To the uninitiated, what appears to be a well-crafted children’s playground is in fact, a cleverly disguised rehabilitation course.  UNM Carrie Tingley’s rehabilitation garden, outfitted for children with physical disabilities, has been created with several goals in mind.

A sizeable charitable bequest from the estate of Nellie Matteucci and presented by her niece, Catherine Domenici, has become the basis for the design and creation of a child-friendly oasis and rehab garden at the Hospital.  Additional private donations have added dimension and utility to Nellie Matteucci’s vision of helping children from throughout New Mexico.

This outdoor setting closely duplicates a backyard environment that will facilitate a child’s transition back into the community.  As a rehabilitation course, the garden features a patchwork of different surfaces – grass, sand, gravel, concrete and asphalt allowing children to safely practice walking or driving a wheelchair.  Besides adding visual interest to the garden, a sloped incline provides more of a challenge to a child learning to navigate with crutches or a self-propelled wheelchair.  Reaching the top of the incline is rewarded with an overall view of the garden while resting beside a soothing, gurgling rock water fountain.

As with any child’s playground, this rehabilitation area features exercise equipment suitable for physical and occupational therapy such as transfer benches, steps, monkey bars, and swings.  No playground is complete without the obligatory area for recreational sport activities and this playground has space to accommodate basketball and tetherball.

There is another aspect to CTH’s rehabilitation course that merits attention.  This area has all the makings of a special place to relax, reflect and rejuvenate.  This garden will benefit not only children but their parents, therapists, nurses, doctors, and healthcare staff.

While Nellie Matteucci’s bequest was the inspiration for this innovative garden and rehabilitation course, other businesses and organizations have been instrumental in providing appropriate equipment and finishing touches making this area a truly community effort.  UNM Carrie Tingley Hospital is very grateful for the generosity and support of the Matteucci Family and the following organizations and businesses.  La Farge Southwest for donating several tons of fill dirt, Rocky Mountain Stone for providing a wonderful rock fountain, The Kiwanis Club of Albuquerque for their purchase and installation of interactive play panels, Children’s Miracle Network for donating playground equipment and Wilson Hurley for his donation of a historic bench that was given to the Hurley family by Clyde and Carrie Tingley.  Thanks also is extended to the Hyatt Tamaya Resort for presenting a $3,940 check to UNM Carrie Tingley Hospital during the June 17 dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony.