The Peace Pole Peace Garden, Winchester, Virginia, USA.
February 1, 2026
On November 13, 2025, the Rotary Club of Winchester in Virginia has dedicated what is recognized as the world’s first Peace Pole Garden, located in Jim Barnett Park. This landmark, installed in November 2025, serves as a permanent symbol of peace and community reflection, featuring a Trex bench made from recycled plastic.
Key Details About the Peace Pole Garden:
- Location: Jim Barnett Park, Winchester, Virginia.
- Significance: The garden features a dedicated Peace Pole and is part of a larger initiative by the Rotary Club of Winchester to promote unity.
- Features: The site includes a durable, wood-alternative bench manufactured from recycled plastic, providing a space for contemplation.
- Context: While Peace Poles exist worldwide, this specific, designated “Peace Pole Garden” was highlighted in November 2025 as the first of its kind in the area.
This project complements other peace-building efforts by the club, including a separate Peace Pole at John Handley High School.
What is unique about the Peace Gaden is that it combines the Rotary Peace Pole with a Bench donated by Trex Inc., in exchange for the donation of 1,000 pounds of used, stretchable non-biodegradable plastic.
We have all we need and are ready to install two more Peace Gardens in Winchester; one at the Winchester Day School and the other at the Winchester Rescue Mission in the Spring of 2026.
The Rotary Club of Winchester is initiating a program to establish Peace Gardens throughout our Community. A Peace Garden would consist of a Peace Pole and a Trex Bench with a Dedication Plate stating that “This Bench was made by Trex Inc., from plastic collected and recycled by the Rotary Club of Winchester.”
The Trex Bench is made from recycled stretchable plastic. The Rotary Club of Winchester collects plastic from Club Members and participating Community Partners and delivers it to the Trex Collection Point at NW Services, which in turn gets a stipend from Trex. This project meets the Rotary Peace Goals of protecting our environment by removing and reusing waste plastic and by helping NW Works fund programs to provide economic opportunities to adults with disabilities.
The Peace Garden will provide safe havens for people throughout our Community to escape life’s stresses and to communicate peacefully with their friends and neighbors.
Details are in the radio interview at the link below.
Patrick Kofalt
Rotary Club of Winchester
Virginia