Elm Creek's Creative Play by Jason Amberg, RLA, Project Manager, Brauer & Associates, Ltd., Hopkins, Minn. The Elm Creek creative play area in Maple Grove, Minn. features a 17' 8" x 17' 8" x 18' 5" ?EUR??,,????'?????< |
The project began in 2009 when Brauer & Associates, Ltd. was commissioned by Three Rivers Park District to plan, design and administer the construction of the Elm Creek Creative Play Area within the Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, Minn. Three Rivers Park District is a park system in the west suburban Minneapolis / St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota that manages almost 27,000 acres of park reserves, regional parks, regional trails and special use facilities. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  The panorama of the Elm Creek Creative Play Area in Maple Grove, Minn. is viewed from the upper deck of the ?EUR??,,????'?????<
Nine of the Park District?EUR??,,????'?????< At the onset of the master planning, we worked closely with our primary client contact Mr. Stephen Shurson, Park District Landscape, and other park district staff to develop a comprehensive project program for the play area. This project program was used as the basis for developing a wide variety of concepts that addressed the client?EUR??,,????'?????< ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  Ribbons of green ?EUR??,,????'?????<
The creative play area design focused on maximizing user capacity, accessibility, parental observation, safety, and creating a uniquely fun ?EUR??,,????'?????<
???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  The multimotion area of the playground offers ?EUR??,,????'?????< ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Brauer & Associates, Ltd. is always sensitive to a client?EUR??,,????'?????<
The total cost to construct the project was approximately $1.2 million. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  This view is from the upper deck of one of the towers looking down at the tunnel/bridge and main plaza area.
The play area?EUR??,,????'?????< The new eye-catching Elm Creek Creative Play Area is twice the size of the original play area it replaced in this park and provides an appealing overall atmosphere for all ages, including parents and extended family members. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  The custom net system connects climbing boulders in the lowest container to the upper container. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR The increased size of the play area, combined with a greater variety of play equipment options, resulted in a play capacity of more than 500 children at any given time. Public demands were high with an expected 1,500 visitors per day during the peak season. The new play area was opened to the public in June of 2011 with a warm welcoming from the park visitors. After two years of planning, design and construction administration, it was very satisfying to see the large number of people enjoying everything the site has to offer and filling it with laughter and activity. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR
The site improvements were designed to fit within the confines of the healthy existing mature vegetation with minimal tree loss. This reduced the need for extensive new plantings and the related concerns associated with establishing and maintaining such materials within an area that consists of extremely high levels of foot traffic. Three Rivers Park District staff designed and implemented mass planting areas in key locations using native vegetation like nannyberry viburnum, dogwood, bushhoneysuckle, hardhack spirea, and an assortment of native grasses. In addition to the mass planting areas, staff also planted new trees to complement the site and provide additional shade in the future. These trees included trembling aspen, bur oak, hackberry, red oak, basswood, sugar maple and black cherry. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  The classic seesaw has been updated as the Garden Seesaw. Two or three children can safely seat at each end. Crossbars top and bottom allow the kids to secure their hands and firmly place their feet. The upper crossbar also keeps kids from falling forward. Even the younger kids can safely use this seesaw. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR About the Firm ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  The landscape architect?EUR??,,????'?????< ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR ?EUR??,,????'?????< Three Rivers Park District Consulting Team Brauer & Associates, Ltd.: Prime Consultant / Landscape Architect Construction: Vendors ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  The Supernova is a communal, multimotion spinning attraction for the 6-15 year old set. Kids can just lie or sit on it as someone spins it. To challenge their balance, kids stand on it. As you walk, it begins to move. The faster you walk, the faster it spins. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  The orange ?EUR??,,????'?????< ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  The main plaza area offers cantilevered canopies in various colors that correspond with the ribbons of colors throughout the site. Palmbrellas shades, boulders, picnic benches and benches (DuMor) define the area. ???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR  The red ribbon of color in the ground plane at the sand play and role-play areas provides a playful connection that leads from the perimeter plaza, through the play area and ultimately to the main plaza. |
