Jacksonville, AL — A new chapter in campus wellness and community healing began Friday morning as Jacksonville State University (JSU) and the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama (CFNEA) broke ground on the Serenity Garden, a dedicated outdoor space behind Mason Hall designed to foster rest, reflection, and renewal.
The garden is the result of a powerful collaboration between JSU’s Department of Art and Design, Counseling Services, and Capital Planning and Facilities, with generous support from CFNEA and Nature Sacred—a national nonprofit behind the Open Spaces Sacred Places (OSSP) initiative.
Inspired by OSSP’s mission to support mental and emotional well-being through access to nature, the Serenity Garden will incorporate four key design elements: a portal, path, destination, and surround. Visitors will pass through three elegant archways, follow a winding trail, and arrive at a pergola furnished with bench seating and a bronze sculpture—all nestled within a carefully landscaped space. Hammock posts and additional seating will be installed throughout to encourage quiet moments of relaxation and reconnection with nature.
“This has been a few short years in the making, and it’s wonderful to be at this point where we are going to see the creation of a new and exciting open space and sacred place,” said Fred Smith, Vice President of Community Partnerships at CFNEA. “This will serve as a place where students can come, relax, recharge, and have an opportunity to just take a load off for a minute and contemplate and get ready for what lies ahead of them.”
With the Serenity Garden, Jacksonville State becomes one of just over 130 OSSP sites nationwide—and only the second university in Alabama to host one—solidifying JSU’s role in a growing national movement for nature-based healing. It also expands CFNEA’s regional footprint, adding to their network of 20 OSSP sites across nine counties in Northeast Alabama.
The idea for the garden was born in 2018 by Jax State Counseling Services, just before a powerful EF-3 tornado struck the campus. In the years since, the concept grew into a symbol of recovery and hope, gaining renewed relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The vision for a space like this began in 2018 before the devastating tornado that deeply affected our campus,” said Julie Nix, Coordinator of Social Work Field Education and former Director of Counseling Services. “This journey has been long and, at times, uncertain. But today, we take a powerful step forward. I cannot wait to see the JSU community experience the peace, reflection, and healing that this space will provide.”
Terry Casey, JSU Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, acknowledged the many hands that brought the project to life, including student-led support. A standout effort came from 2024 Miss JSU Grace Ann Lundy, who raised over $14,000 through a fundraising campaign that also opened the door for vital conversations around mental health on campus.
“This is probably the first time in my career that I’ve seen a student as passionate and involved in a project like this,” Casey said. “Without her and without her dedication to her students and to face the conversation of mental health speaks highly of her character.”
The Serenity Garden is scheduled to open before the Fall 2025 semester, with plans for it to be used not only as a place for personal reflection, but also for student-led programming and mental health initiatives supported through quarterly grants from Nature Sacred.
“There is an old saying, ‘Philanthropy is like planting a tree under whose shade you may never get to sit,'” Smith noted in his closing remarks. “Eventually, we’re thinking about another generation… a generation that’s being prepared for by us.”
For more information about the Serenity Garden, visit www.jsu.edu. To explore the broader OSSP initiative, visit www.cfnea.org/ossp.
