Erlanger Children’s Hospital opens Chattanooga-inspired Land of Enchantment play space
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Visitors look over the Children's Hospital Land of Enchantment play area at Erlanger hospital July 21, 2026. Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Visitors look over the Children's Hospital Land of Enchantment play area at Erlanger hospital July 21, 2026.
By Times Free Press Staff 3 min read
A few steps beyond the hallways of Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, butterflies flutter above native wildflowers while trout swim beneath the Walnut Street Bridge and a painted carousel waits around the corner.
The goal was to immerse children and families in a space that helps them momentarily forget they’re in a hospital, said local muralist Olivia Reckert. She spent six months transforming a brick-and-cinder block courtyard into an enchanted play space, unveiled Tuesday.
“I wanted to recreate Coolidge Park in the hospital, bring the park to the kids,” said Reckert, whose artwork now stretches from the cushioned, turf-like ground to the hospital’s second-floor windows, covering ceilings, columns, doors and railings.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Brooklyn Rogiers, 11, left, and Whitleigh Runyon, 9, emcee a ribbon-cutting for the Children’s Hospital Land of Enchantment play area at Erlanger hospital July 21, 2026.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Dr. Michael Sigsworth, medical director of child and adolescent psychiatry, speaks during a ribbon-cutting for the Children’s Hospital Land of Enchantment play area at Erlanger hospital July 21, 2026.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Visitors gather before a ribbon-cutting for the Children’s Hospital Land of Enchantment play area at Erlanger hospital July 21, 2026.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Visitors gather before a ribbon-cutting for the Children’s Hospital Land of Enchantment play area at Erlanger hospital July 21, 2026.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / CEO Jim Coleman speaks during a ribbon-cutting for the Children’s Hospital Land of Enchantment play area at Erlanger hospital July 21, 2026.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Children’s Hospital CEO Deborah Spielman speaks during a ribbon-cutting for the Children’s Hospital Land of Enchantment play area at Erlanger hospital July 21, 2026.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Whitleigh Runyon, 9, left, and Brooklyn Rogiers, 11, talk after a ribbon-cutting for the Children’s Hospital Land of Enchantment play area at Erlanger hospital July 21, 2026.
Eight-year-old Elise Tanner of Ringgold was among the first patients to visit the new play space Tuesday. She had spent four days in the hospital recovering from a ruptured appendix and was eager to get outside after finally being disconnected from her IV, her parents said.
