The Children’s Garden of Peace

The Garden is a symbol of hope for peace and renewal in our lives, our community, and the world.

In early 2004 Mary and Mike attended a dedication ceremony for the Garden of Peace in Boston MA. The Garden is a memorial commemorating victims of homicide and a living reminder of the impact of violence. It is a visual testament to the need for eliminating violence. The Garden is a symbol of hope for peace and renewal in our lives, our community, and the world. At the time of the dedication there were 400 names of all ages who were victims of violent crimes inscribed on the stones in the Garden. Today there are close to 1000.

After the event, they talked with their friends in Kingston about what they saw there and the impact that the peacefulness of this setting in the middle of downtown Boston had on us and everyone who attended. Several people including Mary and Dan Murphy, whose son Ryan was one of Jonathan’s close friends and was killed shortly after Jonathan’s death, thought that it would be a good idea to have a similar place of peace and reflection dedicated to the children on the South Shore who had died far too early.

Dan tirelessly researched information in all the local towns to find families of children who had died, contacting them to see if they were interested in being part of this memorial to all the children of the area. We found quite a number of these cases and the reactions of the parent were almost always, “yes please, I don’t want my child to be forgotten”. Interestingly, when we were doing the research several elderly parents whose child had died before them wanted to have a stone in the Garden even though several of these children were in their 40’s or 50’s. A not so subtle reminder that they will always be our children no matter how old they are.

The Children’s Garden of Peace
Norman Opachinski
Athletic Field Complex
Pottle Street, Kingston MA

Then a small group of volunteers from town including Dan, Lorraine McCarthy, Sue Ann Hurley, Paula Tedesco and Mary began the building of the park. Out of the woodwork came a group of people including friends, neighbors, contractors, and business owners who wanted to help and be part of this effort. Between them they supplied labor, materials, landscaping, equipment and installation for lighting and a water feature and much more. It was amazing. We even had an elderly gentleman, Fred Staples, whose sister, nephew and several children had died in a trolley accident in the 1920’s tell us that his wife, who had long since passed, would have loved the garden remembering his sister and all the children. So he built a wooden two person swing that he donated to the Garden in her memory. Fred came back every year to paint the bench until it was no longer usable.

Through Jonathan’s Foundation and many private donations, the Children’s Garden was dedicated in June 2004. It was designed with love in honor of all the children who have left this world too soon. Every plant, tree, bench or statue has a particular meaning, creating a space of beauty and peace. Individual pavers with the child’s name, line the walkway and the circle signifying that although we will forever miss the children, their love continues to surround us. Sadly as of today, there are 86 children honored at the garden and more are being added every year. Some family members and friends of the children feel joy as they hear children in the adjacent playing fields, others come when it is quiet and serene. It seems a fitting location to hear and see children doing what children do, having fun laughing and playing games and know that somewhere our children are doing the same.

For more information regarding the Garden please contact us.