Kids Can’t Wait to Go Down the Slide Into the Pond!

The children at the Clackamas Community College Early Head Start have already decided that the blue surfacing that their new embankment slide exits onto is the ‘pond’. Lots of little eyes look onto the frozen playground waiting for the construction fencing to come down and play to begin!

THE BACKGROUND CONCEPTS
The Clackamas Community Children’s Commission (CCCC) serves children and families in Clackamas County. With a grant and a vision, they set upon the process of design and construction of this nature based play area. GreenWorks and CCCC had many similar views on how to engage these young students in play and how to inspire a connection to the natural world;
– include natural elements and planting
– add interest through topography
– provide for imaginative play
– get kids moving and
– do it all safely.

THE RESULTS
These common ideas helped the fast paced project move smoothly. The site is 2,414 sf and had a complicated existing framework in which to design. But the results are fantastic. This playground is the first one if its kind that these kids will probably see. They kept the contractor entertained from the other side of the construction fence by commenting on how neat things were and how good the crew was at painting. But the real fun will begin next week as the playground is opened for the first time. Happy 2011!

The embankment slide and ‘pond’

The ‘potting shed’ play house with real planters for students to use

The sandbox and new plantings (the green sand box cover protects the sand when the kids are not playing) Let me know if you have any head start playgrounds near you that are looking to upgrade their playgrounds are ones that already have upgraded with success.