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Council accepts $900,000 donation to create memory garden in Lawson Gardens
Summary
The council voted June 17 to accept a restricted $900,000 gift from Eleanor Florence McCloskey to develop a memory garden at Lawson Gardens designed for people with Alzheimer's and dementia; organizers said the gift provides the core funding and they will return with design details.
The Pullman City Council on June 17 unanimously accepted a restricted donation of $900,000 from Eleanor Florence McCloskey to develop a memory garden at Lawson Gardens.
Sue Hintz, a longtime Pullman resident and member of the memory‑garden committee, presented the donation and described the garden as an accessible outdoor space designed to support people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and their caregivers. "This will be something for everyone," Hintz said, explaining the garden will focus on safety, sensory stimulation and caregiver access.
Why this matters: organizers said a dedicated memory garden will provide a safe outdoor therapeutic space for people with dementia and a respite area for caregivers. The committee said the project builds on an earlier gift from McCloskey of 2.5 acres intended to remain natural and available for children and the public.
Sue Hintz recounted McCloskey's local history and philanthropic involvement and said the committee has begun planning and fundraising. Hintz said the $900,000 represents the project's core funding and that volunteers and donors were already contacting the committee to contribute additional funds. She said the committee and city staff will return with a formal presentation later in the summer with design and implementation details.
Council action: Councilmember Weller moved, and the council seconded, an ordinance accepting the restricted contribution; Ordinance No. 25‑11 was read and adopted with a voice vote. Mayor Benjamin asked staff to proceed with the next steps described by the memory‑garden committee.
Organizers said the project will prioritize universal accessibility (including wheelchair access), safety features and elements intended to stimulate the senses. They said the memory garden will also be designed for caregivers to have accessible seating and to support family visits.
Next steps: the memory‑garden committee and city parks staff will collaborate on final design, fundraising for any remaining costs, and a construction schedule. Committee representatives said they planned to present more detailed plans to the council later in the summer.
