Transforming a Space for Vets and Pets

After months of labor, two employees in the hospital’s Grounds Department reshaped the space into an accessible dog park. The new addition features turf, drainage improvements and a fire hydrant fixture, creating a safe environment where service dogs can take a break on days their handlers attend appointments.

The work was led by Aaron Scott, gardener, and Jonathon Hollins, laborer, who said the project was both a challenge and a privilege.

“This was new ground for us, neither of us had ever laid turf before,” Scott said. “We had to figure it out as we went. We spent about five months on it between all our other duties, and probably a solid month of full days just out there working. There were times we got equipment stuck or had to fix drainage issues, but we kept going until it was right.”

Hollins said the toughest part was building a strong foundation under the turf to make sure the park wouldn’t flood or shift. “We dug it all out and built it back up,” he said. “It was hot, dirty work, but seeing it now makes every bit of effort worth it.”

Both men said the first time they saw Veterans using the park with their dogs, the struggles of construction faded.

“We stopped what we were doing just to watch,” Scott said. “We don’t always work inside the hospital with patients, but even from the outside, you feel the impact of what you do.”

Hollins said the project carried a personal meaning for him. “My father is a retired Coast Guard Veteran,” he said. “He came by, saw what we built, and said, ‘I can’t believe you guys did this.’ To me, that’s a way to give back to him and to every Veteran who comes here.”

Scott and Hollins often lend a hand beyond landscaping. On any given day,  they change flat tires, jump-start vehicles or push Veterans in wheelchairs to their appointments. The park, they said, is just one more way of showing that support.

“We want Veterans to know we care,” Scott said. “Anything we can do to help, we do.”

The hospital’s leadership emphasized that the park is more than an amenity. It represents a commitment to accessibility and respect.

“Accessibility is one of our core responsibilities, and this project is a perfect example of that,” said Scott Isaacks, director and CEO of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. “Veterans who depend on service dogs deserve a safe and appropriate space on our campus, and I am proud that our team delivered it. What Aaron and Jonathon accomplished is not just about landscaping, it’s about dignity. They turned an eyesore into a place that reflects the value we place on every Veteran’s experience here.”

The park sits beside manicured trees and bright turf, offering a striking contrast to the bare dirt it replaced. As more service dogs run across the grass and pause at the hydrant fixture, the park has already begun to fulfill its purpose. For Veterans with service animals, it is a meaningful upgrade. For the employees who built it, it is a reminder of why their work matters.