April 25, 2019, Staten Island, NY— Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is proud to partner with Rotary International District 7230 for a day of sitewide improvements and investment on Sunday, April 28 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM on Snug Harbor’s campus at 1000 Richmond Terrace in Staten Island, NY. This event is in honor of the Rotary 2019 District Conference day of service.
Approximately 60 Rotarians will work on restoring and re-painting park benches throughout Snug Harbor, including those surrounding the iconic Neptune Fountain, staining picnic tables outside the historic cottages, and renovating the plantings in the Healing Garden with new herbaceous perennials and shrubs. Newly planted areas will be mulched.
“We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers and to Rotary International District 7230,” said Snug Harbor President & CEO Aileen Fuchs. “From the first bench they restore to the last flower they put in the ground, their hard work will leave a lasting impact at Snug Harbor that thousands will enjoy this summer and in years to come.”
“Our District is delighted to partner with Snug Harbor in this project,” said Krishnan Chittur, District Governor, Rotary International District 7230. “We are grateful to our dynamic Rotarians from New York City, Westchester and Bermuda who have generously contributed money, time, and even manual labor to this project. Truly, “People of Action” living the Rotary motto ‘Service above self’! We hope visitors to this garden find the peace and tranquility that Rotarians consistently strive to bring all over the world.”
“As a Staten Islander, Snug Harbor is a very special place for me and my family,” said Diane Arneth, a Rotary volunteer from District 7230 who helped organize the event. “I’m excited to introduce my fellow Rotarians to this local gem and work with them to beautify the grounds.”
“The Healing Garden is incredibly significant to our community,” said Greg Lord, Director of Horticulture at Snug Harbor. “The Rotary’s hard work and contribution will enhance the beauty of the garden and make it a perfect spot for reflection and peace this spring and summer.”
A new bench will be dedicated to the Rotary Club members for their dedication and generous service to Snug Harbor, which will be placed in the Tropical Border. A separate plaque acknowledging the partnership with Rotary District 7230 will be placed in the Healing Garden, located on the south end of Snug Harbor’s campus, is a living memorial to the 267 Staten Islanders who perished on September 11, 2001. The Healing Garden quietly evokes the healing power of trees as symbols of life and renewal. Located on one acre of forested hillside, the woodland garden overlooks 20 acres of officially mapped wetlands. The garden was officially completed and opened to the public in September 2008.
Students in the Construction Technology Institute at Ralph R. McKee Career & Technical Education High School in St George, Staten Island have also lent a hand to this project by cutting, sanding, and shaping the replacement slats needed for the benches around the Neptune Fountain in time for the Rotary Club members to paint them.
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ABOUT SNUG HARBOR CULTURAL CENTER & BOTANICAL GARDEN
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden’s historic 83-acre campus is one of the largest ongoing adaptive reuse projects in America, with 28 structures, 14 unique botanical gardens, 10 acres of wetlands, and a two-acre urban farm. Our mission is to provide a vibrant, regional cultural destination that offers dynamic programming in the arts, education, horticulture, agriculture, and recreation for diverse cultures and all ages while ensuring a well-managed campus for all residents of Staten Island and surrounding communities. Snug Harbor is a proud Smithsonian Affiliate. Learn more about Snug Harbor at snug-harbor.org.
