Southampton Hospital was recently named a PRFCT Place by East Hampton-based nonprofit organization, Perfect Earth Project. The PRFCT Places program serves to recognize public spaces that commit to greener landscaping methods. The Southampton Hospital is the first healthcare facility to earn the recognition for maintaining their gardens and lawns without synthetic and toxic chemicals.
A variety of landscape pesticides and fertilizers have been linked to a number of serious health issues in humans and pets, with children, pregnant women and pets being the most vulnerable, so it seems only natural that the medical facility would limit the harmful toxins, to the best of their abilities, and reduce the odds of cancers, asthma, neurological disorders and endocrine disruption.
“We are pleased to be on the vanguard of support for PRFCT Places,” shared Robert Chaloner, Hospital President & CEO. “The health of Southampton Hospital’s staff, volunteers, patients, visitors, and pet therapy dogs is critically important and joining the Perfect Earth Project is another opportunity for us to maintain a healthy environment on our campus.”
The hospital grounds are being managed by a private landscaping company and during the spring and summer, hospital staff and landscape contractors will post signs and posters to help educate people on the true toxicity of generic landscaping methods. Edwina von Gal, Founder and President of Perfect Earth Project, hopes “their commitment to protecting their patients, visitors, and staff from toxic landscape chemicals will serve as an example for other healthcare facilities on Long Island and across the nation.”
Other PRFCT Places on the East End include The Village of East Hampton, Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, Bridge Gardens in Bridgehampton, and the Madoo Conservancy in Sagaponack. In the tri-state area, The Phillip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, and The High Line, The Battery, and Four Freedoms Park in New York City have been recognized as well.
Southampton Hospital and other organizations will be honored at a celebration for recognition by PRFCT Places at the Southampton Arts Center (25 Jobs Lane, Southampton) on Sunday, March 19th at 2 p.m.
Southampton Hospital is located at 240 Meeting House Lane in Southampton. For more information, visit www.southamptonhospital.org. For more information on PRFCT Places, visit perfectearthproject.org.