Administrators of Boston Children's Hospital plan to permanently close the Prouty Garden in the coming weeks as the hospital prepares to begin construction of its $1 billion expansion, according to the Boston Business Journal.
The hospital sent a memo to staff this week inviting them to two honoring ceremonies in the garden Nov. 16 and 17. During the ceremonies, attendees viewed renderings that showed how elements of the garden will be moved to new gardens at a different clinical building.
"Recognizing the important role that Prouty Garden has played in the lives of our employees and community, this week Boston Children's is hosting events for staff honoring the Garden and sharing information about plans for improved patient care and experience," Rob Graham, a spokesperson for the hospital, said in a statement. "Boston Children's Hospital expects to permanently close the Prouty Garden within the next several weeks. The space will be used for site preparation activities and will ultimately be home to a new clinical facility to help meet growing demand for care."
The closure of the garden, which has served as a beloved respite spot for many patients and families, was adamantly opposed by many families. Despite the opposition and an ongoing court case against the expansion, the state's Department of Public Health approved the hospital's plans in late October, according to the report.