Hunter Mcguire VA Hospital Eagle Project

My name is Matthew Miscikowski and I am a Life Scout in Troop 720 located in Glen Allen VA. I have been working with the Hunter Mcguire VA Hospital in downtown Richmond to help restore the weathered arboretum/park area they have on site. Next to the arboretum are the veteran barracks that house homeless and addiction recovering vets. The veterans use the arboretum as a place to relax and enjoy as well as those from the surrounding community, healthcare workers at the hospital, and those staying in the Fisher houses while their relatives recover in the hospital. My hope is that the project will make a weathered arboretum something that all those who use and visit it can enjoy and use whenever they want. My project consists of five goals and two stretch goals. The first goal of the project is to work on the arboretums growbeds. This process will involve taking down 3 of the 8 growbeds to make focal points and free up clustered areas. Using the bricks from the dismantled growbeds I will raise the growbeds for improved definition and aesthetics. After all of this has been completed new plants will be put in to finish the growbeds. The second goal of the project is to look at drainage solutions for the arboretum as it tends to flood easily in the rain blocking main pathways for days with water. A possible solution to this would be to create rain gardens in critical areas so the water will drain quickly. The third goal of the project will be to create a new path way and patio for the Phyllis Galanti memorial that has been on site since the arboretum's inception. The new path and patio will make it easier to visit the Memorial. The fourth goal will be fixing up two seating areas that have fallen into disuse. New plants, furniture, and walkways will be added to the two areas to make them usable again. The fifth and final goal is completion of some smaller projects such as the creation of two little libraries and fixing up a gazebo on site. The two stretch goals will be creating a brand new alternative medicine area in the arboretum as well as a new memorial on the site. Even with the effects of Covid-19 the project is still going strong as we have already accomplished some of the major goals for the project. I hope that you will consider donating to the project so that it may come to full fruition in the future