The Magic of Disney

Children have an innate curiosity about the world around them. Whether its exploring something unknown to them, or discovery a new way to play, children are expressive and tactile creatures. They learn through the use and stimulation of their senses. Teachers have long capitalized on this natural curiosity by including plant-oriented projects within the school curriculum. Many children learn about the cycle of plant life in an internal classroom setting. They are fascinated by the visual change and transformation of live material. But these same children often seem inhibited when they enter the outside space of a garden, leading some to question a child’s interest in nature. However, experts who study children’s gardens believe that the way the site is designed is what can ultimately either inspire or diminish a child’s attraction to plants.

The definition of a children's garden may have been forever changed by the success of a recent temporary display in Florida. The Kids' Garden was created last spring as part of the seventh annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival held at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center in Lake Buena Vista. As one of the many special exhibits created for the occasion, the garden was developed on a quarter-acre site divided into five separate, but fully integrated areas that featured color, music, play structures, and other interactive gardens. With up to 700 visitors per hour, the garden became one of the highlights of the six-week event, far exceeding everyone's expectations.

"The site really became a wonderful showcase for all of the great possibilities for children's gardens," said Katy Moss Warner, former Director of Disney's Horticulture and Environmental Initiatives, and current Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Behavioral tests completed during the event showed that the garden was visited far more frequently than the other activity zones at Epcot. "In order to get a measurement of success and accountability, we tested the garden against other elements at the same location," explained Warner. "The Kids' Garden had the highest attendance record by far."

Designed to be a multi-sensory experience, the garden was full of lush flowering plants and vibrant colors. Although the display was situated in the middle of Epcot Center, the designers wanted to create a completely separate, magical world for visitors. The entrance to the site contained a visual feast of mature bedding plants densely arranged in the shape of a rainbow. The pathway surrounding the entrance was painted with corresponding colors to match the hues of the rainbow. "The intent was to create something that would draw kids into the space," said Warner. "We wanted the entrance to say 'this is for you' to kids who passed by."

The Kids' Garden contained a lush array of natural materials planted in close proximity to various manufactured playground equipment from Landscape Structures Inc., such as the Bubble Panel. The entrance of the garden showcased colorful overhead arches near large topiary elephants.

Once visitors entered the garden, they could see interconnecting plant zones and activity displays, such as a musical garden, a cypress forest, a smelling garden, and various play equipment. "We wanted to engage the kids in as many different ways as possible, where the garden itself would speak directly to them. Where the plants themselves would share their own message about how exciting and wonderful they are," explained Warner. The team experimented by placing plant material within close proximity to manufactured play structures. "In most cases, it is assumed that plants can't be included in an environment where play structures exist," said Warner. But the idea for the Kids' Garden was to have a location that motivated interactive play.

"A good part of a garden’s experience is passive, just walking quietly through the site enjoying the beauty around you. But to attract people who don't understand gardens, or who don't feel comfortable in that kind of space, it's important to draw them in through activity nodes,” said Warner. The idea of interactivity means that part of the experience should be active. Play structures can be used to offer the opportunity for activity. "There’s a way to incorporate equipment within the context of a garden so that the plants become exciting elements as the children are actively engaged in play," explained Warner. "That link between the garden, plants, and play is one that becomes every interesting."

Designers created seven distinct zones for the garden meant to stimulate a multi-sensory experience for visitors.

In order to realize the potential of the garden, Disney enlisted the help of partnering companies. "We needed to bring together people who believed in this, and who believed in the mission that gardens are important for children," said Warner. The team brought together various organizations and individuals who shared their expertise, products, and services for the project. One such company was Landscape Structures Inc., who loaned Disney the play structures used at the site, and later donated them to a local charity. "Landscape Structures was very important in exploring how a play structure could function within a garden. They did a design and worked with us on it. They were willing to create ways to make things happen." Other companies such as Monrovia Nursery and Bonfonte Gardens provided some of the plant materials used at the site. Warner said that the people involved in the process played an invaluable role in the ultimate success of the garden. “We couldn’t have done it without them. There were little bits of brilliance from everyone,” said Warner.

The Design Charette

The process for creating the garden started with a planning meeting among some of the nation's leading experts. Professionals in the fields of landscape architecture, horticulture, childhood development, and education met with members of Disney's staff for a two-day brainstorming session at Epcot. "One of the purposes of the design charette was to establish some values that would serve as potential themes for the garden," said Tom Underwood, Manager of Horticultural Services for Disney.

The experts created a set of conceptual messages that would be conveyed through the various plant zones at the site. These values represented some of the basic tenets of developmental learning, such as self-expression and multi-sensory experience. By going against tradition, the design team took a chance when they decided to use manufactured play equipment in the garden. "I saw the inclusion of the play equipment as a great marriage between a way to have fun and another way to explore the garden," said Underwood. "The structures were a great catalyst for some of the values developed during the charette, such as the need for social skills and having fun within a natural environment," said Underwood.

Currently experiencing a creative windfall, Disney’s Horticulture Division is approximately 750 employees strong. The unit participates in activities that involve four theme parks, 19 resort hotels, and other recreational areas. The annual International Flower & Garden Festival has become a showcase for the trends and changes in the field. "Traditionally, horticulture is considered to be part of the maintenance of a facility, particularly in a theme park or hotel," said Underwood. "But what we have been working towards is cultivating the value of our landscaping gardens as attractions in and of themselves." The success of the festival has created an opportunity to position horticulture in a different light. "People are now coming here specifically because of the horticulture," said Underwood.

Surrounded by a yellow picket fence, the location attracted approximately 700 people per hour. "We were very anxious to be inclusive of any elements that would enhance the garden and not detract from it," said Warner. Some of the partnering companies who supplied plant materials for the project included Monrovia Nursery and Bonfonte Gardens.

As one of the longtime sponsors of the Disney festival, The American Horticultural Society held their annual National Youth Garden Symposium in conjunction with last year’s event. After being approached in 1999, the non-profit organization was asked to be part of the design process for the Kids’ Garden. "We were very excited to be part of the charette. I assembled educators and people who work across the country on children's garden programs," said Mary Ann Patterson, AHS Director of National Programs and Public Relations. "We hashed out what would be the purpose of the garden, what would constitute a model garden, and what did we want to illustrate to all of the visitors of the festival about the opportunity for having other children's gardens."

It was imperative to the group that when the children entered the site, they entered into a separate area from the rest of the park, a completely new environment. "What was unique about the garden is that even though it was in the middle of Epcot, it didn't have any theme park trappings," said Patterson.

"We used water, sound, color, and form to allow there to be this wonderful discovery of a garden," said Warner. "We tried to experiment with the idea that interactivity means part of the experience is active, and therefore we can incorporate play structures themselves within the context of a garden.” It took all of the creative efforts of many people to realize the vision created during the design charette. "There were little bits of brilliance from everyone."

In addition to representing certain values established by the design group, Patterson says the play equipment served another function. By including a play area in the garden, a natural progression was established that would lead children from the familiarity of the play structure, to the unfamiliarity of the plant materials. "It was fascinating to watch because the kids would come and immediately run to the play structure, since it was familiar to them. Then they would spend time on the other limited playground equipment there. The next thing they did was create music using the bamboo and the dancing chimes. Next they would get into a whole area where we showed plant development. They discovered all of the educational elements once they participated in the familiar activity zones," said Patterson. The result was that the children ended up spending more time appreciating the plant materials than they might have in more traditional gardens.

Each year the AHS bestows the Jane L. Taylor Great American Gardeners Award to individuals who have excelled in gardening programs for children and youth. As it's first recipient in 2000, Jane L. Taylor was involved in the charette for the garden at Epcot. "In the past, botanical gardens didn't cater to families. But the increase in children's gardens will change the way all gardens are designed,” said Taylor, founding curator of the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden, part of the Horticulture Demonstration Garden at Michigan State University, East Lansing. When she dedicated her own garden in 1993, Taylor says that people were astounded at the hundreds of thousands of visitors coming through the site. "Now that they see the numbers, other gardens are looking for ways to increase visibility and reach out to families," explained Taylor.

Studying Play

One of the most popular parts of the display was the Music Garden, which utilizing plant materials such as bamboo to create sound. A 10-foot Hopscotch Chime was installed along with xylophones, gourds, and drums. "The drums had a beautiful resonance. The earthy sounds were tremendously powerful at bringing people into garden," said Warner.

One of the newest areas of expertise in the field of child development are professionals who study the correct environments conducive to play. "A Play Environment Designer is committed to creating useful play environments for children in order to maximize the potential of their outdoor experience," said charette participant Jean Schappet, Creative Director for the non-profit Boundless Playgrounds. Schappet was one of the people who successfully persuaded the design group to incorporate playground equipment into the Kids' Garden. She says that the project became a prime example of how to correctly combine the efforts of professionals who have different design concentrations. "Landscape Architect's study to become technically competent to handle site configurations, construction details, plant selection, the selection of appropriate surfacing materials, and the integration of the outdoor space and its connection to buildings and structures. But play happens in the minds of children," said Schappet. “You have to study that in order to understand it and design the right environment.”

To create the type of play area that enriches children's lives, Schappet believes that many elements need to come together. "What we want to do is encourage Landscape Architect's to value the input of people outside of their profession. They should work hand and hand with play environment planners so that they bring the very best of what they do to the table, in order to work collaboratively with the very best of what a Play Environment Designer does." The group studies and appreciates the cognitive development that goes along with the sociological and emotional development of children. Perhaps as a result of their influence, the playground industry is starting to see the value of studying the physiology of how children develop through the various stages of life.

The team also collaborated on determining which activity panels would inspire the greatest opportunity for learning, such as the LSI Slant Window Panel and Bubble Panel.

In recent experiments, scientists have examined the importance of sensory stimulation in children. "The early stages of life are critical phases of brain development," said Robin Moore, author of Plants for Play, and Director of The Natural Learning Initiative. "Sensory stimulation is how kids take in information from the external world and how they build up an understanding of the world around them." This process continues until the child reaches approximately 10 years-old. At that point, the need for sensory stimulation slowly phases out. When the child is not properly inspired by the external world during these early years, brain development is affected. "Studies have shown that when certain areas of the brain are not stimulated, that particular brain function will migrate to another area," said Moore. The author feels that children's gardens enable an exciting opportunity to provide the proper external stimuli needed for early stages of development.

While participating in a pre-charette meeting with Disney, Moore encouraged the organizers of the event to expand the traditional definition of what a children's garden should be. "One very impressive thing about the Disney garden was the way manufactured play structures where integrated into the landscape," said Moore. "We were very impressed with the way the manufacturer had worked with the design team to naturalize the play structure so that it wasn't just an object in the middle of a blank space." Moore feels the display was a great model for other sites because there is a tendency to completely separate plant material from play equipment. "A typical manufactured play structure has nothing near it. This positioning will only inspire routine kinds of behavior around it," explained Moore. "But the way in which a structure is naturalized and integrated into the area, can make kids more attentive to their surroundings and therefore stimulate a wider range of behavior.”

As a Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Design at North Carolina State University, Moore encourages his students to pay attention to the increase in specialized garden design applications, such as children's gardens, therapeutic environments, and Alzheimer's gardens. "These areas of professional practice are becoming a viable trend," said Moore. In order to keep up with these changes, the landscape architectural profession will have to continue to evolve the definition of garden design.

Naturalizing Playground Equipment

"Landscape Structures and Jean Schappet were able to coach us on what would work for able-bodied children, as well as those in wheelchairs," said Warner.

Once it was determined that play equipment would be included at the Kids’ Garden, careful attention was paid to the initial design. “If you want kids to be very intimately involved with the garden itself, you've got to really integrate your play structure so that its part of the circulation system," said Steve King, a landscape architect and Chairman of Landscape Structures. King says that providing a controlled setting and properly maintaining the area are two of the key elements required in the ultimate success of the space. Naturally, the biggest obstacle for placing equipment near plant materials is making sure that the site meets safety standards. "The accessibility standards were relatively easy to meet, but the biggest issue of conforming to standards was the groundcover and the use zone around the structure itself," explained King.

One of the playground pieces was situated between two mature date palms and surrounded by various plantings. The children using the LSI Rollerslide could actually touch the lush natural materials near the structure. Rubber mulch was used to provide a spongy walking area that blended into the natural setting. A fall zone was created with soft plants which provided a cushioned landing if needed. The fall height was limited by correctly placing the equipment at the adult-supervised site. "We made a professional judgment, based on the particular circumstances at the location, that the flowers and groundcover planted would be a sufficient protective surfacing," said King.

The fully accessible site featured bridges and ramps coming from three directions so that a child could reach all decks. A transfer zone was available in one area of the site for children in wheelchairs. "The play structures didn't need any modifications other than understanding the slope of the land," said King. "Our forte is using the right components to fit into the site whether the land is sloping, or very long and skinny, or whatever it happens to be."

If the growth in children's gardens continues, there may be a time when play structures are automatically included in the design for these areas. "We embrace the concept of moving the play experience way beyond the play structure," said King. "Obviously, our job is to sell playground equipment, but we certainly want to encourage people to think about the immediate environment, and introducing plants, flowers, hillsides, and other earth forms into the play area. It will certainly broaden the experience for visitors to the site."

Bringing a child closer to nature was the goal for everyone involved in the Kids' Garden. "There was a little boy who must have gone down our Rollerslide 20 times. The last time he went down the slide, he stopped by one of the trees and examined it," said Laurie Acosta, Director of Marketing for Landscape Structures. The child proceeded to discover all of the other natural materials that were planted near the slide. "If you want children to have fun learning about plants and nature, bring them in with something they recognize and they'll discover all the rest of the stuff around them in their own time."

Challenges of the Project

One of the main challenges for the installation of the project was the logistical problem of working within a small area. "For such a small space, a 1/4 to 1/2 acre site, we had a lot going on," said Carla Shuman, Landscape Architect for Walt Disney World. Among all of the activity zones, the planners tried to keep the emphasis on the original purpose for the garden. "We tried to keep the focus on the plants. The idea was to have kids experience plants up close and in their face, and to hopefully come away with a greater appreciation of nature." One of the more popular plant zones at the site was the swamp garden containing a forest of cypress trees. "The trees were planted very close together on either side of a meandering walkway," explained Shuman. Visitors passing through would lightly brush up against one of the trees and touch it as they went by. "Kids could go from an open playground into the enclosed swamp area where, even if they are running through at full speed, they are experiencing plants."

The fact that the garden was temporary added to the challenge for Shuman. "Since it wasn’t permanent, we couldn't do all the interactive and elaborate things that we would have wanted," said Shuman, adding, "but we had great partners who made it easier for us." As a Landscape Architect, Shuman appreciates the pace and creativity involved in working on the annual festival. "Even though the displays are temporary, each year there's an opportunity to make things better. You get to see your design happen before your eyes, instead of having to wait years to see it."

Choosing the plant list is another challenging and pivotal aspect for any display. "You can have a great site plan, but if the plants don’t work, then it's not a garden, it's just a play space. We wanted to make the Kids’ Garden more than that. Being that it was only temporary, our plant situation was different than normal.” The team used a wide variety of tropical plants for color and texture that wouldn’t have been chosen for a yearlong garden.

An important requirement of the garden was that the play equipment needed to blend in naturally with the plant elements.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for the project was knowing that all the splendor created would have to be dismantled. "Everyone was sad to see it taken down," said Shuman, adding, “especially since we received calls from all around the country about the garden." The display was so successful that Disney is contemplating on creating a permanent children’s garden soon. "Last year's garden was sort of an experiment," explained Laura Coar, Project Coordinator for Disney. "We wanted to test the concept that a children’s garden could be an active place where the children could learn to have a deep appreciation of plants.”

Coar promises that this year’s festival, planned for April 20 through June 3, will contain other interesting displays for all to enjoy. “We’re going to have a Big Bugs display that kids will love, along with many other tributes to gardening,” said Coar. Currently marketed as a regional event, organizers of the International Flower & Garden Festival would like to see it become the premier horticulture event in the country, attracting a national draw. With the success of last year’s event, the folks at Disney may get their wish. Although the displays are temporary, the effect of a place like the Kids’ Garden will be remembered for a long time. LASN

One of the ways the creative team attracted people to the location was by including a LSI Rollerslide in the design.