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City accepted $900,000 donation for Lawson Gardens memory garden; designers outline enclosed, sensory-focused plan
Summary
City staff and volunteer designers presented plans for a public Memory Garden at Lawson Gardens funded by a $900,000 donation; presentation covered location, enclosed paths, sensory features, maintenance options, and next steps including focus groups and horticultural coordination.
City staff and volunteer designers outlined a proposed public Memory Garden for Lawson Gardens that the council accepted previously via a $900,000 donation from Eleanor McCloskey. The presentation described an enclosed, sensory-focused garden intended for people living with memory loss and their caregivers.
Kurt Damon (parks staff) summarized the project history: an ad hoc Palouse Regional Memory Garden Group proposed Lawson Gardens as the location; the parks commission approved the concept on May 14; and the council accepted the $900,000 donation on June 17. Landscape architect Bob Scarfo described design priorities: a contained perimeter with secure gates that are unobtrusive, looped pathways with no T-intersections or dead ends to reduce caregiver concerns about losing sight of wandering visitors, benches and raised planting beds sized for older adults, and sensory nodes emphasizing smell, touch and sound rather than large open water features.
Scarfo said the goal is a compact garden (about a quarter‑acre, modeled on the Portland Memory Garden) with low-maintenance materials and carefully considered plantings; he recommended focus groups with caregivers and people working in dementia care. The proposed Lawson Gardens site is near an existing parking area and a birch tree; designers said pathway repairs will be needed and that planting should avoid the beech tree root zone. Scarfo discussed examples of memory gardens in Portland, Spokane (Sacred Heart Healing Garden), and Oklahoma City and emphasized designing gates and planting to avoid a caged appearance.
Council members asked about ongoing maintenance and security. Parks staff said maintenance funding and staffing have not been finalized: options include a volunteer “Friends” group to perform upkeep (as Portland uses), reallocating seasonal staff, or creating an endowment to fund a dedicated garden position; an endowment number was discussed conceptually but no figure was presented. Councilor Wright asked whether the gift covers maintenance; staff said that long‑term maintenance plans are still to be determined and will be part of future conversations with horticulture staff and the donor group. Councilor Weller asked about fence safety and whether gate hardware could pose cut hazards; designers said vegetation and design details can minimize contact and that design will follow best practices.
No council vote was required at this presentation; the project team will pursue focus groups, refine design with Lawson Gardens horticultural staff, and bring proposals and potential maintenance funding options back to the council for future consideration.
