A Memory Garden – The Friends of Will Rogers Gardens Foundation

Memory Garden Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, June 26, 2021

Brian Dougherty, with the OCCF Parks & Public Spaces Initiative, giving opening remarks for the Memory Garden Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Will Rogers Gardens visitors enjoying the new Memory Garden space
Visitors inspecting the raised flower beds in the Memory Garden
Memory Garden donor sign at the entrance to the new garden
Dr. Germaine Odenheimer (founder of the Memory Garden project), Scott Copelin (Natural Resources Manager, OKC Parks) and Peggy Wood (Board President of the Friends of Will Rogers Gardens Foundation) cut the ribbon, opening the new Memory Garden. Jim Wooly, Lead Horticulturist at WRG holds the ribbon to be cut
Dr. Germaine Odenheimer (founder of the Memory Garden project), Scott Copelin (Natural Resources Manager, OKC Parks) and Peggy Wood (Board President of the Friends of Will Rogers Gardens Foundation) cut the ribbon, opening the new Memory Garden.
Scott Copelin sharing the plans for the water feature with the Hill family

The Friends of Will Rogers Gardens Foundation, along with Oklahoma City Community Foundation Parks and Public Space Initiative, Memory Garden Founder Dr. Germaine Odenheimer join the public in celebrating the opening of the new Memory Garden at Will Rogers Park.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are currently more than 64,000 Oklahomans living with Alzheimer’s disease, and over 223,000 family and friends providing care. These statistics, combined with personal and professional experience led local neurologist, Dr Germaine Odenheimer, to propose building a Memory Garden at Will Rogers Gardens.

A memory garden is a specialized garden designed for people with dementia/Alzheimer’s disease to share with their families and caregivers. The garden will be enclosed to reduce the risk of individuals wandering away. It will be wheelchair/ADA accessible. Seating areas will be included as well as shade and water misters to reduce the hazard of heat related illness. A raised bed format will be utilized for additional accessibility. The plants will stimulate the senses, but also be non-irritating and nontoxic. The space will be conducive to gatherings and activities for the population served. Although designed specifically to address the growing population of individuals suffering with dementia/Alzheimer’s related diseases and their families/caregivers, it will also be open to all visitors of Will Rogers Gardens.

OKC Parks Department has projected the total cost of the project to be $110,000. The Oklahoma City Community Foundation has awarded the project a $20,000 Parks and Public Space Initiative Grant. There is a Special Condition of the grant. FWRGF must provide a $10,000 fundraising match.

We are looking for 10 individuals/corporations to donate $1000 each as Ground Breaking Sponsors. Sponsorship signage in the garden area will list our Ground Breaking Sponsors with your choice of listing you name/logo/”in memory of” on that signage.

Please consider becoming a Ground Breaking Sponsor – $1000

$1,000.00Add to cart

Memory Garden Founder Dr Germaine Odenheimer, Friends of Will Rogers Gardens Foundation President Peggy Wood, OKC Parks Director Doug Kupper and Oklahoma City Community Foundation Director of Parks and Public Spaces Brian Dougherty.

From left to right, the Groundbreaking Sponsors are: John Davis, Dr Germaine Odenheimer, Keith McCombs representing Insurica, Stacia Canaday, Peggy Wood, Brian Dougherty, Marileigh Dougherty, Karen Collier and John Calabro.

Beyond ground breaking, there will be an additional $80,000 dollars to raise.

Please consider donating any amount to help build the Memory Garden at Will Rogers Gardens.

[ click to view larger version of this image ]