For patients at Kennedy Krieger Institute, therapy can be exhausting—mentally, physically, emotionally. The Institute, as part of the broader transformation of its inpatient rehabilitation hospital, has announced plans to renovate its Rec Room into a place where healing does not feel like more treatment. The 30-year-old space will be transformed into a modern, multizone environment with a dedicated Teen Zone, a toddler area, a sensory exploration space, and a space for arts and creativity, giving patients of every age somewhere to play, connect, and simply be a kid during a hospital stay. It's designed to reduce stress and foster healing, and to create a sense of normalcy in the middle of treatment.
The renovation is being made possible by The Charles T Bauer Charitable Foundation, The Toy Foundation, the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) for Kennedy Krieger Institute, and individual donors. The construction is being supported by The Charles T Bauer Charitable Foundation, with WIN funding the Teen Zone, and a Toy Foundation grant supplying new play materials and games. Additionally, new specialty equipment is being purchased for the sensory exploration space.