The Ronald McDonald House's yard is getting an extreme makeover.
The Greater Columbia Landscape Association is giving a new look to the grounds around the house.
"They ripped out the whole front and back lawn that had been here 21 years ago," said Ann Akerman, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House. The yellow house sits in a shady area on Colonial Drive near Palmetto Health Richland hospital.
A 10 a.m. press conference today will highlight other features of the project.
The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for children seeking treatment for injury or illness and for their parents.
"The families at Ronald McDonald House are in crisis," Akerman said.
The new environment will create an oasis for the families, she said.
"Our job is to provide the highest quality of care," Akerman said.
"The new front and back yard will heighten that quality and give them comfort and a sense of home," she said.
Each year, the Greater Columbia Landscape Association selects an organization in the Midlands to do landscaping and lawn service for free. Past projects include Habitat for Humanity, Riverbanks Zoo, Boy Scouts of America, Dickerson Center for Children and the City of Columbia Streetscapes project on Sunset Boulevard.
Some of the improvements at The Ronald McDonald House include a new sprinkler system, shrubs, seasonal plants and a brick walkway in the back.
The five-day project, estimated at $40,000, has been a team effort with all time and materials -- pavers, sod, pine straw, labor and the design -- donated, said Wes Stillinger of Lexington Lawns and Landscaping and one of the project's chairmen.
Other project chairmen are Hal Bowers of Bowers Landscaping and Irrigation, and Robert McLeod of Heritage Landscape Services.
"We have about 30 different companies who donated materials and time," Stillinger said.
The Ronald McDonald House could not have afforded the project without the donation, Akerman said.
One of the large projects in the rear of the house involves putting down pavers for a picnic area, he said.
The yard improvements will complement the work that has been done on the inside.
The Greater Columbia Landscape Association is giving a new look to the grounds around the house.
"They ripped out the whole front and back lawn that had been here 21 years ago," said Ann Akerman, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House. The yellow house sits in a shady area on Colonial Drive near Palmetto Health Richland hospital.
A 10 a.m. press conference today will highlight other features of the project.
The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for children seeking treatment for injury or illness and for their parents.
"The families at Ronald McDonald House are in crisis," Akerman said.
The new environment will create an oasis for the families, she said.
"Our job is to provide the highest quality of care," Akerman said.
"The new front and back yard will heighten that quality and give them comfort and a sense of home," she said.
Each year, the Greater Columbia Landscape Association selects an organization in the Midlands to do landscaping and lawn service for free. Past projects include Habitat for Humanity, Riverbanks Zoo, Boy Scouts of America, Dickerson Center for Children and the City of Columbia Streetscapes project on Sunset Boulevard.
Some of the improvements at The Ronald McDonald House include a new sprinkler system, shrubs, seasonal plants and a brick walkway in the back.
The five-day project, estimated at $40,000, has been a team effort with all time and materials -- pavers, sod, pine straw, labor and the design -- donated, said Wes Stillinger of Lexington Lawns and Landscaping and one of the project's chairmen.
Other project chairmen are Hal Bowers of Bowers Landscaping and Irrigation, and Robert McLeod of Heritage Landscape Services.
"We have about 30 different companies who donated materials and time," Stillinger said.
The Ronald McDonald House could not have afforded the project without the donation, Akerman said.
One of the large projects in the rear of the house involves putting down pavers for a picnic area, he said.
The yard improvements will complement the work that has been done on the inside.
Latest from Lawn & Landscape
- Hilltip adds extended auger models
- What 1,000 techs taught us
- Giving Tuesday: Project EverGreen extends Bourbon Raffle deadline
- Atlantic-Oase names Ward as CEO of Oase North America
- JohnDow Industries promotes Tim Beltitus to new role
- WAC Landscape Lighting hosts webinar on fixture adjustability
- Unity Partners forms platform under Yardmaster brand
- Fort Lauderdale landscaper hospitalized after electrocution
