Description

With a giant grassy hill and a very large and deep raingarden already in the space, this site offered some unique opportunities to create a very special setting for nature play and exploration at Marymount University’s Early Learning Academy.

In their new design, the giant hill has become the focal point featuring a thrilling 27 foot embankment slide along with a variety of steps, stumps, ramps, boulders, lookouts, and lush plantings.

The raingarden has been re-engineered and replanted with almost 300 native trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials. Now it can absorb all the stormwater that falls on the site, the adjacent library roof, and an uphill parking lot, while providing four seasons of color and beauty, and drawing the hum of pollinators to the playspace. There is so much to observe in this raingarden- plants growing and changing, birds and bugs visiting, and stormwater flowing and soaking into the ground.

Circling the raingarden are active and quiet play areas like an art studio, a balance trail, hammocks and gliders, a loose parts building area, and sensory play that includes sand and dirt to dig in, water play, playhouses, and mud and sand kitchens. Together these areas provide opportunities for creativity, adventure, contemplation, and active, energetic play.
This space was designed by EarlySpace, LLC in collaboration with Chris Sonne, Civil Engineer, and David Timmerman of BRW Architects. It was built by the talented team at Green Roots Landscaping.