ProjectGreenLancaster

Garden of the Five Senses, a place of magical and sustainable connection

By Margareth Contreras

History and benefits

Sustainability is a crucial issue in our current society. As cities expand their territory, forests, and rivers are threatened, and the uncontrolled growth of buildings and businesses pollutes the air we breathe. This article explores the importance of green spaces in our city of Lancaster, such as urban gardens. In particular, it highlights a special place that not only invites us to enjoy nature but also acts as a catalyst for community unity and revitalization. It is a place full of history where important figures of the Lancaster community have passed through, such as Robert Fulton, who in 1979 began his experiments to create the propulsion machine for ship engines. Located on a hill overlooking the Conestoga River in Lancaster, the Garden of the Five Senses is a refuge that reconnects us with nature. This accessible space invites visitors to exercise their senses and enjoy moments with family or friends. At a time when contact with nature is lost, the garden stands as a model of sustainability and education, reminding us of the importance of taking a break from the urban hustle and bustle and reliving the innocence of our childhood, where running barefoot on the grass and smelling the flowers were everyday experiences.

 Garden Entrance. Photo by Margareth Contreras

Features

The Garden of the Five Senses is designed to offer a unique sensory experience. Flowers, with their vibrant colors, fill the air with joy, while various aromas transport us to different seasons of the year, especially in spring and summer. This interactive space invites us to discover mysterious fragrances along its paths, awakening our curiosity and wonder at the magic of nature. Committed to inclusion, the garden has accesses designed for strollers and wheelchairs, ensuring that all people, regardless of their limitations, can enjoy this beautiful space. The garden envelops us in a serene sound environment, where the songs of birds and the murmur of water create a haven of peace in the midst of the urban bustle.

Benefit to the community 

This green space encourages interaction between community members, providing an ideal place for dialogue between families, friends, and neighbors. The activities organized here not only bring people together, but also enrich community life, creating stronger bonds and promoting a sense of belonging, with the garden, is a place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle and stress of the city to connect with your senses in such a free and impactful way that visits the garden a unique experience for everyone, and above all, it creates a connection of sustainability between community members, in the area of ​​​​flavors, for example, the community has the possibility of planting plants and spices such as fennel, parsley, rosemary among many others, thus converting the minds of community members and convincing them of the importance of sustainability.

Sense of Taste. Photo by Margareth Contreras

Economic Importance

Although not a business per se, the Garden of the Five Senses contributes to the local economy by attracting tourists in search of transformative experiences. This influx benefits nearby businesses, demonstrating that sustainability and the economy can coexist harmoniously. It also has beautiful facilities such as the gazebos where events such as weddings, birthdays, and others are held, which provides an income, as does its pool area.

Map of the Garden. By Margareth Contreras

Things to be resolved

 Despite its beauty, the garden faces the challenge of making its existence known to more members of the Lancaster community. Many are still unaware of this unique space. Another thing I noticed when talking to one of the employees (Mr. Philly Tailor) who gave us a general overview of the visitors to the site in the last year. We tried to get more information about it, without success. But based on what he told us, here is a graph of the visits from last year and some strategies to improve it. If we work together to promote it, we can increase its impact and ensure that more people benefit from its resources, and above all promote tourism.

Graphic of Visit percentage and Fountain. By Margareth Contreras        

Related Story

Getting to know this park made me realize the many beautiful and important stories that are contained in this particular magical place. There are two stories, among many others, that captured my attention.

• The story of Philly Taylor: a county employee who is in charge of cleaning and maintaining the park in all seasons, I met him while he was cleaning up the dead leaves and he kindly told me his story, he has been working there for 10 years and says that he has identified so much with the visitors to the garden that he considers them family, he says that this place is an important lung for this city, and that his desire is to see more people visit the place each year, between laughs he told us stories about the visitors, in particular, he told us about a wedding that was celebrated, and that the bride and groom insisted that he take a photo with them, although he refused because, in his words, he was not dressed for a wedding. This man, already many years old and with his smile, shows us one more beauty of this incredible place.
• Another interesting story is that of a group of women who meet in the garden to support the women of the community. This group provides support with courses, and above all, hope is given to women. I wanted to contact some of them without much success due to the time of year we are in, but knowing that this place also serves as a shelter for women who are going through difficult times, for me it was a plus that added the heart to this already very special place.
• Finally, I could not fail to mention the mark of a particular tree that shows us how, despite the inclement weather, this place emerged and remains standing. This tree tells the story of the passage of Hurricane Agnes in June 1972, and its mark shows how far the river rose. 

Hurricane of the Garden of Fives Sense. Photo by Margareth Contreras

Story Profile

• All the stories found in this garden are due in large part to the brilliant mind of Jean Bruhn, who for several years chaired the city park advisory board of Lancaster and who is credited with having the vision to design this park, which was distinguished as one of the most important in the United States by the Society of Landscape Architects and awarded the Medallian Prize in 1999. This master mind and the architects who captured his thoughts were precursors of great encounters over the years, of couples who had their first kiss here, or children who learned to ride a bicycle on the trails of this wonderful place and thousands of other stories that were possible thanks to him.
• Mr. Taylor has stories worth telling, a decade of work establishes him, in my opinion, as a good expert in distinguishing each person who has visited this park, his laughter and his gray hair are a symbol of learning, strength and love.

Final Thoughts

The Garden of the Five Senses is a vital green space that not only contributes to the sustainability of the community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania but also acts as a meeting point that revitalizes community relations. It is a reminder that nature has the power to unite and enrich us, and it is our responsibility to care for it and enjoy it. In addition to that, it is a unique experience for our senses that transports us to unknown places with the power of our senses.

References

Garden of five senses. Garden of Five Senses | Lancaster County, PA – Official Website. (n.d.-a). https://co.lancaster.pa.us/343/Garden-of-Five-Senses