Media Contact: Corey Schubert - corey.schubert@bannerhealth.com

MESA, Arizona – Cardon Children’s Medical Center will celebrate the grand opening of “The BIG Outside,” an outdoor play space and healing garden for patients and families, at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the hospital, 1400 S. Dobson Road.

Former patients, City of Mesa leaders and Banner Health staff will be available for interviews at the event. Kids will be playing in the area, which is designed to offer activities and features to help children keep their minds off treatment or to receive rehabilitation therapy outdoors. This includes mini golf, a basketball court, an amphitheater for kids’ programs, and a bereavement garden.

A group of community members, parents and young patients (ages 3 to 18) across Maricopa County worked together with Banner Children’s staff and the Banner Health Foundation to raise nearly $520,000 for the project.

Young patients can receive rehabilitation therapy in this new outdoor environment, and parents can reflect and recharge in the healing garden. Siblings can have an upbeat place to spend time with their brothers and sisters, who are hospitalized or receiving treatment. Former patients and families will be on hand to speak about the importance of the play space.

If you plan to attend, please let Corey Schubert know via e-mail at corey.schubert@bannerhealth.com