The transformation of Marienville Park to Marienville Area Community Garden was celebrated Monday with a ceremony, during which state officials also were present.
The event was called a “celebration of community collaboration” to recognize the work done largely by Abraxas students, with help from Jenks Township, Marienville Community Library, the Marienville community, East Forest schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR).
The garden, which is next to the library, has had an impact on the residents and visitors since its grand opening in September.
“Every time I look at it I smile. It can be raining and you look over there and see all of the bright paint, and it makes my day. People on the bike trail will stop and enjoy the park, too. It gives them a better feel for the town.”
Pat Mays, president of the library’s board, said the garden “is just fantastic” and working on it “has been good for the Abraxas kids. I think they enjoyed working on it.”
She said although the garden is not on library property, it enhances the library, is a nice addition to Marienville and that the community has been supportive of both the garden and library.
Library director Jackie McLaughlin said she hears many comments from community members about how pleased they are and how much fun and whimsical it is. And, of course, its amenities attract children.
“The Abraxas kids who worked on it told me they were amazed how the community respected their work,” she said.
The garden was built on Jenks Township property but is being overseen by East Forest schools.
The students prepared the ground and moved the old railroad ties out of the woods and repurposed them into a wall for the terraced garden. They made the planters symmetrical, and built the picnic tables, train sets, sliding board, Adirondack chairs and the whimsical board fence.
“You might say we built it from the ground up,” Fitch said.
OVR, in a news release, said its “My Work” initiative is a summer employment program created to provide high school students “with disabilities” the opportunity to work within their local communities.
OVR Acting Executive Director Ryan Hyde, who attended the ceremony, said his office has about 31 of these programs across the state and that $13 million has been invested in summer programs that will impact about 7,000 students throughout Pennsylvania.
“I love my work because of the impact it has in the community. It is a great opportunity for a public-private partnership,” Hyde said. “It allows our students to gain needed work skills that they can transfer into their employment setting after graduation. It is just a fantastic opportunity.
“It’s one of my favorite programs because you can see the transformation of the student from the first day to the last day. The really great thing is that the community gets to see what the kids can work on and that they can get hired anywhere. That’s what our office is all about.”
Jessica Johnson, vocational rehabilitation officer for the Erie District office, has been working closely with the Marienville project.
“This project has far exceeded my expectations,” she said. “Abraxas One (team) has been phenomenal to work with. I am extremely proud of them. They take a lot of pride in the work that they do. When their families visit, they will take them down to the park to show them the work they have put into the project.
“It is an opportunity for them to gain work experience and will help them get work in the future.”
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