By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
The Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center, a $40.4 million project, opened Dec. 23 in Ward 7. The 37,000-square-foot facility was developed to provide Washingtonians of all ages and abilities with critical services that strengthen physical, cognitive and emotional wellness.
It is named for a former resident of Forest Haven, a District-operated institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that closed in 1991 after accounts of neglect and abuse came to light. Evans was eight when she entered Forest Haven and later died there at age 17 in 1976. She was the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit filed against the city in 1976 for the facility’s inhumane treatment of residents.
Her sister, Carol Cunningham, gave remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on Evans’ birthday, for the new therapeutic recreation center.
“It takes a village to raise a child, and I thank everyone that’s here and anyone who’s worked with the building,” said Cunningham. “This means so much to my family. My parents and the other parents from Forest Haven worked very hard to close Forest Haven and to have group homes for the kids. I really appreciate all of your support.”
Evans’ landmark civil action went on for 40 years, long after her death. In 2017, a federal judge vacated the lawsuit and ended court supervision of D.C.’s care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The opening of the Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center marks an important milestone in the District making wellness services more inclusive and accessible to all District residents. It features therapy, sensory and active rooms; a therapeutic pool and spa; kitchen; a senior and caregiver lounge; fitness center; arts and crafts room; multipurpose spaces and a full-size gym.
The campus also boasts two playgrounds, shade canopies, fitness equipment, a splash pad, open park space and a sensory garden.
Director of the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) Charon P.W. Hines said the facility is an example of the District’s commitment to creating spaces where every resident, regardless of physical or cognitive ability, can thrive.
“The Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center is a critical resource for older adults in Ward 7, where access to spaces that promote wellness, connection, and community is essential,” DACL Director Charon P.W. Hines told the AFRO. “This center was built to address the unique challenges many seniors and adults with disabilities face, from social isolation to limited access to recreational activities. By providing a welcoming space with features like a seniors’ lounge and multipurpose rooms, we are ensuring that older adults in this community have the support they need to live healthier, more connected lives.”
Ward 7 Councilman Vincent C. Gray, who served as mayor of D.C. from 2011 to 2015, led the charge in naming the center after Evans and helped to secure funding for the renovation. He also helped to cover transportation for seniors and people with disabilities to access critical services while the center was being developed.
Gray, who announced he was diagnosed with dementia in October, was not in attendance for the ribbon-cutting, but he shared a statement with the AFRO.
“We must never forget Joy Evans or the struggles she and many other people had to endure,” wrote Gray. “In 2019, I successfully passed legislation to name our new therapeutic recreation center to honor the strength and memory of Joy Evans. It is a great pleasure to see this come to fruition. People will use the center to heal, grow, recreate and build community.”
The post Joy Evans Therapeutic Center opens in Ward 7 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
