Essential Project Spotlight: HUMC Rose Garden Reconstructed During COVID-19
Written by admin
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope”— Lady Bird Johnson.
As part of the Hackensack Meridian Hospital’s ongoing expansion, Let It Grow, Inc. recently reconstructed the beloved Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) Rose Garden. Our team was contracted by Blanchard Turner Construction to tackle this essential project during the COVID-19 pandemic. In just two months, we were able to successfully deliver a serene garden for HUMC. Additionally, the project had special meaning for Let It Grow, Inc. because they were the Design/Build contractor for the original garden completed in 1998.
The new Rose Garden was reconstructed at the corner of Second Street and Essex Street adjacent to the original garden location and above an underground stormwater detention system that is invisible to visitors. Langan, the project Landscape Architect which Let It Grow has collaborated on numerous prior build projects, was able to incorporate design features from the old garden including sculptures, an arbor and the original 1998 dedication plaque. A second plaque commemorating the reconstruction initiative marks a new beginning for the garden. The new garden includes over 100 Rose plants of four varieties and over 2,000 ornamental grasses and perennials for seasonal display of interest, color, and texture.
In addition to hosting a wide variety of roses, the garden is home to two sculptures, depicting Audrey Hepburn and her architect. The statues face the nearby children’s hospital, located right across the street from the new rose garden. A third sculpture portraying a young child hiding under an arbor is a reference to the children’s hospital. It stands as a reminder of the passion, care, and dedication displayed by the hospital’s doctors and staff throughout the years. These statues from the original rose garden received an update from The Seward Johnson Atelier, Inc. team, who meticulously refurbished them, restoring the statues to their original beauty.
The new garden has a circular formation with access by stairs and ramps, as it is set in the hillside. Retaining walls were constructed with decorative modular block walls. Garden walkways are constructed with brick pavers and concrete pavement.
The rose garden is a stunning tribute to those who give so much to our community, and an opportunity for patients, visitors, and staff to stop and smell the roses.
The Let It Grow, Inc. team would like to thank the Hackensack University Medical Center, Blanchard, Turner, and Langan for this opportunity. This project wouldn’t have been a success without everyone’s dedication, collaboration, and hard work.