A new play area at the National Institute of Health garnered its design firm an Honor award for their work in redeveloping an outdoor space for patients of various age groups and abilities, as well as for their families and caregivers.

The Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects recently recognized Mahan Rykiel Associates with an Honor award for their design of a new play area at The Children's Inn, a home away from home for pediatric patients and their families at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md.

The Baltimore based landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm prepared concept plans, researched special play elements, incorporated donated materials and services, and provided installation support.

The Children's Inn houses up to 59 seriously ill children and their families free of charge for as long as needed while the patients receive medical treatments at the NIH.

The Play Park project involved redeveloping an outdoor space for these patients, their siblings, and caregivers: accommodating active and passive functions, creating enriching play areas for a variety of age groups, and providing respite space for families and staff.

"The new play area offers our children and their families a real chance to enjoy the outdoors, and when children have an opportunity to play, they also have an opportunity to heal," said Kathy Russell, CEO of The Children's Inn.

Solving drainage problems and reducing the grade change between the outdoor area and the building were two major areas of concern. Outdated play equipment and lack of shade in the old play garden contributed to its limited use.

Lead designer Alice Jones, PLA, said, "Now as soon as you see out those floor-to-ceiling windows (at the Inn), you know there's something cool out there."

The specific nature of the site ownership required collaboration and coordination between the two entities responsible for the building and site: the NIH, and the private, non-profit Children's Inn. Flexibility in scheduling and construction was critical since products and services changed throughout the project as new donations were offered.

Mahan Rykiel Associates was brought into the project by Poltronieri, Tang & Associates, a firm specializing in pediatric healthcare planning and design.

The award was selected by a jury of peers and presented at an awards ceremony in Baltimore.