Children’s Playground Opens At Psychiatric Research Institute

By David Robinson

 Cutting the ribbon on the PRI playground are (l-r) Ginger Beebe, Molly Gathright, Helen Porter, James T. Dyke, Dan Rahn and G. Richard Smith.

Oct. 28, 2010 | Sometimes, a playground is more than just a playground. Take the Psychiatric Research Institute’s children’s playground, dedicated today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included the Arkansas School for the Deaf’s “Singing Fingers” performing the national anthem.

“When I talk to others about our inpatient unit, I often describe it as a learning laboratory, a place where our team becomes astute observers and learners of children’s behavior, social interactions and developmental skills,” said Molly Gathright, M.D., medical director of the child inpatient unit. “This playground now provides an alternative environment for a learning laboratory.”

From its padded, rubberized surface to its specially designed equipment, it affords the young patients of the Child Diagnostic Unit a safe and comfortable place to play while being observed by the unit’s staff as part of their therapeutic evaluation.

“They will learn self-confidence, self-esteem, and even possibly how to reduce anxiety by playing and interacting in this playground environment,” Gathright said. “It will offer more than just fun, it will provide a meaningful context for children to learn concepts and skills, encouraging them to explore and discover together and on their own, and provide opportunities for collaborative learning with adults and peers.”

Among those attending the ceremony were Arkansas first lady Ginger Beebe, UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., and G. Richard Smith, M.D., director of the Psychiatric Research Institute and chairman of the UAMS Department of Psychiatry.

Rahn thanked Helen L. Porter and James T. Dyke, longtime supporters of PRI, for donating the funds to build the playground, and acknowledged the help of volunteers from the Arkansas Army National Guard’s Professional Education Center at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock. The Guard members, many of whom attended the ceremony, worked alongside volunteers from the Psychiatric Research Institute this summer to construct the large components of the playground’s equipment.

“I’d like to thank UAMS for giving the Guard this opportunity. We were happy to be here. What you do for these children is amazing,” said Maj. Craig Heathscott, adjutant for the Professional Education Center. He displayed a hand-made thank-you card created by children on the inpatient unit, presented to the soldiers when they were working on the equipment. “Any time you work with children, it is truly a blessing.”