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 whole playground, you need a… Read more »

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 climb trees, swing from branches,… Read more »

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 as Mitch Ryerson communicates the power… Read more »

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 take all that long before… Read more »

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. Made from recycled rubber and… Read more »

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 the right to full and… Read more »

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 the edges of that play… Read more »

The Snowy Season Transforms Playscapes, but There is Still Fun to be Had Winter is definitely here. Parts of the midwest and the Great Lakes region recently saw a foot of snow quickly accumulate, and a low pressure system from the North caused the accompanying temperature to plunge as well. Thick sweaters and… Read more »

Structures Made from Nets of Rope Inspire in This Designer’s Wonderfully Crocheted Playscapes Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam video via PlayArt11 on YouTube.com Toshiko MacAdam was already an accomplished artist in the Fibre Arts movement long before she began exploring the possibilities of creating textile playscapes. In fact, she was exhibiting a three-dimensional textile sculpture in Tokyo… Read more »

The Dancer Will Be Given Away THIS WEEKEND in Chicago The Dancer | Video via Goric on YouTube.com The Dancer is fun way to develop coordination and concentration skills while improving balance and core strength. To get started, users take a short step on to the top of an oval shaped marble labyrinth and place their… Read more »

Natural Elements that Include the Surrounding Area Set These Playscapes Apart Play is a means by which we first form our understanding of the wider world. Most of our earliest interactions involve play and play-like behaviors. For example, peek-a-boo is an important milestone in cognitive development that demonstrates an emerging understanding of the concept of… Read more »

For These Offices, Playground Equipment is not Just for Kids The connection between play and productivity is well established. The dopamine produced by our brains during play activities is a powerful motivator. The effects of which last far beyond the initial period of play and positively impact a person’s approach to both menial tasks and… Read more »
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