WONDER, DREAM, IMAGINE
Kids in Motion aims to combat sedentary lifestyles
By Brenda Iraola and Rene Albacete
Photos: Landscape Structures Inc.
Design inspiration is vital to developing creative and imaginative playgrounds. Gathering ideas for inspiration is a critical part of the process. Sometimes, in the calmness of the day, your thoughts wander and become open to childhood memories, vivid colors, shapes, and experiences. These became the key inspiration for the Kentland Community Center playground renovation concept of WONDER, DREAM, and IMAGINE.
The intent was to excite a child’s imagination and wonder with different experiences and explorations through movement and creativity. To encourage curiosity in children of all ages, a kaleidoscope of colors was used to create dreamlike awe. The play structures can be used in an infinite number of ways to compel imagination and eliminate boredom. Abundant spinning objects and climbing mounds encourage movement and risk-taking, which add exciting play to combat children’s sedentary lifestyle, hence the name “Kids in Motion.”
Playground Setting
Kentland Community Center playground is located in Landover, Md., near a suburban community outside Washington, D.C., in Prince George’s County. Owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the 8,100-square-foot playground received an $800,000 makeover. Situated on a site with rolling hills and long vistas (which was once a golf course), the playground shares its location with the Prince George’s Ballroom rental facility, an outdoor wedding plaza, and the new Kentland Community Center. The 25-year-old playground was long overdue for a renovation. Outdated and vandalized equipment existed on wood-fiber surfacing, overgrown by grass. Existing walkways were damaged and cracked, a tired gazebo needed refurbishment, and ADA-compliance modifications were in order.
The object of the playground concept was to provide a colorful, artistic approach intended as a complementary focal point when viewed from the adjacent ballroom. A circuitous design process began with the drawing of colorful intersecting circles reminiscent of a Wonder Bread wrapper, a mainstay of the Baby Boomer generation. This led to the inspirational words of “Wonder, Dream, and Imagine” calling children to do just that … to be creative and have fun!
Playground Design
WONDER—A Sense Of Awe
Abundant use of color was intended to instill a sense of wonder and awe within the playground design. Some colors even move, cast by the acrylic panels on spinning equipment. Custom spinning objects, mounds that children can climb, colorful circles they can hop to and from—all were intended to encourage movement.
The concept design resulted in iconic red, yellow, and blue balloons as inspired by a childhood memory of the Wonder Bread logo. A marketing slogan used to promote the nutritional bread qualities was “Wonder Bread builds strong bodies in 12 ways,” and so does the playground design:
1. Upper-body strength
2. Lower-body strength
3. Climbing
4. Running
5. Spinning (color moving)
6. Endurance
7. Balance
8. Hand-eye coordination
9. Muscle training
10. Grip strength
11. Arm strength
12. Flexibility.
The Equipment
Hyperloop
Upper- and lower-body strength, climbing, balance, hand-eye coordination, grip strength, arm strength
The immense custom Hyperloop is the playground centerpiece; with its vivid sky-blue color and striking design, it draws children to play! A visually fluid design implies motion. It’s bold design and curving shape with web netting provides elevated play. Socialization is a major component of the piece, as its wavy, circular net platform offers multiple surfaces on which to rest, observe surrounding playground activities, talk, and develop social skills. The multiple overhead arched loops, climbing discs, and netting offer a variety of opportunities to climb.
Global Motion (sphere)
Upper- and lower-body strength, climbing, running, spinning, endurance, muscle training, grip strength, arm strength, flexibility
A unique, giant spinning sphere of nets provides fun for all. The cable climber requires grip strength to reach horizontally or vertically to grab the next net and climb.
Rhapsody Outdoor Musical Instruments
Hand-eye coordination
An acoustic area was created to experience rhythm and tones. A collection of clustered chimes, bells, and drums inspires budding musicians an opportunity to creatively express themselves. The musical experience can be freeform, random sounds or composed, solo performances, or cooperative-play jam sessions. It offers multi-generational inclusive play for children, young adults, and seniors.
Balloon Spheres And Rubber Mounds (3-D ground play)
Climbing, running, balance
A bit of history: “In 1921, the wonder of seeing hundreds of hot-air balloons gliding across the sky inspired Elmer Cline to give Wonder Bread its iconic name … and iconic balloon-shaped imagery to match.” (www.wonderbread.com) “Inspiration struck while Elmer was visiting the International Balloon Race at the Indianapolis Speedway. He was awestruck by a sky filled with hundreds of colorful balloons.” (historyofbranding.com) Reminiscent of the hot-air balloons, balloon-like spheres burst from the ground for play to encourage climbing, running, stepping, and hopping.
Blender Spinner And Gyro Twister
Lower-body and upper-body strength, balance, flexibility
Multiple opportunities for a thrilling spinning experience were provided by Landscape Structures, Inc. (LSI) manufacturing. Its design team worked with Rene Albacete, the M-NCPPC landscape architect/project manager, to produce his moving/kinetic design effect, which was the inspiration for play. LSI modified standard equipment to create movement. Newly retrofitted equipment included pole stems topped with multicolored acrylic panels that cast moving colors over the ground that children can chase. Children become interactive with the equipment by standing on the pole base and shifting their weight back and forth. They learn how their actions of movement (centrifugal force) cause equipment to kinetically spin faster as they physically develop upper- and lower-body strength, balance, and flexibility. Additional active play pieces were incorporated in the playground from Gametime manufacturing, which included overhead spinners with brightly colored acrylic panels.
DREAM—A Space To Daydream
In today’s world of busy schedules for parents and children, relaxation and focused mindfulness are the keys to lowering stress. This can be achieved through daydreaming, which is actually good for people. Many scientific studies have shown the problem-solving benefits of daydreaming and the effects in boosting creativity. The Kids in Motion playground provides these opportunities and includes designed spaces for creating wonder and the ability to dream, which can promote positive thinking.
IMAGINE—Relive Childhood Memories
Childhood memories and experiences feed the inspirational design process and provide a wealth of ideas. The process of re-creating positive emotions of the past results in sudden bursts of creativity and clever ideas. When designing a playground, you have the opportunity and pleasure to draw on your own childhood and boundless imagination—climbing over a river, sliding down a mountain, swinging over water. The latest trend of using unstructured play equipment fosters children’s imagination. A single piece of equipment can become different things to different children at different times. Children can imagine new ways of play and fun while keeping themselves mentally stimulated without the use of smartphones. Access to the internet provides children reliance on instant entertainment; however, it also causes decreased imagination. Before smartphones became popular, children often went outside to entertain themselves, leading to physical exercise. Technology has led to many improvements in our lives, but it does not compare to the wonders of playing outside and being “Kids in Motion.” The playground is where children congregate, develop social skills, and learn creativity.
Brenda J. Iraola, ASLA, PLA, CPSI, COAA, NRPA, MRPA, is a Landscape Architecture Supervisor for the Park Planning & Development Division of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Reach her at brenda.iraola@pgparks.com.
René M. Albacete, RLA, ASLA, is a Landscape Architect for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Department of Parks and Recreation, Park & Planning Division in Riverdale, Md. Reach him at Rene.Albacete@pgparks.com.
----------------------------------
Sidebar
Project Information
Park Name: Kentland Community Center Playground
Owner: Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
Landscape Architect/Designer: Rene M. Albacete
Design And Construction Manager: Brenda J. Iraola
Play Design Consultants/Contractor: Sparks@Play
Play Equipment Design and Manufacturing: Landscape Structures, Inc.
Supplemental Colorful Equipment: Gametime
Site Surveying: KCI Technologies, Inc.