LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/457513
(Continued from page 22) p l a y g ro u n d Above, Left Multiple types of surfacing were used throughout the playscape, including 2,800 square feet of rubberized play surface in two shades of blue to represent the waters of the Great Black Swamp, 850 square feet of synthetic lawn and 2,750 square feet of wood mulch. Above, Right The new 10,000 square foot playscape is a combination of stock playground equipment and custom play structures, totaling 44 pieces in all. Middle Custom play elements were created by Graphite Design + Build and include an interactive tree, bullfrog, woodpecker, spinning lily flowers and lily pads. Bottom Although the playscape has traditional slides and climbing structures, several play panels were also installed, including musically themed sound chimes, xylofun, ring-a-bell and a bongo. Others include a ball maze, periscope, and navigator panel. 24 Landscape Architect and Specifier News environment, the accessibility at Pearson was increased and an inclusive play atmosphere for children of all abilities was created. Surfacing Two-thousand-eight-hundred square feet of Synlawn rubberized play surface was utilized for the surfacing of the playscape. Two shades of blue were used to represent the waters of the Great Black Swamp. Other surfacing includes 850 square feet of synthetic lawn around the climbing wall and 2,750 square feet of wood mulch that was incorporated throughout the playground. It took four months to create the design, including the framework plan, master plan and sketches of the overall playscape and individual custom playground equipment. To demolish and grade the site, install the landscape, surfacing and equipment it took six months. Challenges of the project include developing solutions to address flooding and poor drainage and making the custom play equipment work with the conventional pieces. To address persistent flooding at the park and improve accessibility throughout the playground, the playscape site was raised. A new stormwater system, consisting of a network of underdrains, was also installed. The playscape also received a new planting design including shade trees – Homestead elm and red sunset maple; flowering trees – musclewood and sargent crabapple; coniferous evergreens – Nick's compact juniper; shrubs – hummingbird summersweet, Merlot sweetspire, Gro-low fragrant sumac; perennials – wild ginger, purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan; and ornamental grasses – Karl Forester feather reed grass and Shenandoah switchgrass.