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EAST PALESTINE -- The Threshold Residential Services (TRS) Community Sensory Garden was recently awarded a $30,000 grant from the state of Ohio through the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Board. The grant is part of the ongoing recovery efforts to help the community heal and move forward following February's Norfolk Southern train derailment.
"The state grant was provided to help with the long-term impacts from the train derailment earlier this year," Threshold's Alyson Huth said via email. "Those who visit Threshold's Community Sensory Garden's experience many improvements to their health including increased cognitive function, improvement of motor skills and life-long environmental education."
The garden, built in 2021 using upcycled and new materials, is located behind Huntington Bank on the south side of Taggart Street in East Palestine and allows individuals "to enjoy the gardening process and gives them a place to spend time outside while providing the public "a space that can be enjoyed by all." The interactive elements of the garden activate various areas of the brain and create new neurological pathways, which is specifically beneficial for those with disabilities and young children.
In the wake of the rail disaster, the garden has become a place for those experiencing traumatic and residual mental health impacts to reflect, relax and recharge.
"Threshold's Community Sensory Garden gives our residents and our community a sense of peace and a breath of fresh air that is beneficial to both their physical and mental health," said Seth Walker, program director at Threshold. "We're grateful that we're able to simultaneously give our residents the opportunity to enhance their knowledge on gardening and the outdoors, while also providing a space for our community to enjoy."
Threshold Residential Services, which provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities and encourages personal growth, independence and overall improved quality of life to an often-underestimated population of the community, has based its operations in East Palestine since 1975 and has expanded by adding a corner store, lawn care company and detail shop.
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