Community Comes Together to Restore Town Square University Parkway’s Garden
SARASOTA, FL — October 29, 2025 — When the sun rose over Town Square University Parkway, Sarasota’s leading 1950s-themed adult day center specializing in dementia and senior care, staff and members discovered that their cherished sensory garden had been vandalized, and plants had been stolen in the early hours of the morning.
What could have been a disheartening day quickly turned into one of hope, compassion, and community unity. Within hours of sharing the news, local families, businesses, and landscapers began reaching out, eager to help rebuild what many call the “heart” of Town Square.
As Co-Owner John McDermott said, “This morning we saw the worst in humanity, and this afternoon we saw the best in our community.”
A Garden That Heals the Soul
The Town Square Garden Center has long been a meaningful space for members—many living with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, and other forms of dementia. More than just a garden, it’s a living therapy environment filled with familiar sights, scents, and textures that awaken memories and promote emotional wellness.
Members plant, water, and harvest herbs and vegetables used in farm-to-table activities that reconnect them to lifelong routines, offering purpose, movement, and joy.
“These gardens represent more than just plants — they represent progress, connection, and peace for individuals who may otherwise feel lost in their diagnosis,” shared Catherine McDermott, PMHNP, Owner of Town Square University Parkway. “We use gardening as therapy — it brings smiles, movement, and purpose to our members’ days.”
A Community Answering the Call
Rather than dwell on loss, the Town Square University Parkway team has turned the incident into an opportunity for unity. The center is now accepting plant donations from local nurseries, gardeners, and community members to help restore the sensory garden.
To ensure member safety, donated plants should be non-toxic and dementia-friendly, as some late-stage participants explore plants by touch or taste. Donors are asked to avoid toxic species such as foxglove, oleander, azalea, philodendron, poinsettia, and sago palm.
“Town Square has become a lifeline for so many families in Sarasota and Manatee counties,” said Skyler Betts, Business Development and Enrollment Director. “We’re asking our community to come together once again — just as we do every day — to restore something that truly brings healing and happiness to our members.”
The team is working diligently to rebuild the garden before the Town Square Health Expo and Resource Fair on Saturday, November 8th, where the newly restored space will be showcased to hundreds of attendees, vendors, and healthcare professionals. The goal is to transform this act of loss into a renewed symbol of growth, resilience, and community spirit.
About Town Square University Parkway
Located at 8450 Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL, Town Square University Parkway is a one-of-a-kind senior day center that blends medical and therapeutic care with nostalgic charm. Designed to resemble a 1950s small-town community, the center features Rosie’s Diner, a vintage beauty salon, art and music studios, and even a community park, all created to stimulate memory and foster engagement for seniors.
Beyond daily programming, Town Square offers comprehensive medical and therapy services, caregiver support groups, and educational partnerships with local nonprofits and universities to advance dementia education and awareness.
How You Can Help
Plant donations can be dropped off directly at Town Square University Parkway during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Every donation — whether a flowering plant, herb, or fruit tree — brings the garden one step closer to blooming again. Together, our community can transform an act of loss into a story of growth, kindness, and resilience.
For more information, visit www.townsquare.net/
