The Tribute Garden at Passavant Area Hospital will be closed for the next 10 months to allow for the construction of a new stairwell.

Elements of the garden, such as the pergola, sundial, sculpture, fountain and benches, will be placed in storage and reinstalled when the garden reopens in April 2021. The existing donor bricks have been removed and will be given to family members of the individuals honored on the bricks.

When the garden reopens, it will feature new landscaping and three areas devoted to engraved donor bricks and seating. Names of individuals honored and remembered in the garden will be represented as before. The new stairwell will extend into the garden and feature a sloped, accessible sidewalk for visitors.

The Tribute Garden, located in the center of the campus, offers a naturally serene respite for hospital visitors and colleagues and is a popular spot for outdoor dining. Donor bricks are frequently purchased in memory of loved ones, but may also be purchased to honor a living person or commemorate a special date or a family’s generous support of the hospital.

“The restored Tribute Garden offers the opportunity for donations toward outdoor tables, chairs and landscaping,” said Pam Martin, executive director of the Passavant Area Hospital Foundation. Individuals interested in donor opportunities for the Garden may contact Martin at 217–479–5575 or Martin.Pam@mhsil.com.