Boston Children ’ s Hospital Gets Approval To Expand; Garden Will Be Removed

BOSTON (CBS) — A controversial plan to expand Boston’s Children’s Hospital — a plan that would place a new building in the place where its healing garden now stands — has been approved.
“The Prouty Garden is a loss to all of us, but the needs of the children, the needs of the families, the needs of the staff is first and foremost,” said Sandra Fenwick, President and CEO of Boston Children’s Hospital.
But before that decision was made by the Massachusetts Public Health Council, opponents of the $1 billion expansion project held a rally at the State House in a desperate attempt to save the garden.
The vote for the hospital’s plan to build an 11-story building means the end for the Prouty Garden, a nearly 60-year-old healing oasis that has become sacred space for sick children and their families.
A woman whose brother died after being treated at the hospital says his ashes were scattered in the Prouty Garden. “Essentially this decision, in regard to the Prouty Garden, where they’re essentially going to destroy the garden, means that his remains are going to be desecrated,” said Elizabeth Richter.
Protesters marched from the State House to the Public Health Committee meeting earlier Thursday.
The Prouty Garden at Boston Children’s Hospital. (WBZ-TV)
“We think that a project over a billion dollars is a gamble, a $1 billion-dollar gamble for Massachusetts,” Gregor McGregor, attorney for the Friends of Prouty ...

Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - October 20, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Health – CBS Boston Tags: Health Local News Syndicated Local Boston Children's Hospital Protest Prouty Garden State House Source Type: news