PLAY TIME GARDEN Envision Unlimited’s Foster Care program
and social skills. Crucially, the playground
with I/DD who also require foster care. In
for visits between foster children and their
serves the needs of children and teens
addition to many of the typical challenges faced by those in foster care, these
also provides a welcoming environment biological families.
young people often have difficulty using
Physical play is a freeing experience,
diagnoses that limit their physical mobility.
spark for the imagination, a means of
language and might have secondary
Children in foster care in general are also
twice as likely as their peers to experience asthma and obesity.
1
The formidable odds stacked against the
an invitation to invent and innovate, a connecting socially and personally with others, a confidence builder, and a
special space and time that can belong to the children.
mental and physical well-being of these
That’s why the Play Time Garden holds
Center Play Time Garden vital to their
staff have already witnessed noticeable
children make Envision’s Foster Care growth and development.
Designed, built, and opened in 2017,
this state-of-the-art outdoor playground
a special place in our hearts. Envision
improvements in the families in their care,
resulting in healthier, happier children now and in the future.
creates a welcoming space for little
Special thanks to Hyde Park Interiors
way that’s unstructured, yet supervised
Services, Wilkins Solutions Enterprises,
ones to interact with other children in a and safe, while their caregivers attend meetings with Envision staff. They’re
getting plenty of fresh air, exercise, and
social interaction, all of which will have an impact on their long-term development
Architecture Group, Conway & Sons Lawn and Trinity Volunteer Corps for generously donating design services, supplies,
and funding to facilitate the Play Time Garden’s construction.
of mobility and balance, communication,
1
8
Kristin Turney and Christopher Wildeman. “Mental and Physical Health of Children in Foster Care.” Pediatrics. Nov 2016, 138.
