The creative play area design focused on maximizing user capacity, accessibility, parental observation, safety, and creating a uniquely fun ?EUR??,,????'?????<

• Sand Play: The target user age here is 2-5 year olds, with the intent to let young children experience sand play and also have the opportunity to learn about dinosaurs by uncovering a buried 30-foot long replica of an Allosaurus fossil.
  
• Role Play: This area is also targeted for the 2-5 year olds. It?EUR??,,????'?????<
• Multimotion: This terrace offers equipment that provides the primary motions of swirling, spinning and skating.
  
• Climbing: The primary climbing equipment is located within two separate areas. One is designated solely for nets; the other combines natural looking climbing boulders with a custom net system that allows transition from the lowest container to the highest container.
  
• Towers & Slides: A large traditional play structure in this container proves to be enjoyed by park users of all ages. The 14-ft. high decks of two large towers offer great views of the entire play area. The towers also provide seven slides for rapid descent back to the ground, which promotes repeat loops and races among the users.
  
• Swinging: The large disc swings allow multiple users to ride together to experience the to and fro swinging motion of this equipment. It is common to see three to five users on the same disc at one time.
  
• Roller Ride: The unique equipment located in this area was manufactured specifically for this project and provides users with a zip line experience via a looped track.
  

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The multimotion area of the playground offers ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Brauer & Associates, Ltd. is always sensitive to a client?EUR??,,????'?????<

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The total cost to construct the project was approximately $1.2 million.

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This view is from the upper deck of one of the towers looking down at the tunnel/bridge and main plaza area.

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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.

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The custom net system connects climbing boulders in the lowest container to the upper container.

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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.

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The Dino Dig area also offers climbing on the ?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.

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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.

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About the Firm
Brauer & Associates Ltd. is a Minneapolis-based land use planning and design firm that has been providing professional landscape architectural services since 1963. The majority of the firm?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Three Rivers Park District Consulting Team

Brauer & Associates, Ltd.: Prime Consultant / Landscape Architect
Thatcher Engineering, Inc.: Subconsulting civil and structural engineering
JQP, Inc.: Subconsulting ADA and safety compliance specialist
Northern Technologies, Inc.: Subconsulting geotechnical testing

Construction:
Ebert Construction: General Contractor
Larson Contracting: Earthwork & Utilities
Advanced Wall Structures: Retaining Wall Construction
Halverson Concrete: Concrete
Koolmo Construction: Play equipment installer
Surface America: Rubberized safety surfacing
Popple Creek Manufacturing: Ornamental fencing
T.A. Schifsky: Asphalt trails
Seed & Sod: JJ Mack Construction

Vendors
Miracle Recreation: Dual Megatower, Dynamo Biggo Flyer,
Buzzy Bumble Bee, Lucky Ladybug
Most Dependable Drinking Fountains
Kompan: Supernova, Pollux, Miram Skater, Garden Seesaw, Daisy, Home Rescue Multi Tower
Berliner: Seilfabrik?EUR??,,????'?????< Exploration Playgrounds: Allosaurus Dino Dig, Rib Climber
DuMor Site Furnishings: benches
Superior Shade Inc.: cantilevered canopies (main plaza area)
Anchor Industries: Palmbrellas (perimeter plaza areas)
Dero: bike racks
Fossil Industries, Inc: custom graphic panels for fencing:
Luma Sales: Millerbernd banner poles

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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.

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The orange ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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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.

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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.