New park for pediatric patients, families and staff
Contact:
Jon Berg
Sanford Health Media Relations
605-312-4421 / jon.berg@sanfordhealth.org
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Sanford Health is breaking ground on a unique park and respite area in front of the Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls for its pediatric patients, families and staff.
Named the “Billion Pavilion,” the park will include accessible play equipment for pediatric patients, several shaded areas, including a covered picnic shelter for patients that cannot be in the sun, a caterpillar climber, spring rider, patterned path routes, an oodle swing and sound arch.
“We know that play is very therapeutic and an important part of the healing process for children,” said Sheri Fischer, executive director of Sanford Children’s Hospital said. “Even though we are very blessed to have indoor play spaces within our Sanford Children’s castle where children can go to get out of their patient room, play for a while and just be a kid, we also know that children want to be outside and not trapped indoors when it’s nice out. This outdoor park and respite area will allow children to play and experience the therapeutic benefits of being outdoors as they heal and recover from their illness.”
Other elements in the new space include physical therapy steps and ramps for patients to do their physical therapy outside, planting gardens, work benches, flower beds and garden benches with wheelchair space and decorative seating.
“We are so grateful for the generous gifts from members of the community to make this project possible,” said Erin Sanderson, executive director of the Sanford Health Foundation in Sioux Falls. “This has been a dream of Sanford Children’s staff for years and today we get to make it a reality, all thanks to our generous donors.”
The $1.4 million project is 100 percent funded by local donors, including a $1 million gift from David H. and Christine Billion. Other large donors include, Henry Carlson Company, Panda Express and Northwestern Mutual along with many others. Donations are still being accepted to assist in providing additional enhancements and maintenance for the park into the future.
The project is scheduled to be complete in October. For more information about the Sanford Health Foundation, or to donate, visit sanfordhealthfoundation.org.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves more than one million patients and 220,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 47 medical centers, 2,800 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 170 clinical investigators and research scientists, more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations and world clinics in 8 countries around the globe. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
