Teamwork Is the Key to Meeting the Wide Variety of Playground Needs Every child has different needs and desires. To accommodate them, playground design has become more challenging, as well as more rewarding. According to a recent LASN survey, 56% of landscape architectural firms complete all of the design work in-house to better meet this demand, while 15% sub-contract the work out and the remaining 29% rely on manufacturers to design play structures. This photo, supplied by Park Structures, Inc., features the children and faculty of Franklin School in Moline, Illinois. The Gladwyne Montessori School site is divided into three areas. The top area is for toddlers and preschool-aged school children. This play area contains a play structure, a large sandbox, benches and picnic tables. The preschool play area is separated from the rest of the playground by a playful serpentine hedge with an archway and gate that provides access. A path system links the three play spaces. In the center of the site is an amphitheater that is constructed from a precast concrete interlocking retaining wall system. The amphitheater consists of concentric rings of wall with grass landings. The center stage area contains a wood gazebo built to resemble a festival tent. The outer rings of the amphitheater structure are constructed to be raised garden areas for the students. Taking advantage of the scenic splendor of Alaska's Chugiak Mountains in the background, Kompan, Inc. designer Lew Cox was able create a play space which complemented the work of Mother Nature. The mountains three peeks, visible from the site, were the model for the play structure's three-peak design, which utilizes standard play equipment in an innovative layout. The wooden components were selected because of their durability in Alaska?EUR(TM)s harsh winter climate.