Regional Hospice Unveils Garden Design and Playscape for New Hospice Residence

(Danbury, CT) The projected grand opening of the state’s first and only private patient room hospice residence is now only ten months away, and the mood was celebratory at the Regional Hospice and Home Care Annual Meeting Wednesday, January 15, held at Cartus World Headquarters in Danbury.  Newly appointed executive director of the Regional Hospice Foundation, Paul L. Sirois of Danbury, was pleased to recognize seven very special Newtown Eighth Graders with youth service awards for their remarkable fundraising efforts on behalf of the organization. Although the children were nervous about getting home in time to study for their midterms the following day, their nerves were somewhat quelled when they saw the large granite paving stone that had been emblazoned with a colorful replica of their KIDO’s logo that is to be placed in the children’s garden at the new facility. The seven Newtown KIDOs have pledged to raise $50,000 to pay for the playground equipment that will be placed outside the wing that houses Healing Hearts Center for Grieving Children and Families. The first $24,000 was raised by the KIDO’s founder, Ryan Patrick, who sold wrist bands last winter, and after only a few short months, the total is now nearly $28,000.

Regional Hospice also unveiled the renderings for the landscape and playscape during the meeting. Dadona Associates Landscape Architects (DALA) of Danbury created the design for the grounds and Keith Beaver, one of the architects, was on hand to hear the accolades and applause. Cynthia Roy, Regional Hospice president and CEO, showed demonstrable excitement when she revealed the garden renderings to the near-capacity crowd. “Dadona Associates has magically expressed the true mission of our hospice residence in this beautiful garden,” she said. “Our goal was to wrap our patients and families in beauty, comfort and serenity and this garden will do exactly that.”

Ribbons of granite stone walkways connect large and small gardens and terraces. The paving stones offer an opportunity for families to memorialize or honor a loved by purchasing a stone and having it engraved. The KIDOs stone will be placed in the children’s area. Other engraved stones will be placed amidst the 4800 square feet of paths and terraces. For more information about purchasing a tribute stone, contact Regional Hospice at 203.702.7417, donate@regionalhospicect.org or go to the website, www.regionalhospicect.org/donate.

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