Year: 2016
Why Sand and Water Play Are Good for Children
Long before the iPad and Pokémon GO, there was sand and water. The two are foundational to the earth and offer near limitless possibilities for young children’s imaginations. During the summer months, I take my two-year-old son to Chicago’s Montrose Beach on the shore of Lake Michigan. After laying out a…
Designer Spotlight – Ilisa Goldman and the Power of Our Natural World
Reclaiming Community Spaces Creates Healthier Environments for us All This past November, Rooted in Place, the design firm founded by Ilisa Goldman,orchestrated a 4 day community build event to transform a parking lot just outside ARTS (a local arts based youth center) into an, ‘arts-dedicated community space for art-making, performing…
Play Garland Oosterpark by Carve
Play Garland Oosterpark by Carve The Oosterpark, built in 1891, is part of the Amsterdam 19th century extension girdle, and is the first large public park that was realised by the municipality. Since 2011, plans are being made to integrate the monumental public buildings in the northern zone into the…
Integrating Music with Playscapes
Complementary Benefits Makes Adding Musical Elements to Playgrounds a Truly Smart Idea Play and music already share a vocabulary. A self-contained part of a musical composition is called a, ‘movement.’ It is common for sportscasters to describe an athlete or team as, ‘getting into rhythm.’ The laughter that emits from…
A Better Approach to the Slack Line Trend
First Do No Harm with Goric’s Slack Line Playground Equipment Goric is proud to offer an innovative and straightforward approach to slacklining. The line of Slack Line playground equipment gives playscape designers the ability to create a variety of fun configurations using multiple units, along with greater freedom on where and…
The Top 10 Sculptural Playgrounds for Whimsical Fun
These Inventive Structures Promote Aesthetic Beauty and a Whole Lot of Fun ‘Form follows function,’ or so we are often told. Many follow this maxim to the letter. It seems on its surface to always make sense. If you want a fast slide, you need a tall tower. If you want a…
Going Against the Grain of Modern Materials with Robinia Wood
Natural Karolam® Robinia Wood Offers Impressive Benefits Over Modern Materials K&K Karolam® – Robinia Wooden Posts | Video via YouTube.com At their very best, playgrounds and playscapes mimic the joy of running, jumping, climbing, and otherwise playing in a wild and natural setting. They fulfill our instinctual desire to…
Designer Spotlight – Mitch Ryerson’s Woodworking and the Art of Play
Mitch Ryerson | Image via ryersondesign.com The Original Jungle Gym was a Tree, and Mitch Ryerson Knows How to Use Them Creating a Playground Tree | The Esplanade Association via YouTube.com When explored by the hands of a skilled artist, playfulness itself becomes an expressive language. At its best, the work of a well-seasoned woodworker, designer, and artist such…
5 Great Winter Playgrounds for Cold Weather Fun
Bundle Up and Head Outside for Some of the Best Playgrounds to Visit During Winter Fuzzy socks, hot cocoa, oversized hoodies, a good book or two – the cold winter months seem almost custom-built to encourage all of us to stay indoors. However, it also never seems to…
Euroflex Balls and the Importance of Tactile Elements in Playscapes
Supporting Sensory Play by Adding Texture One of the best ways for playground and playscape designers to improve the quality of any surface space or area is by including a variety of tactile elements. Whether cut in half, or presented in full, Euroflex Balls invite exploration and encourage curiosity….
Designer Spotlight – Susan Goltsman and the Emergence of Inclusive Design
How Creating Environments that Support Everyone’s Potential Became Mainstream Policy The world is filled with unsung heroes and Susan Goltsman is certainly one of them. As a founding principal of the design firm Moore, Iacofano, Goltsman (MIG), Ms. Goltsman has worked tirelessly to move the idea that, “…every individual has…
Our Top 5 Playground Related Blogs
Image via Goric A Small Collection of Resources on the Importance of Quality Playground Equipment and Design One of the more wonderful aspects of play is how it can foster a sense of community. It is no accident that many of our first friendships were formed while using playground equipment. And just on…
