Progress made in creation of Serenity Garden

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The Serenity Garden at Brookwood Hall in East Islip is shaping up to be a beautiful addition to the East Islip community, and beyond.

Located on the grounds of Brookwood Hall, this one-acre “park within a park” is designed to cater to people of all needs and abilities, including people with visual and hearing impairments, Alzheimer’s or dementia, those on the autism spectrum, seniors, and veterans.

The serene nature of Brookwood Hall is the perfect setting for those looking to get away from noisy environments. The setting is aimed to be particularly attractive for those with autism, who may find loud, boisterous parks overstimulating.

The Serenity Garden is the first major renovation project of the Parks Foundation of Islip Town, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring the beautification of town-owned-and-operated parks. Due to the help of generous donors and sponsors, the Serenity Garden is funded without burdening taxpayers.

“The formation of this Islip Parks Foundation has really been a dream come true for me, and something I was proud to spearhead and make a priority,” said Islip Town supervisor Angie Carpenter, during the Serenity Gardens groundbreaking ceremony.

The town broke ground on the site last summer on July 12, and LMJ Contracting has since been hard at work, bringing the Parks Foundation of Islip Town’s vision to life. The garden features a gazebo surrounded by four quadrants dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of individuals with all abilities in our community. Each of the quadrants has been designed with a specific group in mind, while encompassing features meant to heighten the senses.

The beautiful gazebo in the center of the park has been fully constructed, and the winding walkways have now been paved. Once complete, the Serenity Garden will also feature lush foliage and greenery to promote tranquility, fragrant plants and flowers, a garden with a braille system, a walking labyrinth made of stones, sensory walking paths with mulch, tactile pads, rubber and gravel, wind chimes, as well as a sensory wall.

The Serenity Garden is largely sponsored by Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees (AME). The Entenmann family is sponsoring the Veterans/Seniors quadrant, while the Bohlsen Group is sponsoring the Autism/Developmentally Disabled quadrant. The two other quadrants, centered around the needs of those with visual and hearing impairments, and Alzheimer’s or dementia, are still available for sponsorship for $250,000 each.

The Parks Foundation of Islip Town is currently accepting donations at all levels. If you would like to help fund the creation of this center of tranquility in your own backyard, consider donating to the Parks Foundation of Islip Town through checks payable to Parks Foundation of Islip Town, Attn: Deputy Parks Commissioner, Brookwood Hall, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip, NY 11751.
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Photos courtesy of the Town of Islip