Children and families at Surrey Memorial Hospital’s busy Children’s Health Centre now have a beautiful new outdoor space to heal, play or relax, thanks to the generosity of a local business celebrating 50 years of successful operations in Surrey.
Located next to the indoor play areas at the hospital, the new McElhanney Children’s Playground is designed to be a fun space where kids and siblings can either let off steam or play quietly. There’s also seating to allow parents to relax and get some fresh air.
McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. donated funds and employee time to design and construct the new courtyard play area with assistance from industry partners, including B.A Blacktop Ltd. and Eurovia British Columbia Inc.
The idea to celebrate the company’s milestone with a project that would benefit local children and families came from Surrey Branch Manager Paul Deol after his son had treatment at the Children’s Health Centre.
“Fifty years of business in Surrey is an important milestone for McElhanney and we wanted to celebrate by creating something of lasting value for our community,” Deol says. “It’s gratifying to know that the new playground will offer hope and respite to the hospital’s smallest patients and their families.”
Jane Adams, Surrey Hospital Foundation president & CEO, welcomed the opportunity to work with the company and Surrey’s pediatric care team to create a space that would make spending time in the hospital easier for children and families and complement the Foundation’s fundraising campaign to expand and transform the inside of the 17-year-old Children’s Health Centre.
“The play ground is fantastic! They transformed a barren outdoor space into a playground fit for royalty, complete with a wooden throne for our young patients,” she says. “Without the vision, foresight and hard work of McElhaney and their partners this playground would never have happened.”
The special features of the new playground include:
*Customized wood sculptures and furniture by professional carver and HGTV personality Ryan Cook
*Soft flooring for safe play
*A place to shoot pucks and baskets
*Stackable foam play blocks
*An interactive play wall sponsored and created by Finning Canada of Surrey
*Creative new lighting throughout
*Seating and landscaping that can be appreciated by parents
To support the Caring for Kids Closer to home campaign to transform the interior of the Children’s Health Centre, please click here.
