The Board of Education (BOE) recognized local landscape designer Dan Holmes and the other members of the Sandy Hook Elementary School (SHS) Bioswale Restoration Team at its Tuesday, October 6 meeting.

The project began on May 9, when people were encouraged to dig holes, bury new plants, water plants, and more in order to rejuvenate the garden area in front of SHS.

BOE member John Vouros, who spoke about the poor conditions of the bioswale at previous BOE meetings, alerted Holmes that the SHS gardens needed help.

When Vouros brought Holmes to the area last fall, Holmes compared it to the landscape plans from around a decade ago and noted that it was not really watered or maintained.

Bioswales are shallow, landscaped depressions that are designed to receive rainwater runoff and host vegetation. The bioswale at SHS was designed to filter rainwater captured on the roof while also providing a buffer to the school and its windows.

Holmes, when speaking to The Bee about the project this past spring, said SHS did not have the funds to properly restore the garden area; this led Holmes and other community members to gather donations from various organizations, planters, and choice nurseries to beautify the area.

The Bioswale Restoration Team decided to use Connecticut-native plants for the garden, as some of them attract certain species of bees and pollinators, according to Holmes.

It may be dormant during the wintertime, but Holmes said plants such as mountain mint, butterfly weed, liatris, New England Aster, and others work to create a native, natural garden.

Superintendent of Schools Anne Uberti said Holmes stepped up to manage this project from start to finish, bringing together a dedicated team of community members and local businesses to make the restoration possible. While Holmes led the project, Uberti said he noted that this was a collective effort.

Many others beyond Holmes were acknowledged at the meeting for their hard work and support. Cathy Donoghue, a parent at SHS, was recognized for being a tireless volunteer who showed up on many weekends with her kids to help with the challenging job of weed removal, and to rally many of her friends on planting day.

Holmes said Donoghue's husband, who owns a construction company in New York, was also a big help, as he brought along two of his employees on planting day.

Another person Holmes wanted to thank was Newtown resident and owner of Giglio Landscapes John Giglio, who showed up from the start of the project. Giglio attended many of the "May weeding days," and also helped on planting day, according to Holmes.

Geordie Elkins, Newtown resident and director at Highstead Arboretum, was recognized for not only showing up to many weeding days, but also for donating at least 1,200 plants, which were all grown at his arboretum.

Holmes thanked local Girl Scout Troop 50837 for being a "big help" on planting day, along with Newtown resident and Appleberry Farm owner Kate Munno for weeding after hours and donating cedar logs for the birdhouse installation.

Beyond individual and group volunteers, Lenahan Land Clearing & Grinding Inc donated 30 yards of mulch, Pond Spring Nurseries donated five yards of river cobble, and Planters' Choice Nursery donated approximately 300 plants.

Holmes also expressed his gratitude to Vouros for bringing the project to his attention, helping raise the needed funds to finish the project, and donating the birdhouses.

Uberti, on behalf of the BOE, thanked Holmes and said they had a gift for him: a wooden plaque inscribed with a quote by Audrey Hepburn, "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow."

"Thank you to everyone involved for investing in the future of Sandy Hook School," Uberti said.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.