Heartrock Farm is a natural playscape inviting visitors of all ages to experience moments of heartfelt connection with nature. Several distinct zones encourage creative exploration, playful discovery, and quiet reflection. Heartrock is a family farm in Virginia that is being transformed into a place where people learn to care for and appreciate nature because the owners believe that protecting the environment stems from having repeated heartfelt connections with nature.
Learning Landscapes worked with the Heartrock stakeholders to define the vision of the playscape and formulate a plan that would embody all of the sites goals. We developed a master plan and cost estimate for the completely accessible 5 acre playscape with three distinct zones. A final set of materials plans in CAD accompanied a collection of imagery to give the project a boost into construction and donation acquisition. Along with the final deliverable was an analysis on the accessibility in the site and support documentation for permitting. The playscape will be installed in phases as the rest of the site develops.
The playscape includes the following:
The Play Meadow is the most developed space for the youngest children. It includes a water play area for splashing and building in sand. There is also a farm imagination play area with soil to work in a farm truck and farm stand. An amphitheater and stage set a central gathering area for Heartrock. Other imaginative and pasive play spaces are hidden in the sites natural meadow grasses.
Go Wild Meadow is for older children and is much more spread out. This includes an art zone with natural materials. There is a gross motor areas with logs and rocks and an obstacle course. The habitat zone has small artistic sculptures of animals in replica habitats for exploration. The fort building and camping zone allows kids to build their own forts out of natural materials as well as having places where small groups can camp out on site.
Exploration Meadow is the most wild zone. Most of the trees on the trees are in this zone and a small creek runs through the middle. This area is a natural space for creek exploration like boat building and fishing. As well as restored forest zone with forts, fairy houses, and habitat enhancements. A rocky outcropping gives a nice view back up and into the entire playscape.
