. Dale Evans – Reedswood Area Neighborhood Association, Gini Lester – Cool Joliet, Katie Riordan – UCP, Pastor Sam Murphy – Family Bible Church, Jan Gehrig – Cool Joliet
Last Saturday, over fifty volunteers came together to begin preparations for an accessible garden site which will be called the Reedswood Communtiy Oasis at UCP located on the grounds at United Cerebral Palsy, 311 South Reed Street. Volunteers from seven organizations included The Boy Scouts of America, Cool Joliet, Family Bible Church, First Presbyterian Church, Joliet Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School, Joliet Job Corp., Reedswood Area Neighborhood Association, and United Cerebral Palsy. Volunteers from each of these organizations worked to prepare the land for springtime planting by the children and adults served and supported at UCP. Dr. Jim Mullins, President and CEO of UCP said “This venture further exemplifies the cooperative nature of the people of Will County in working together to benefit the entire Community”.
In addition, accessible features will be incorporated as the garden progresses. Future planning will include a waterfall, wheelchair accessible labrynth, butterfly garden and a variety of trees and shrubs. The eventual goal is accessibility for all including those with limitations of movement, hearing and sight.
The design of the garden was developed using permaculture principles. Gini Lester of Cool Joliet is a certified permaculture specialist. She explains “Permaculture is an approach that is modeled on systems and relationships that can be found in nature. The key to this approach is creating systems that support and feed other elements ultimately creating a garden that is self-sustaining.”
Since 1955, United Cerebral Palsy has been providing direct services to people with developmental disabilities in Illinois. UCP provides the following programs and services: The School Program, Respite Care and Family Support Programs and services are available to residents in Will, Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle, Ford and Iroquois counties.
For more information contact UCP at 815/744-3500.
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