Willamina Relief Nursery Playscape – Willamina, OR

Pacific Northwest

 

Project Overview

A natural playground design for preschool students that maximizes the play value of an existing hill.

Play Design Features

• Toddler and preschool natural playground
• Embankment hill play
• Sensory elements
• ADA Accessibility

Project Information

The Lutheran Community Services Northwest offers early childhood support, specialized preschool classes, and basic needs resources for highly stressed families with children ages birth to five. The Willamina preschool, operating as part of these services, sought to enhance its outdoor play area. Learning Landscapes Design drew inspiration from the site’s existing conditions, particularly a natural hill that dominates the outdoor area. The design was aimed to expand opportunities for challenging physical play, sensory exploration with sand, and be fully accessible for children of all mobility types. The redesign transforms this open, hilly lawn into a dynamic and multifaceted play area that capitalizes on the terrain’s natural features.

At the heart of the new design lies a physical play zone thoughtfully integrated into the existing hill, offering multiple pathways for children to climb up and each presenting a unique challenge. Options include a rugged boulder scramble, a textured climbing wall, and sturdy stone steps, catering to varying skill levels and risk tolerances. An embankment slide built directly into the slope provides a thrilling and rapid descent, while log steppers scattered along the hill invite balancing challenges that refine motor coordination. There is a dedicated sand area, where children can dig, build, and explore through imaginative play, enhanced by a hand-operated water pump that adds a sensory-rich, cause-and-effect, water element. The To ensure true inclusivity, a wheelchair-accessible ramp winds around the entire space, granting seamless access to both the upper and lower levels so that every child can participate fully in the experience.