College of Health and Human Services Located on Western Michigan University’s Oakland Drive campus, the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) consists of the departments of Blindness and Low Vision Studies, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Speech Pathology and Audiology; and the schools of Interdisciplinary Health Programs, Nursing, and Social Work. The college also offers graduate certificates in Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness and Addiction Studies, a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Health Services, and doctoral programs in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and Audiology. Also affiliated with CHHS, the Unified Clinics offer diagnostic and therapeutic services to residents of Southwest Michigan and clinical practice for students in the area of health care and human services. Specialty clinics include occupational therapy, aphasia communication enhancement, child trauma assessment, speech, audiology, behavioral health, and women’s health. In addition, the Unified Clinics operates the Center for Disability Services, a community funded program. For more information, visit wmich.edu/hhs.
Serenity Park
History of Serenity Park
Purposes and Benefits of Serenity Park
The concept for Serenity Park originated with the building of the Boyt Labyrinth and the realization that the natural landscape could be further developed to accommodate a variety of activities for students, faculty, and community members.
The College of Health and Human Services is committed to providing exceptional education experiences, enhancing diversity, promoting health and a climate of inclusion, and maximizing the use of resources to enhance sustainability within the college and community. Serenity Park will be an expression of those commitments.
For over a year, a unique collaboration of focus groups—composed of experts in the areas of blindness and low vision, disabilities, military science, occupational therapy, holistic health, speech, and audiology—identified features that would be most beneficial to the populations with whom they work. A landscape architect was engaged to design an outdoor space that included these features and was based on “universal design,” the concept of designing all products and the built environment to be aesthetic and usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of their age, ability, or status in life. Additional considerations for the design included the use of plants that are native to the region to complement existing, mature plantings and creating spaces in circular shapes to represent wholeness and inclusion.
Features • Span of over 6.5 acres • Quarter-mile, accessible path • Labyrinth • Garden of Peace • Garden of Wisdom and Enlightenment • Stream of Forgiveness
It will serve as an outdoor classroom and learning experience for students throughout the campus. The walking path and themed garden spaces will promote the healthy, calming, and healing influences of nature, while engendering an appreciation of the outdoors as a safe place for persons of all abilities to explore.
• Garden of Gratitude
Texture, sound, and scent will be carefully cultivated to create diverse sensory experiences. Unique way-finding methods such as cell phone technology, wind chimes, and waterfalls will assist in orientation. All elements of the park— including steps, paths, and benches—will be constructed to accommodate varied levels of mobility, and many will serve therapeutic purposes.
• Sculptures
This accessible space will be a unique destination in the community, and will be central to the University, the neighboring Unified Clinics and Center for Disability Services, Sindecuse Health Center, the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Training Center, Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital, the West Michigan Cancer Center, Borgess Medical Center, Bronson Methodist Hospital, and WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine.
• Garden of Independence • Garden of Discovery • Peace Pole • Waterfalls
• Drinking fountains • Benches • Native plantings
The Beginning: Boyt Labyrinth For centuries, labyrinths have been used for contemplation, reflection, and balance. To fulfill the requirements of his undergraduate Lee Honors College thesis project, WMU alumnus Nayt Boyt designed and built a labyrinth just outside the first floor atrium on the east side of the College of Health and Human Services. This 41-foot, wheel chair accessible labyrinth was constructed of reclaimed bricks and other natural elements and was based on the design of the labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral in France laid in the 13th century. The Boyt Labyrinth was dedicated in October 2012, and was the first element of Serenity Park.
Garden of Peace The Garden of Peace honors those who have served in the military and provides a space for ROTC students to rest and reflect. The 20-foot semi-enclosed area will feature a small waterfall, benches, and a ceremonial stone garden with a main boulder that displays the Wounded Warrior symbol. Other stones will be etched with words that express core values of the Wounded Warrior Project: fun, integrity, loyalty, innovation, and service.
Garden of Wisdom and Enlightenment Intended for educational purposes, this 40-foot circular amphitheater will offer two tiers of seating to accommodate up to 30 individuals. The private space will be ideal for a variety of classes including mindfulness and meditation, as well as other learning and sharing activities.
Stream of Forgiveness In this space, water falls down toward a curving, dry stream bed composed of natural river stones. Visitors will be able to use their sense of touch and sight on a number of stone water creature sculptures. They will also be invited to select a stone to leave in the stream, symbolizing forgiveness or something they want to let go.
Garden of Gratitude The centerpiece of this garden will be a graceful, weeping tree, such as the unusual Camperdown Elm. Visitors will be able to write what they are grateful for on copper foil leaves and hang them from the tree. There, the leaves will catch the light and sparkle in the breeze.
Garden of Independence This garden is especially suited for persons who need personal, physical, and/or cognitive assistance to live life fully and to gain or regain independent living skills. This will include those who participate in Center for Disability Services programs, those who are served at the Unified Clinics, and others throughout the community. The space will feature a large, flat surface shaded by an overhead trellis. Up to 75 people will be able to gather in this space, which will also accommodate picnics, art and craft projects, and other group activities. Raised planters that allow for planting and maintaining container gardens, along with accessible elements such as easily raised and lowered bird feeders, will enhance the experience of enjoying and tending to an outdoor environment.
Garden of Discovery Visitors will be able to explore and discover with their senses in this safe garden space. Aromatic plantings such as lavender and rosemary will grace the space, as well as rocks and other plants of varying shapes, textures, and colors.
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