Sacred Places
A Space for Grace Serenity Garden at Jacksonville State University
A landmark of recovery from a tornado and a pandemic, funded by a pageant campaign.
WHERE
Jacksonville, AL
SETTING
Education
PARTNER INSTITUTION
The Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama
Visit
Where it is
700 Pelham Rd N, Jacksonville, AL 36265
What happens here
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors come to reconnect with nature and take a break from screens. Students hang their hammocks from the posts provided for it.
HOW IT CAME TO BE
Miss JSU raised the money.
01
The Need
The devastating tornado of 2018 and the global pandemic both profoundly affected the JSU community and beyond.
02
The Vision
The garden was envisioned by JSU community members as a landmark symbolizing beauty, restoration, and recovery, drawing on research into what time outdoors does for mind and body: reduced stress, increased memory and attention, regulated mood, a greater overall sense of wellbeing. Grace-Anne Lundy, Miss Jacksonville State, was instrumental in bringing it to life. Her Miss JSU 2024 campaign focused on the importance of mental health and wellbeing, and her efforts raised a large portion of the funding that implemented the design her fellow community members had envisioned.
03
The Transformation
The development is unusual in that the design came from inside the university, across JSU's Department of Art and Design, Counseling Services, and Capital Planning and Facilities. Behind Mason Hall, three archway entrances now lead into the space, with a winding path running through it. A pergola with two bench seats serves as the destination. JSU's first permanent outdoor sculpture art enhances the surroundings, and posts give students somewhere to hang hammocks. The garden is one of 20 sites in the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama's network across nine counties, part of elevating the region's national presence in nature-based community healing.
WHO TENDS IT
Julie Nix
Firesoul, A Space for Grace Serenity Garden at Jacksonville State University
Read more →
HEAR FROM THE VISITORS
From the Little Yellow Journal
I dreamed of a beautiful garden space at JSU and it has come to be true. I hope that every person who visits this space leaves with a sense of peace and joy.
Blessings to all who visit this space.
– Julie Nix
