Veterans home unveils newly renovated outdoor space

PERKINS TWP. — Residents, staff, volunteers and community partners gathered Monday at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky to celebrate the grand opening of a newly revitalized courtyard designed to offer veterans a tranquil space for relaxation, connection and healing. Ali Yogmour, interim chief of communications for the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, noted that the celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated courtyard in the home's 1 South unit. This event marked Ohio's first therapeutic garden project within its state veterans home system. Yogmour said the project was made possible through a partnership with the Erie County Master Gardeners, whose expertise and volunteer efforts helped convert the underused outdoor space into a vibrant, accessible garden. The redesigned courtyard aims to promote well-being, encourage social interaction and enhance residents' quality of life through therapeutic horticulture and outdoor engagement. Throughout the event, speakers highlighted the significance of funding programs and spaces that recognize and honor Ohio's veterans. The project was a collaborative effort among the Erie County Master Gardeners, the Ohio State University Extension, the Ohio Veterans Home Volunteer Advisory Committee and the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.