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/85881
playground The Children's Movement Above Neptune Park in Saratoga Springs, Utah, is home to one of the tallest safety‐certified play structures in North America, Berliner Seilfabrik's 30'-2" Neptun XXL climber. The landscape architect chose the structure to mirror the mountainous natural features that surround Saratoga Springs. By Diana Ross, Kompan Unique Playgrounds Situated on the northern shore of Utah Lake, the rapidly growing community of Saratoga Springs is home to a fair share of new parks. However, community officials decided that the city needed a special park to draw citizens together, outside their homes and in view of Utah's picturesque outdoors. City facilities manager Mark Edwards sat down with Greg Graves, head of landscape architecture for J-U-B Engineers, to discuss plans for a 10.8-acre space designated by the city. After examining suggestions from stakeholders (more soccer fields, more basketball courts, a performance art space), Edwards and Graves still did not have a centerpiece to make the park the exceptional destination they envisioned. Graves suggested they focus on the play area, making it the catalyst for the overall design. The plan for the play area was to encourage involvement from children of all age groups and abilities, centered on structures that would keep their young minds active as well. Graves and his team of landscape architects, Bronson Tatton and Jon Ruedas, set out to find ideas that would establish this dynamic. While designing the park, however, the team realized their plans exceeded their funding. 26 Landscape Architect and Specifier News Enter Patti Balli of the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Charities, who arranged a $25,000 donation to assist in installing the basketball courts, where the local Junior Jazz teams now play. Thanks to their donation, the new post-tension concrete courts are emblazoned with the Utah Jazz colors and logo, flanked by six professional glass backboards, four of which can be lowered for the aforementioned Junior players. The design team found their centerpiece with a play structure called the Neptun XXL from Berliner Seilfabrik. (Edwards, a former Californian, calls it the park's "E-ticket ride.") The climbing pyramid stands 30'-2" tall and consists of climbing cables that crisscross the entire structure, allowing older children (and some adventurous adults) to climb to the peak. Despite its height, the structure's design ensures the potential fall height never exceeds six feet. When the Saratoga Springs city council saw images of the climbing structure, they were so taken with it, they decided not only to approve its purchase but to name the whole park after it. Today, the city is the proud home of Neptune Park, and the structure is one of the tallest safety-certified play structures on the North American continent. (Continued on page 28)