2 016 IMPACT REPORT
We are helping a community to bloom. As plans for the new St. Anthony North Health Campus were being finalized in 2012, the seeds for another idea were planted. Focus groups had been asked what they envisioned for the Health Campus and one answer came up again and again: a community garden. “We held focus groups for all different members of our community and our internal hospital and medical staff, as well,” explained Irene Tynes, RN, BSN and Manager for Outpatient Education, Wellness & Community Health. “Every group felt like some sort of community garden area was an important element our campus needed.” So plans for the garden began to grow along with the campus plans. “The St. Anthony North Health Foundation donors gave the funds for our garden plans,” Tynes said. “Without the Foundation, the project wouldn’t have begun.”
However, the road to the new garden was not without some bumps along the way. “When the community and hospital teams saw the original plans for the garden, they realized it was really too formal and not inviting,” Tynes explained. “In addition, as building began in 2014, there were some water issues to the south of the hospital where the garden was to be and the building team had to work with the city to move water away from the campus.” But like any good garden, with hard work, love, dedication and team effort, the outcome is now beautiful. continued