West River Peace Garden Needs Volunteers
by Frank Panzarella, volunteer at the Peace Garden
Through the hard work of the City of New Haven Peace Commission, New Haven became a United Nations Peace Messenger City several years ago. In recognition of this distinction, a Peace Garden was established in the West River neighborhood and work was done to lay out a sign and establish a design for the garden.
For several years the garden was tended by the West River Neighborhood Services Corporation, particularly by Stacy Spell, the Board President at that time, and occasionally other volunteers.
A volunteer tends to the New Haven Peace Garden
Since then, the original sign was replaced due to weather damage and a new team is working to make major improvements on the garden led by Aaron Goode.
This garden sits at a gateway crossroad for New Haven and will be adjacent to a vibrant new housing construction project in the West River neighborhood.
We want to see this garden become a jewel in the revival of New Haven attractions and a portrait of our values in promoting world peace and peace within our own city.
Included in this garden is a significant donation from the City of Hiroshima: a Ginkgo tree taken from a cutting of a tree that survived the destruction of Hiroshima — a symbol of the tenacity of life.
We need your help to restore the beauty of this garden. Please come and join us, and volunteer to work. We meet every Friday from 9:30 to noon. The garden is located at the end of the Route 34 connector between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Legion Avenue where they meet the Ella Grasso Boulevard. For more information call 203-562-2798 or email [email protected].