WVU Medicine Children’s unveiled a new playground today (Oct. 22) to boost health and well-being for young patients and their families.
The Hayhurst Family Playground is located to the left of the main entrance to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. The welcoming space features accessible, state-of-the-art equipment designed to make the hospital a more fun and inviting environment for children.
“Play is such a powerful part of development and healing,” Amy L. Bush, B.S.N., M.B.A., R.N., C.N.O.R., chief administrative officer of WVU Medicine Children’s, said. “This playground will give our patients joy and comfort during their stay at our hospital. We are so grateful to the Hayhurst family for their generosity to create this beautiful space.”
The 1,100-square-foot area is designed to stimulate the mind by encouraging play that excites the senses with an arch swing, interactive game panels, and harmonic chimes set on a soft rubber surface with flowing rivers of blue, yellow and green.
The playground was made possible by an initial $500,000 gift from the Hayhurst family, whose members have since provided an additional $75,000 in support for continued operations and maintenance of the space.
“Donating a playground to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital is incredibly meaningful to the Hayhurst family. We want the kids to have a place where they can play outside and experience the beauty of the great outdoors, just like any Mountaineer would,” Christy Hayhurst Davis, member of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors, said.
“For us, this playground is more than just a play space — it’s a way to offer children moments of joy, freedom, and connection to nature, allowing them to embrace the spirit of resilience and adventure that comes with being a Mountaineer.”
Hayhurst Davis, who coordinates the family’s charitable giving, understands the power of a playground as a mother of three girls.
The Hayhurst family’s philanthropy centers around expanding available resources and opportunities for West Virginians, including healthcare and recreation for the state’s youngest residents. Other gifts have benefited Athletics, Extension, the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, and the College of Applied Human Sciences.
“I want to thank Christy, Jim, and the entire Hayhurst family for their generosity that truly benefits others,” B.J. Davisson, WVU Foundation executive vice president and chief development officer, said. “This playground reflects the Hayhurst family’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all West Virginians, including our youngest, have every resource, including education, healthcare, and recreation, available at home in the Mountain State.”
The playground complements the comprehensive care available at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital, which provides the greatest range of pediatric specialty and high-risk maternal care in the region. The hospital recently celebrated its second anniversary and received its fourth consecutive title as the top children’s hospital in West Virginia, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The Hayhurst family’s gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities.
For more information on WVU Medicine Children’s, visit childrens.wvumedicine.org.