Hasbro Children’s Hospital recently announced a milestone in its ongoing renovations with the completion of the new Balise Healing Garden and a completely reimagined playground. The space was made possible by donor support of a special fund-a-need opportunity, and with generous gifts to the Every Child, Every Day campaign – the $35 million effort funding the hospital’s modernization projects. “This is a very special project. We know there’s a correlation between spending time outside and the healing journey for children, and that a place for respite brings normalcy to a child’s hospital stay,” said Timothy J. Babineau, MD, President and CEO of Lifespan. “We are beyond thankful to Jeb Balise, his family, and all of our incredible supporters whose generous philanthropy made this transformation a reality. Hasbro Children’s has truly been built by our community, for our community.” Located outside the lower level of the hospital and nearby the ambulatory and primary care clinics, the Balise Healing Garden and conjoined playground are 29,000 square feet, a footprint 20 percent larger than it was previously. Entering the area, patients and families are greeted by a teaching garden that features raised beds, each housing vegetables and herbs according to their colors and characteristics. Adjacent to the garden and an important element of the area is a completely re-worked Healing Arts Theatre. It features a triple tier of stadium-style benches made from teak wood, facing a performance area with a variety of chimes and drums for patients to play and use to express themselves. The space is of particular significance for behavioral health patients and the hospital’s Healing Arts Program, which is integral to patient care and helping children cope with illness or injury. “Balise Auto and the Balise Family are proud to partner with Hasbro Children’s Hospital in the creation of the Balise Healing Garden,” said Jeb Balise, owner and CEO of Balise Auto. “It is our hope that this peaceful space brings comfort and healing to children for years to come.” A short distance away is all-new playground equipment, including various swings, a play hut, and a climb-on structure with a wheelchair accessible slide. Built upon a special cushioned foam base for safety, the playground equipment is constructed from recycled materials, including oral care products and packaging that resulted from a recycling initiative led by CVS Pharmacy, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and TerraCycle. The recycling program called upon people nationwide to recycle their oral care products and packaging to help their state win a playground for a children’s pediatric facility. For three months in 2019, CVS Pharmacy customers in Rhode Island recycled more toothbrushes, empty toothpaste tubes and floss containers than any other state in the country, and Hasbro Children’s Hospital was awarded the grand prize. The new playground was then complemented by the addition of picnic tables, benches and chairs, and walking paths. At its far end is a basketball area with an adjustable height hoop. “We were able to help build this wonderful playground for families at Hasbro Children’s Hospital while incentivizing recycling among our CVS Pharmacy customers,” said Eileen Howard Boone, SVP of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy and chief sustainability officer at CVS Health.  “It’s a win-win for everyone involved, most importantly the countless children who will enjoy the playground for years to come.” The Balise Healing Garden and the playground were completed in late September, allowing for limited numbers of patients and families to enjoy the space while also following current health and safety guidelines. The area is cleaned regularly, and informational signs regarding COVID-19 and sanitizer stations are placed throughout. Construction of the project was led by Cranston-based Pariseault Builders. “Lifespan and Hasbro Children’s have been tremendous partners over the years. We take great pride in helping those who help others and this outdoor space immediately became important to all of us,” said Brian Casey, president of Pariseault Builders. “This is more than just a beautiful outdoor area – it is healing space where care and kindness comes together with fun so patients can be kids. We’re proud to have been a part of rejuvenating this area to turn it into the bright and welcoming space it is today.” Along with donors to the hospital’s special fund-a-need, Balise Auto and Balise Subaru, and partners CVS Pharmacy, Colgate, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and TerraCycle, the project was supported generously by the Rhode Island Shriners, Deanna and Scott Donnelly, and Julie and Michael Mahoney.

This coming Halloween may be unlike past years due to COVID-19, but there are still plenty of ways to have a safe, spooky, and Earth-friendly holiday. Iowa City's recycling coordinator Jane Wilch has a Jack-o'-lantern filled with fun ideas on how to have a green Halloween this year.

Durable, reusable, recyclable Halloween decorations

Choose decorations that you can use year after year. For recyclable decorations, look for plastics that are #1-5 or #7, as #6 and unlabeled plastics are not recyclable. Avoid metallic or glitter-coated decorations, as these cannot be recycled. Questions? Check out icgov.org/recycle.

Eco-friendly costumes

Although we are recommending that trick-or-treaters avoid door-to-door contact this year, there are plenty of ways to get creative with and be sustainable with costumes. Use what you already have around the house to create a costume, or shop for a costume secondhand! Use these ideas to participate in a socially-distanced Halloween parade! Check out our great selection of local secondhand and consignment stores for costumes. Make sure that in addition to a Halloween mask, a face covering over your nose and mouth will help keep you safe from COVID.

Give sustainable treats

Consider candy options with less packaging, or have organic or Fairtrade status. Alternatively, you can offer a treat other than candy! Provide treats from a safe distance, from your driveway, or in your yard. Light the path to your treats and direct traffic away from your door. Wear a face mask over your nose and mouth, and remember, Halloween masks do not protect against COVID. Sometimes, individually-wrapped candy is the easiest and safest option. In this case, you can still make a difference by recycling the candy wrappers through Terracycle. Connect with your neighbors to fill up a box to send to Terracycle.

Collect your candy and treats in a reusable or durable option

Use a reusable cloth bag, pillow case, or wicker basket (among many other options) to carry your candy around while trick-or-treating. Always wear your face coverings, and don’t forget the hand sanitizer!

Compost your pumpkins and gourds

To compost at the curb, remove any candles or lights from inside your pumpkin and place it in your organics container (City cart, or personal 20-35 gallon upright container), or in a paper yard waste bag, and then set it at the curb for collection on your normal service day. Residents can also take pumpkins to the Iowa City Landfill’s compost facility to be composted at no charge.