Description

When it was time for their decades old and much beloved wooden play structure to be replaced, this childcare center opted to transform their urban site (wedged between a parking garage, a hospital, and a delicious-smell-emitting commercial bread bakery) into a nature play space.

The drivers of this design were a commitment to preserving the treasured mature trees on site, along with reuse of existing concrete paths, a still usable tunnel/shed, metal slides and an overhead ladder from the old climber, and a curious collection of flat stone slabs donated from a city construction project.

The hill that was once segmented off with a hodgepodge of fence types was opened up and enhanced with a quiet hammock corner, log and recycled stone steps, two recycled metal slides set into the hillside, and a mosaic stream and waterfall. An expansive sand play area with a playhouse, stump work tables, and an adjacent loose parts building area together support engineering, creativity, and problem solving among the preschoolers. The reconfigured horizontal ladder and a log pile that contains a carved log animal offer opportunities to climb, jump, balance, and develop upper body strength.

Where there once was a section of the large wooden climber, there is a now a “baby island” enclosed with a whimsical wavy topped fence and containing miniature versions of the big kid elements—a sliding hill, a fallen tree for climbing, baby and toddler specific cruising bars, and an inviting bench around an old maple tree.