The oak savannas found in Oregon’s Portland Metro region were created by native peoples using fire as a management tool. This 20 acre park site in West Linn preserves a rare remaining Oak grove with stunning views of the city and river below. The park has been cared for and loved by the community for a while with restoration, trails, and other passive recreation opportunities. The city wanted to provide a more active playscape for children and their families.  With the help of a local classroom of children we developed a program that preserved the natural beauty and wove in play experiences.  The sloping site and savanna grasses create a wonderful template for a natural playground. Children can: run/ climb and slide up and down terraced play levels, play in the water area or slosh in the mud zone. The city’s rich history of logging and trapping is pulled through the playscape features offering a fun and passive education opportunity. 

PROJECT INFO

Date of Completion – Under Construction 2018/2019

Services Provided –  Youth Led STEM Design Process, Community Engagement, Landscape Architectural Concept Design, Cost Estimating, Construction Documents, Construction Assistance

Project Team – City of West Linn, Learning Landscapes Design, Peterson Structural Engineers, KPFF Engineering