THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407120162
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HEIDI GLICK, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
People with disabilities or those lacking strong job skills may soon find comfort in a new program at the Virginia Zoological Park called the Tanner's Creek Project.
Mark H. Schneider, the zoo's horticulturist, and Paul Atkinson, executive director at Eggleston Services, have teamed to raise the $350,000 needed for a self-sustaining greenhouse complex on the zoo grounds.
The complex will take up about 2 1/2 acres of the zoo grounds, near the Lafayette River, which was once known as Tanner's Creek.
They say it will serve two purposes: to provide therapy and employment.
The project's first phase, which should be implemented by spring, is the greenhouse facility. About 20 employees, 10 from Eggleston Services, a non-profit vocational rehabilitation facility, and 10 from the community, will grow different types of plants, herbs and potpourri and sell them to businesses, governmental agencies, restaurants and the public. Already they have a contract with the city to grow 12,000 mums. The project's second phase is grounds maintenance. Employees will cut and maintain lawns at indoor malls, corporate offices and municipal centers.
Atkinson says the project is a natural outgrowth from the zoo's current relationship with Eggleston Services. For the past four years, the zoo has employed people from the organization to clean the buildings and maintain the grounds.
Traditionally, Atkinson says, people with disabilities often have no choice but to go into food service or custodial work. The new project will give them another option.
``They really enjoy what they're doing,'' Atkinson said. ``It really gives people an option not to do custodial or food service. They might want to do horticulture.''
And that type of work is therapeutic for people with disabilities, said Chris O'Handley, a team leader with the business services division of Eggleston Services. He will manage the new operation.
``There's something about getting your hands into the earth,'' O'Handley explained. ``For them to be able to take something from the very beginning, put it in a pot, watch it grow, prune it, pinch it and put it in a proper shape to where someone will want to buy it is very fulfilling. They see the product from beginning to end.''
He added that the environment at the zoo is an ideal situation. It's in the city so workers can use public transportation to get to work. Yet at the same time they are in an area surrounded by trees and animals.
But the workers won't be isolated. About 250,000 people visit the zoo every year, according to Schneider.
``It's a nice environment for people to come out and work in,'' he said, adding that the employees will be interacting with the public, zoo staff and horticultural volunteers and most importantly, selling to consumers.
O'Handley said the project will also target the economically disadvantaged who don't have vocational skills. They will employ and train them. With training, the workers will have the skills to get jobs, such as working at garden centers.
And, says Atkinson, the program is transitional. Eventually, they hope to move all the workers out into the community. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HEIDI GLICK
Mark H. Schneider, left, and Paul Atkinson are working on the
Tanner's Creek Project.
Drawing shows the greenhouse complex that will occupy about 2 1/2
acres of zoo grounds.
by CNB