About
About the Playscape:
Nature playscapes encourage interaction with nature through challenging play using many natural items or materials as the play structures. However, this project also will include some more traditional play pieces, making the playscape more accessible and inviting to all families and play styles. An exciting feature is the ability to utilize the ecosystem types at our existing site to match the different themes (prairie and forest, views to Cattail Pond), as well as mature trees that will be able to provide shade from the moment of installation.
Playscape Habitat Zones:
Prairie
Experience the swaying prairie in a two-person swing, climb up and down along the caterpillar on a custom climber structure, become busy pollinators – explore prairie vegetation, spin around the “cone” of a giant coneflower and climb an accessible tower of prairie stems integrated into site with flexible mat ramps. Play the part of the wind as it blows through the prairie grasses, creating music and rhythm at the plant-themed musical play features.
Pond
Play with water at a pump and trough system, climb through a tunnel and huddle in a beaver lodge set within marsh-themed play surfacing. Scamper over the beaver dam log jam along the forest’s border – all under the shade of mature trees at “water’s edge”.
Rock / Underground
Experience clinging to exposed sandstone ledges like a cliff swallow or discover what might be waiting below the surface like ice age fossils in the sand.
Forest
Preserved oaks framed by pines and native groundcover surrounds a mini forest oasis for visitors to jump like squirrels and explore like woodpeckers. Activities include aa beehive climber, a log fort, log steppers, and even a kid-sized bird’s nest. This habitat zone offers loose surfacing including an accessible gravel path, hardwood mulch, and short stone stepper hills that weave together the terraced playscape, offering optional challenges.
Health and Developmental Benefits:
Nature playscapes have many physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits for children. Natural play areas have been shown to better stimulate children’s imaginations, boost their energy levels, and increase the amount of time they want to spend playing over factory made playgrounds. Natural play spaces also teach our children to care about our environment and increase their connection to nature. Sensory development is increased as children engage with the world through all five senses leading to an increased ability to understand and process their environments. Connecting with nature boosts moods and reduces attention fatigue, something we all need more of in this increasingly digital and connected era.
Often, adults will ponder back to when they were kids, maybe spending their summers in “the back forty” using their imaginations and getting into mischief in the “wilderness” and they will lament that kids these days don’t have those same opportunities. Nature and risky play can offer similar benefits to those times exploring and promoting curiosity. Risky play helps children develop resilience, self-confidence, and risk-assessment abilities.
Location
The playscape will be located at the Annett Nature Center Park south of the Entrance sign as you first pull into the parking lot and between the staff entrance road off 118th Ave.
