Community Service Award

 

The recipient of our Community Service Award is Pierce Memorial Gardens, which is the result of a generous bequest given to Palmer Township from the estate of Pauline Pat Pierce.  Mrs. Pierce will be remembered as “Peggy Lynn” by her loyal audience from WEST’s Listen and Win with Peggy Lynn. She became a local legend, beginning her career in 1939 as a woman on-the-air and dominating the airwaves for 29 years.

Pat married Ted Pierce who was also a longtime broadcaster on WEST and both were highly respected in our area.   They lived the Old Orchard section of Palmer Township for many years. After Ted’s death, Pat moved to Moravian Hall Square in Nazareth, but her devotion to Palmer Township never wavered. She wanted Palmer to benefit from her generosity and share from her the beauty of gardening.   The Charles Chrin Community Center was chosen as the site of her Memorial Garden representing the “joy she gave…they joy she had found”.  Jamie Collins, who is a registered landscape architect, volunteered her time and talent to bring Pat’s dream to reality.  When you visit the 350 foot linear design that parallels the walking trail, you will see a bright array of perennials and ornamental grasses, shade trees and evergreens and appreciate Jamie’s time, talent and devotion.   In the Spring, the garden will be expanded in conjunction with “The Compassionate Friends”, offering a place of solace for those who have lost a child, as Ted and Pat’s only child, Jeff died of cancer in 1970.

Accepting the award tonight on behalf of Pierce Memorial Gardens is Vangie Sweitzer, the co-executor of Pat’s estate and former employee of WEST and Jamie Collins, the Landscape Architect who brought The Pierce Memorial Gardens to life in such an impressive manner.

Below is just one section of the lovely gardens that have been consturcted and planted according to Jamie's design and the money from the Pat Pierce estate.