September 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 18

WE ARE PARKS AND RECREATION
Reimagining a Museum Experience in
Denver's Largest Public Park
By Laurel Raines and Gretchen Wilson
icture visiting your local nature and science museum. What comes
to mind? Chances are, you aren't picturing an immersive outdoor
experience in a massive public park, but that's just what is happening
in the heart of Colorado as the Denver Museum of Nature &
Science (DMNS) reimagines the museum experience for a new generation.
The museum recently broke
ground on an ambitious new project
(tinyurl.com/bdes6r5c) aimed at
bringing the award-winning Explore
Colorado dioramas at DMNS
to life as an immersive nature
experience designed for accessible,
multigenerational and multisensory
exploration, respite and play.
The vision for this immersive experience
is the result of a unique
partnership between a cultural institution
and a park and recreation department.
Together with the DMNS
team and Denver Parks and Recreation
(DPR), our team at Dig Studio
will restore a historic waterway in the
heart of Denver while showcasing
the diversity of Colorado's ecosystems
through museum-quality natural
features and play experiences.
Creatively Garnering
Community Input
Community input is a key driver
in any public design process, so despite
complications wrought by the
pandemic, in spring 2021, DMNS
and the design team secured input
from more than 800 community
members throughout a month-long
design and outreach phase that included
highly creative (physically
distant) hands-on take-home kits
that allowed children and families
to design their ideal nature play
area using art supplies.
Feedback indicated a strong deP
sire
for play experiences that would
bring the bounty and diversity of
Colorado's natural environment to
visitors who may not be in a position
to explore much beyond their
neighborhood.
This input led to the prioritization
of inclusive, multigenerational
opportunities for learning, respite
and engagement through authentic,
natural play elements, including
climbing, jumping and sliding
features, as well as the incorporation
of water.
Translating the Museum
Experience Outdoors
With
these guiding priorities in
mind, the design team collaborated
with curatorial staff on replicating
Colorado's diverse habitat zones
within a durable, ADA-accessible
outdoor play area while reflecting
the same level of scientific rigor
and authenticity as the museum itself
in serving as an extension of its
educational programming.
Dig Studio's team thoroughly
researched, catalogued and synthesized
information on nine distinct
Colorado habitat zones with the
goal of re-creating the experience
of each zone through materials,
plants and play events. DPR's maintenance
and forestry teams, which
will be responsible for the health
and maintenance of the play area
and its plants and urban canopy,
Rock features and an iconic big horn
sheep play sculpture evoke the Colorado
alpine environment.
18 Parks & Recreation | SEP T EMBER 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
IMAGE COURTESY OF DIG STUDIO
http://tinyurl.com/bdes6r5c
September 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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