North Canyon Nature Play Area: Silver Falls State Park Oregon
In the dappled shade of a wonderful fir forest at Silver Falls State Park kids hatched eggs like birds, hunted for food like bears, and tried out their best cougar growl across the canyon. The North Canyon Natural Play Area was opened this weekend and families explored the 1/4 mile loop trail designed to offer hands on nature experiences for kids. The themed animal pods included a bear pod, bird pod, cougar pod, picnic area and the entrance plaza.
Oregon State Parks has worked for 5 year to design and implement the natural play area. I had the pleasure of joining in on the ground floor as staff, kids, designers, and educators gathered to flush out ideas for the spaces. It is fun to see some of the groups original drawings pull through to the final design!
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
This Crows Nest was built by Columbia Cascade and fit right into the bird pod. Little ones enjoyed climbing in and playing with the giant crow eggs. The eggs are wood and hand painted to mimic an actual crow egg.
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
Running and jumping off trail in the forest is a treat in itself. While I support the leave no trace ethic, I also believe kids need to be allowed to run, jump, gather, and sometimes destroy nature in order to build a strong nature connection. This area of the park is deemed low habitat value so park staff are ready to allow some site impacts in order to foster nature connections.
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
This giant 6′ diameter tree was felled in the park and found a new life here in the bird pod as a woodpecker nest.
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
Tree climbing can be the easiest of nature connections or one of the tougher elements! In a developed park such as this, climbing real trees can bring many issues. Such as finding the right tree, safety, tree health, or setting an unwanted precedent. This climber mimics some of the climbing opportunities available on a tree, but with a little more structure.
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
The beautiful wooded 1/4 mile trial.
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
Are there birds in there yet!
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
photo by: Learning Landscape Design
The project team included:
Oregon State Park and Recreation
GreenWorks PC
Learning Landscapes Design
GR Morgan Construction
Columbia Cascade
Thank you so much for sharing your great photographs. They are an insperation.