“The kids can go out and play pitch and catch, or they can kick a ball, or fly a kite, or whatever they want to do.”
Story and photo by Tiffany White
SJ@Play, our new therapeutic playground and wellness complex, is one of the best gifts we could ever give to our St. Joe’s kids. Thanks to our donors and community supporters, they will have a beautiful space where they can run, jump, walk, climb or simply relax when they need an outlet to release stress. SJ@Play is more than a recreational space – it is a place that will be instrumental in helping our children with their emotional and physical wellness. SJ@Play also gives our therapists more ways to meet kids where they are – in motion, in nature, and in the community.
Letting the kids have their say
The complex will feature an enclosed play area, splash pad, and basketball court scheduled for completion by the end of this month. SJ@Play will also include a pavilion, amphitheater, and walking trail which will be done shortly thereafter. “This project is 100% for the kids. The kids weighed in on it. The kids said what they wanted, they were part of this process from the very beginning, and that’s what made it special,” says Suzy Hillebrand, Chief Advancement Officer at St. Joseph Children’s Home. Greg Oakley, Managing Partner of Hollenbach Oakley and his colleague Ben Turner, let the kids lead the way in determining what their playground would look like.
They asked for a full-regulation basketball court, because they wanted something that felt more official. And many of them, who are ages 12 and 13, pushed for age-appropriate play equipment after seeing the initial mockups. “Some of [the playground equipment] was more for six and eight-year-olds, so we had to redo that whole area,” said Greg.
Stitching the campus together
After renovation of the gym and Child Development Center in 2023, the staff expressed interest in upgrading the then 20-year-old playground equipment. With support from our SJCH board, SJ@Play transformed from a wish into reality. The project, says Greg, connects the gym, picnic area, playground, and cottages – where our kids live – into one cohesive campus. “It stitches the campus together…we are not blocked by old infrastructure…that’s all totally new.” The paved walking trail and amphitheater are conveniently located near the cottages, logistically tying the amenities together. “The kids can go out and play pitch and catch, or they can kick a ball, or fly a kite, or whatever they want to do,” says Greg. Children who are in wheelchairs or have other mobility issues will also benefit from the paved walking trail. “We wanted it to be accessible for everybody,” he says.
Each cottage has its own storage garage for bikes, reinforcing the family‑unit feel while successfully turning scattered spaces into one connected campus where kids can move, learn, and play.
Outdoor learning and joy
Our students now can experience education outside of the classroom with the addition of the pavilion. The multi-purpose space will be used by the children and staff for meetings, kids’ events, entertainment, and relaxation. The amphitheater, as Greg describes it, is a place where the kids can “sit and enjoy the sun.” This area will also be the location of their annual talent show and plays.
Joann Childers, the Activities Coordinator at St. Joe’s, is excited about helping the kids build sets and costumes. “It’s so hard for them to smile, and this playground gives them the chance to do that,” she says. One of our residents, age 15, said it best: “This playground is a big deal for us. It’s a place where we can have fun, be ourselves, and relieve some stress in a safe space.”
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This post was supported by funds made available by the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Office of Health Equity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, under RFA-OT21-2103. The content of this post are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of or endorsement by the Kentucky Department for Public Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.