| Nestled on a piece of land along the Merrimack River, with its lower
area subject to occasional flooding, this 1/4 acre site was formerly
a parking lot, so the land was flat, hard, and tough to work with.
First, a prototype ChildCare Center was built on the site as a
teaching center for the early childhood program. The building was
state-of-the art, so the outside play area needed the same cutting-
edge approach.
A 5’, shallow drop off at the back side of the property inspired the
Natural Playgrounds Company to create a small berm on top of the
ridge line, and then use that as a spine for numerous activities
along and around it, such as an amphitheater, embankment slide,
sledding hill, bridge, climbing wall, tunnel, post climb, and labyrinth. |
The winding concrete pathway, complete with embedded handprints of
children, leaves, mirrors, animal tracks, and natural and geometric
patterns, provides ADA access to all play components on the site
including the berm, free form sand play areas, a stream fed by water
from the roof, a sitting wall, numerous flower and vegetable gardens,
a misting trellis, a watering hole, entrances to classrooms, trike
turnarounds, and storage sheds.
With a few grants, some work contracted out, volunteer labor, help
from state workers, and donations of materials from the college and
parents, the site continues on its way to completion. |
