A new playground in Prince George's County, Md., includes custom features that draw inspiration from horseracing and Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, which will be held May 17.

Watkins Downs playground, located at Watkins Regional Park in Prince George's County, Md., is a customized space that reflects Maryland's rich history and involvement in horse racing. This large, centrally located park, one of many operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), references the Bowie racetrack nearby, as well as the American tradition of the famous Pimlico racetrack where Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, will be held on May 17th.

 

Colors for the playground pull from the Maryland flag: red, yellow, black, and white. Younger children have the winner's barn, which is dressed out with fans and pennant strings, typical for a festive Preakness Stakes day.

At the playground, older children can pretend to be horse and jockey springing from the starting gate. Very detailed features, including climber grips made from real horseshoes, a weathervane that moves with the wind and a copper roofed cupola add to the theme and authenticity of the play site. One banner celebrates records set by Maryland horses, and another banner honors the Triple Crown winners. Panels depicting the jockey's racing silks are also visible, notably from the stables associated with the famous Man O'War and Secretariat, as well as custom painted spring horses.

One of the most unique features in the playground is a rock climber
featuring the sculpted heads of four young horses racing out of the rock
climber on one side, and the tractor that pulls the starting gate on another portion of it (Cre8Play). The sculpted horses show the horses' natural
desire to race together.

Lynn Skillman Gulley, Landscape Architect and M-NCPPC's staff project manager, used the likeness of local horse, Cloud's Honor (a.k.a. Graycie), who earned her owner enough money to start a horse rescue that works to find homes for Thoroughbreds after they have finished their racing career. Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Inc. (TPR) operates in Prince George's County, and Lynn was connected to her own horse, Rocky Breeze (a.k.a. Seven), through the work of TPR. Cloud's Honor was used for as a model for one of the custom painted spring horses and for one of the images on the custom panels. Watkins Downs was a collaboration between Playground Specialists, Playworld and Cre8Play.

Landscape architect Lynn Skillman Gulley used her own two off-the-track thoroughbred horses as models for some of the features including custom cut- outs in the new benches, graphic panels on the climbers, one of the spring horses, and on the signs indicating age appropriate play.

The custom winner's barn is a whimsical take on the clubhouse at Pimlico racetrack. The play environment features a custom hay bale, barrel crawl and multiple slides. This new project will be an attraction for the youngest of more than 120,000 horseracing enthusiasts drawn to Preakness Stakes on race day. This year, even the smallest jockeys in the area will be able to saddle up and enjoy a race of their own.

For more information on Watkins Regional Park, click here, and for more information on
Cre8Play, visit cre8play.com.