Rhea McCandliss Professional Service Award

Identifies existing gardens and landscapes designed and maintained for therapeutic purposes.
Publicizes excellence in therapeutic design and horticultural therapy programming intended to encourage the participation of special populations.
Recognizes gardens or landscapes that provide opportunities to experience comfort, sensory stimulation, and independence.
Supports universal design for all people, regardless of age and ability.
The first AHTA Therapeutic Garden Design Award was presented in 1997.

Recognized designs should reflect the following characteristics:

Scheduled and programmed activities, including horticultural therapy programming and events and activities intended to encourage the participation of special populations.
Improved accessibility through modified features and the availability of adapted equipment and tools.
Well-defined perimeters to direct visitors to garden displays.
The inclusion of intensive plantings and open environments, benignly designed to enhance people plant interactions, social interchange, and a sense of safety.
Universally designed for all people, regardless of age and ability.
An intensified recognition of the opportunity to experience comfort, sensory stimulation, and independence within the designed garden or landscape

2025: Maude’s Garden

2024: Lerner Garden of the Five Senses

2023: Marie Rose Therapeutic Garden

2022: Gardens of the Monarch School of New England

2021: none awarded

2020: Rogers Behavioral Health, Children & Adolescent Therapeutic Garden

2019: Creative Therapy Center and Healing Garden

2018: Abe’s Garden

2017: none awarded

2016: Pacific Quest

2015: The Warrior and Family Support Center

2014: Trillium’s Healing Garden at the Perry Center

2013: St Patrick’s Therapeutic Butterfly Garden

2012: The Veterans Honor Center Gardens at the Domiciliary, Florida

2011: Portland Memory Garden

2010: Portland Adventist Medical Center’s Hope Garden

2009: none awarded

2008: The William E. Carter School of Sensory Garden Classroom

2007: Kieckhefer Strollinh Garden, Arizona

2006: The Legacy Oregon Burn Center, Portland

2005: The Elizabeth & Nona Evans Restorative Cleveland Botanical Garden

2004: The Rusk Children’s Play Garden

2003: Cancer Lifeline’s Healing Garden at the Dorothy O’Brien Center

2002: Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital Garden

2001: The Buehler Enabling Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden

AHTA Therapeutic Garden Design Award