August 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 48

BUILDING NATURE
Spaces intended for play were designed
to meet current playground standards
but only natural materials were used in
their construction.
ed gathering year-round
* An adventure trail of massive
beetle
kill pine stumps, fallen
logs and boulders that lead to a
hilltop summit
* A kid-size rustic cabin with an
authentic ore trolley to honor local
mining history
* A visitor-activated creek that runs
past sandy banks and over river
cobbles as it moves through the site
* A viewing platform overlooking
an educational wetland fed by
the creek for nature programming
and school instruction
ing diverse natural elements, materials,
organisms and habitats
through sensory, fine motor and
gross
motor
experiences "
* Improves water quality, reduces
runoff,
recharges groundwater,
(tiny
url.com/dkbuxtth). The benefits
of nature play spaces abound with
impacts on health, education, economics,
environment and equity.
Studies have demonstrated that
nature play:
* Improves mental and physical
health; decreases stress, anxiety
and depression; and improves
ability to assess risk in the environment
*
Creates a connection to the natural
world that promotes environmental
stewardship, improves focus
and attention span, enhances
academic performance, and has
been shown to reduce bullying
and absenteeism
* Saves money as nature play elements
are affordable to install
and easy to replace, such as logs
and stumps, or are infinitely durable,
such as stone
* Boosts investment in local suppliers,
quarries and nurseries, as
nature play spaces can be built
entirely of local materials
reduces urban heat island effect
and reduces carbon footprint
* Enhances social justice with access
to nature, as less affluent
communities typically have less
green space nearby
That's a lot of upside.
With
these
benefits in mind,
the Nature Kids Discovery Zone
was designed as fun place to play
and a pleasant spot to spend time
outside with friends and family.
The " Zone " offers various
elements
to engage new and wellseasoned
nature lovers alike. These
include:
* Three formal play pits with massive
log climbers and boulder
play features designed with resilient
surfacing
and adequate
critical fall zones
* Two shed-style pavilions with
rustic detailing, such as corrugated
roofs, wood paneling, timber
posts and sandstone capped
integrated seatwalls
* A " treehouse " of tiered platforms
beneath mature evergreens
for outdoor instruction and shad48
Parks & Recreation | A UGUS T 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
* Steppingstones leading to " habitat
islands, " intended to showcase
upland ecology and wetland
ecology side by side
* Tree selections and plant species
highlighting
ecosystems
various
* Stone
Colorado
circles and moveable
stumps for informal seating and
creative gathering
Lessons Learned
Today, a visitor to the Inspire Trail
and Nature Kids Discovery Zone
will witness users big and small
enjoying the space in ways the
designers never envisioned. The
project design was only a starting
point, as it turns out, for infinite
explorations
in
landscapes
both
real and imagined. With " nature "
as the backdrop, whether native
or designed, it appears anything is
possible.
To read more about Burdine's experience
as project manager, visit parksand
recreation.org.
Carter L. Marshall III is Associate at
Design Concepts (carterm@dcla.net).
http://www.tinyurl.com/dkbuxtth http://www.tinyurl.com/dkbuxtth http://www.parksandrecreation.org http://www.parksandrecreation.org
August 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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