A dedication ceremony was held recently for the new Passavant Garden at the Abundant Life Center in Zelienople. Taking part, at front, were Pastor Susie Esseck; and rear from left, Laura Roy, Passavant Community executive director; the Rev. Kurt Kusserow, bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; John Harmon with the George H. Campbell, Lillian S. Campbell and Mary S. Campbell Foundation; and Jane Bittcher, president of Lutheran SeniorLife Foundation.

ZELIENOPLE — The dedication ceremony for Passavant Garden earlier this month featured warm weather and a crowd of community members and supporters of the project.

Lutheran SeniorLife held the event commemorating the official opening of the garden on June 8, one year after ground was broken for the project.

At the dedication, Pastor Susie Esseck delivered a tribute to Laura Roy, executive director of Passavant Community, on behalf of a family member who once lived on campus.

Roy then recognized the donors who helped make the garden possible.

“We have waited so long for this day,” she said. “We now have a place to go to be renewed, strengthened, laugh and hope.”

The Rev. Kurt Kusserow, bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, blessed the garden to close the event.

Attendees adjourned for a picnic.

The area features walkways through two separate garden spots, a large and small pergola, a gazebo, water fountains and a koi pond. It also contains recreational facilities including boccie ball, horseshoes and shuffleboard, all of which visitors can play in the North Garden.

It is open to all residents or visitors to Passavant's Abundant Life Center, 105 Burgess Drive, which opened two years ago.