The Gardens on Green at the Hall County School District Office are growing again - this time with the addition of a Literacy Garden for younger children.
The expansion was dedicated in a 10 a.m. ceremony Wednesday, highlighted by Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal reading the children's book 'The Strange Journey of Byron and Cyrus' to the crowd. Literacy for Georgia children has been the first lady's focus since the Deals have lived in the Governor's mansion in Atlanta. She has read to children in every school district in Georgia.
The Literacy Garden, as were the other gardens that compose Gardens on Green, was the brainchild of Kathy Lovett, a retired Hall County teacher.
"Two summers ago while I was doing chemo treatments for cancer and couldn't do much physically, I developed the plans for this," Lovett said. "I believe so strongly in developing early literacy skills and in guiding our children to connect with nature."
Lovett said she and her husband Lee Lovett, the Deputy Superintendent of Hall County Schools, approached Hall County School District Superintendent Will Schofield about the expansion and he gave his approval. Once that happened, Kathy Lovett said the donations began coming in.
"This community has been so, so generous with dollars and volunteer hours. Businesses and individuals have shared my vision and made it happen," Lovett said.
The Literacy Garden is located on the south side of Central Office and features a Reading Arbor, Jack and Jill's Hill, Mr. McGregor's Garden, picnic tables and a number of other features designed specifically for younger age elementary school students.
During the dedication ceremony, Schofield noted that while the new garden sits adjacent to the Hall County School District Central Office, use of the facility is not reserved just for Hall County students.
"This park today is dedicated to the young people of the city and the county and the homeschoolers and the private schoolers," Schofield said. "As [President Abraham] Lincoln was told when he died that he belonged to the ages, so this garden belongs to the ages."
The Literacy Garden will be open to the public during daylight hours unless there is a class taking place on the grounds.
According to the Hall County School District website, Gardens on Green is a joint project of the Hall County Master Gardeners and the Hall County School District. The goal for the Gardens is to not only provide a place for growing plants, but to grow good kids, grow the human spirit, and ultimately grow a better community.
The entryway at the Literacy Garden invites visitors to 'READ, DISCOVER, GROW."
A reading arbor is one of several stations children can enjoy at the new Literacy Garden.
First graders from Martin Elementary School, who sang at the dedication of the Literacy Garden, are the first students to have lunch at garden's new picnic tables.
Students walk across 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' bridge at the new Literacy Garden, and expansion of The Gardens on Green.
First Lady Sandra Deal reads a book to children attending the dedication of the new Literacy Garden at the Hall County School District Central Office on Green Street.
Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal (left) visits with Hall County School Board member Sam Chapman (right) and his wife Martha (center).
Hall County School District Superintendent Will Schofield was the emcee for the Wednesday morning dedication of the Literacy Garden.
Members of Jennifer White's kindergarten class from Martin Technology Academy accompany Rev. Bruce Fields from First Baptist Church of Gainesville at the dedication of the new Literacy Garden at Gardens on Green.
Gardens on Green Chairmen Kathy (left) and Lee (right) Lovett pose for a photo with Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal (center)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/5/532052/photo-gallery-new-literacy-garden-opens-at-gardens-on-green-in-gainesville