Brian Hagberg
WARREN, Pa. – Friday marked the culmination of a 5-year project as the Healing Garden at Crescent Park was dedicated and the city celebrated 100 years of the Street Landscape Committee.
Several of the speakers at the event noted the significance of the Healing Garden’s placement at Karen Bonnell Field. Bonnell, an excellent softball player, died of cancer as a teenager, and the garden sits on what was once the baseball field for the south side, mere feet away from the Warren Cancer Center.
“Karen Bonnell was a beautiful person and a beautiful soul,” Warren Mayor Dave Wortman said. “I think it’s just a fitting honor for her legacy to continue here in such a beautiful location in the Healing Garden.”
See the full ceremony here:
Parks and Recreation Committee Chair Mike Suppa echoed Wortman’s sentiments about the appropriateness of the Healing Garden being at Karen Bonnell Field.
“One could go on and on about her bravery and character and still not do her justice,” Suppa said. “But everyone should know that she represented all the promise, all the joy, all the exuberance of life that are captured in the youthful statues in the park. Because of this, her name still being present in the Healing Garden area couldn’t be more appropriate.”
State Sen. Scott Hutchinson was on hand both to help dedicate the garden and Crescent Park, but also to present Street Landscape with citations from both the state Senate and House in recognition of their 100 years of service to the city.
“One of the best parts of my job is to help recognize outstanding achievements,” Hutchinson said. “Certainly, 100 years of service to the community of Warren is something that is very noteworthy and very much appreciated.”
Current Street Landscape Committee chair Josie Gerarde spoke on behalf of the committee.
“Every day, I drive around the park,” Gerarde said. “Earlier in the week on one of my treks, there was a hospital employee was sitting right over there having lunch. And I thought, ‘Go for it, girl.’ Because that’s what it’s all about. This morning, there was a young couple with a little child sitting on the man’s shoulders and they were walking around looking things over and taking pictures. That’s what it’s all about, we hope that families come, individuals come and enjoy the park.”
