We break ground almost every day here at Hillwood, planting, turning, and cultivating the gardens to maintain them to the pristine standards set by founder Marjorie Merriweather Post for the enjoyment of future generations. In the coming weeks, groundbreaking of another sort will begin on a special project that will enable Hillwood to continue its commitment to sustainability.

Marjorie Post’s closest friends surprised her with a sincere and special appreciation for her lifetime of philanthropy with the dedication of the Friendship Walk in 1957. Hillwood will honor this memorable gift by repaving the Friendship Walk and surrounding pathways with permeable pavement, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of Hillwood gardens on safer, more walkable pathways that are environmentally friendly and truer to the historic paths originally put in place by Marjorie Post.  

The garden pathways, currently made of asphalt, will be refurbished, replaced with a porous paving material made out of recycled rubber. Porous Pave is made of recycled rubber chips and stone, which leaves spaces in the material for water to pass through. This reduces storm water runoff, a serious concern in our area, and lessens erosion in the gardens, especially when there are large rain events. This new material is also a safe and efficient way to bring back the historical red coloring of the paths, making them truer to the historic paths originally put in place by Marjorie Post.

This project was made possible through the generous donations of Hillwood supporters known as the 21st-Century Friends of Marjorie Merriweather Post. There will be a plaque installed recognizing their contributions.

When?
While summer color enlivens the gardens around us, preparations for the garden paths are already underway, with work continuing through mid-September. 

The good news is that work on this initiative will not disrupt your visit or your enjoyment of the rest of the gardens, mansion, Merriweather Café, or museum shop. 

The refurbishment is now complete and all pathways have reopened!