Franciscan Children’s Unveils New Balance Foundation Park
Franciscan Children’s 70th Anniversary Page
Franciscan Children’s, a leading provider of complex pediatric medical and mental health care and educational services, has unveiled New Balance Foundation Park, which will serve as a multi-functional play space and community gathering area with a variety of accessible equipment and activities for children of all levels of medical complexities and cognitive disabilities.
New Balance Foundation Park at Franciscan Children’s was built thanks to a generous donation from the New Balance Foundation. The new park includes six multi-functional play spaces: the Ed Swartz Peace Garden, Karen and Bob Boudreau Adaptive Playground, Family and Visitor Gathering Area, Interactive Playground, Therapeutic Courtyard and Mobility Courtyard. Each designated area allows ample space for families and the Franciscan Children’s community to gather and enjoy the outdoors.
“At Franciscan Children’s, our mantra is ‘so every kid can,’ and that statement should be unlimited in its application to all activities. The New Balance Foundation Park at Franciscan Children’s ensures that every child who enters our organization can play and experience the outdoors to the fullest, no matter the challenges they face,” said John D. Nash, Franciscan Children’s President and CEO. “We are incredibly grateful to the New Balance Foundation and our donors for making this amazing facility come to life for our community.”
Each location within New Balance Foundation Park at Franciscan Children’s was developed with the medical complexity and cognitive ability of every Franciscan patient and student in mind.
The Karen and Bob Boudreau Adaptive Playground is an ideal location for families who have multiple children with different abilities to be able to play together in the same space. For example, children who utilize motorized equipment will have access to a power source, enabling them to never miss out on the fun, as the space is outfitted with power outlets. The playground also features adaptive swing sets that allow children confined to wheelchairs the ability to roll onto the platform while in their chairs, providing a safe, efficient way to enjoy their time outside.
“New Balance Foundation believes in fostering a community that is healthy, engaged and physically active. All children deserve the opportunity to play, move their bodies to the best of their ability, and to enjoy the benefits of fitness and recreation. We are proud to support our friends at Franciscan Children’s as they deliver hope, health and healing to the families they serve,” said Anne Davis, managing trustee, New Balance Foundation.
Patients who prefer quiet during outdoor time can utilize the Therapeutic Courtyard with low-stimulation play items or the Ed Swartz Peace Garden with flowers and shading. The Therapeutic Courtyard was built for the inpatient and acute residential mental health patients, offering a tranquil location for reflection, yoga, meditation, and other activities that are conducive to their treatment plans.
Music therapy plays an important role in the lives of patients at Franciscan Children’s and students at its Kennedy Day School. Incorporating a variety of musical installations, the Interactive Playground allows children to use music as a way to express themselves while outside. Each of the interactive panels is designed to help strengthen the patients and students’ motor skills, depending on their needs and therapeutic goals.
Physical and occupational therapy are also a key part of Franciscan Children’s services, with over 700 patient sessions per year. The Mobility Courtyard will allow therapists to assist those who are learning or relearning how to walk on various surfaces. This courtyard was created for children to work on strengthening their skills, including balance and coordination, on a multitude of different surfaces that they could encounter day-to-day.
Throughout each location of New Balance Foundation Park at Franciscan Children’s, patients and staff will be able to utilize handicap-accessible benches, picnic tables and adaptive swing sets with back supports and chest harnesses, making it an outdoor space for everyone in the organization to enjoy. The ample amount of space makes it possible for families and the community to gather together for games, meals and other family support programming.
