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
Right The two swing sets and the 5-12-year-old play structure are manufactured by GameTime. The modular structure provides accessible play opportunities for children of all ability levels, including those involved with the therapeutic recreation programs offered at Mount Greenwood by the Chicago Park District. CREDIT: HDG Above A custom pipe climber (GameTime) and a custom rope climber (Landscape Structures) create options for children climbing up the hillside to the spiral bell musical element at the top of the mound. CREDIT: HDG Mount Greenwood Park, on the southwest side of Chicago, is home to one of six therapeutic programs offered by the Chicago Park District that bring together children and adults of all skill levels and abilities. The park provides users with a vast array of amenities, which include baseball and softball fields, a swimming pool, an ice-skating rink, a fieldhouse and a playground. On the east side of the park is the playground, which was aging and inaccessible for park users. Recognizing the value of an environment that fosters outdoor play for children and families, the Mount Greenwood Park Advisory Board, a group of local volunteers, worked with Hitchcock Design Group and the Chicago Park District to develop a plan for renovations to the playground. In working with the Advisory Board, Hitchcock Design Group and the Park District understood that the community was 66 Landscape Architect and Specifier News deeply invested in the playground, and therefore public input and approval would be critical to the success of this project. During the design process, several community meetings were held to solicit input from the public on the proposed concepts for the new playground. Through these community meetings, the public worked with Hitchcock Design Group and the Park District to create a design that engaged and inspired children age two through twelve. Their combined vision for the park was to provide a unique area that could cultivate interest in the arts, while fitting within the existing footprint of the old playground. The renovated playground features multiple well- defined zones, with music, art and sculpture threaded throughout, while providing a universally accessible experience.