The Playgrounds Issue of Landscape Architect and Specifier News saw many firms submit their projects for feature consideration. Among several great projects, we at LandscapeArchitect.com thought Des Peres Park Playground deserved to be showcased online.

Des Peres Park Playground is a new, innovative play area located in Des Peres, Missouri. Planning Design Studio led the design and implementation of this play area with the assistance of various project partners. Originally, this new playground was proposed as part of the Des Peres Park Master Plan, created by Planning Design Studio in 2016. Almost a decade later, this playground evolved into a beloved community gathering space, setting itself apart from many others in the area.

 
Uniquely, this playground was designed not only with youth in mind, but also with adults in mind. Des Peres Park boasts many great amenities such as athletic fields, a picnic pavilion, a lake, a court complex, walking trails, and more. The project team determined that the playground should be located closer to key amenities, such as the tennis court complex and softball field, so that adults and guardians can enjoy other areas of the park while still keeping an eye on their children.

Many could call this playground timeless, and rightly so, as it offers enjoyment for children of all ages. Two separate play structures were built to cater to ages 2-5 and ages 5-12. These play structures mirror each other quite well but include more age-appropriate features on each to allow for improved safety and easy play.

More importantly, the entire play area was designed with inclusivity in mind, featuring elements specifically tailored to accommodate children with disabilities. Even though this playground was built to fit into the existing topography, with two separate levels, it still meets all accessibility requirements and incorporates the topography as a play experience. A wheelchair-accessible we-go-round and bucket swings offer children with physical disabilities the opportunity to play alongside their peers. To support children with autism and/or sensory impairments, a sensory garden and roller slide have also been added, ensuring every child can enjoy the play area equally.

Once an underutilized basketball court, this new playground serves as a testament to the power of enhancing public spaces. This also demonstrates that a space can be revitalized without disrupting the existing environment-for example, by enhancing the landscape with additional plantings to support the natural setting, strategically siting the playground to preserve the existing shade trees, and integrating the existing gazebo as an amenity to the playground. With its completion, this new playground has been warmly welcomed by locals and has become a new source of community pride.

To see more Playgrounds projects, go to https://landscapearchitect.com/landscape-articles/lasns-playgrounds-issue-34717#article1
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