November 14, 2022- The Decatur Park District celebrated the new addition to Park Luise, The Infinite Hello Spot. The Infinite Hello Spot is sponsored by the Park District, the Community Foundation of Macon County, & Cole Counseling Services. Park Luise is located at 525 S. 44th St.
Do you ever wish you could call a loved one who has passed? Do you ever wish you had a peaceful, safe space to have that conversation?
TyKyna Cole, CEO and therapist of Cole Counseling Services, had the vision of this space. With the partnership of the Park District and the Community Foundation, Cole’s vision was able to come to fruition. With the Infinite Hello Spot, the wish of calling up a loved one who has passed, is granted.
The spot includes a bench for community members, and a telephone of the wind, an unconnected phone to hold one-way conversations with deceased loved ones.
“This bench is in honor of the women that paved the way for my husband and I to be great, a place where we are able to continuously communicate our infinite hello’s,” Cole said. “This project is small and simple, but already has made a big impact.”
The Park District believes that this spot will lead to the improvement of mental health in Decatur, as parks and mental health work hand in hand.
“There is a positive relationship between green space and restoration from stress and mental fatigue,” Aly Delatte, Director of the Decatur Park Foundation said. “With positive effects on your mood, concentration, and physiological stress. As more and more people recognize the mental health benefits of parks, initiatives have been designed to leverage this connection. We believe The Infinite Hello Spot is an amazing opportunity and will lead to the improvement of mental health in Decatur. It is the hope of all of our organizations that community members come here to find peace, closure, and acceptance by using The Infinite Hello Spot.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has had lasting effects on our community, and while the worst seems to be behind us, people are still grieving the loss of those they cared deeply for. With this spot, the healing process can begin.
“It is for anyone and everyone,” Rachel of Moran,” Director of Communications at the Community Foundation said. “It has the power to bring so much healing and comfort to those who are grieving in our community. Every single person in our community has lost someone that they love. Someone that they wish they could have just one more conversation with. In a post covid world, this is more prevalent than ever.”
