Landscape Architect Articles

LASN Playground Highlights November 2009: The Miracle on 34th Street! Ocean City, New Jersey11-09-09 | News

The Miracle on 34th Street! Ocean City, New Jersey

By Adam Alexander, LLA, CPSI Associate, CMX

Thousands of little feet, combined with the salt air, left the 34th Street Playground in Ocean City, New Jersey in need of renovation and repair.

The 34th Street Playground in Ocean City, New Jersey built by members of the community has for years offered local families and tourists a place for their children to run, climb and swing safely. However, the pounding of thousands of little feet, combined with the salt air, left the playground in need of renovation and repair.

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The revitalized playground features two custom designed structures (Big Toys) that are 100 percent PVC free. The 2-5 age group structures (left) include a rock climbing wall, balance beam and xylophone, while the 5-12 age group (right) get a climbing net, suspension bridge, three slides and ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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In coordination with Ocean City officials, CMX provided the planning and design services to help revitalize the popular park, with the understanding the playground would complement the city?EUR??,,????'?????<

The focus of the team was to create an entire playground environment, and thus the team tackled issues of accessibility, sun and shade patterns, seating areas for caregivers, suitability with adjacent uses, site drainage, compatibility of materials and conformance with an overall environmentally-friendly theme.

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Concrete pavers (4?EUR??,,????'?????<

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The main features of the playground area are two custom designed structures manufactured by Big Toys, both 100 percent PVC free. The structure for children ages 2-5 features a rock climbing wall, balance beam and xylophone, while the structures for children ages 5-12 include a climbing net, suspension bridge, three slides and ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Concrete pavers form a seating area, an ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Other design elements chosen to fulfill the environmentally-friendly theme include a ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The donor pickets, a remnant from the original playground, remain in place to honor those who helped build the park.

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The 34th Street Playground provides a safe and challenging play environment for the Ocean City children of all ages and abilities.

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Specific plants that could withstand South Jersey?EUR??,,????'?????<

The overall recycled content of the playground equipment is 75 percent by weight. Approximately 97,720 milk jugs and 5,593 lbs of scrap steel were used. Shipping the playground equipment by rail rather than by truck was another nod to remaining eco-friendly.

Through careful planning and the use of recycled materials, the 34th Street Playground provides a safe play environment for children of all ages and abilities, but also reflects Ocean City?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Project Team

Ocean City: Jim Rutala, Georgia Arnold, Kim Benoit, Frank

Tedesco, Michael Dattilo

CMX: Joseph Perello, Robert Mannix, Adam Alexander

Ben Shaffer, Inc.: Jaye Joyce,

P&P Installations: Patrick Votra,

Contractor: Jeff Sussman, Sussman Enterprises, Inc.

Materials/Vendors

Colored Concrete Sidewalk: L.M. Scofield

Concrete Pavers (4?EUR??,,????'?????<

Benches:???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR 6?EUR??,,????'?????<Urbanscape

Backless Bench: 6?EUR??,,????'?????<

Trash & Recycling Receptacles:???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Beverly Shores Series:Urbanscape

Bike Rack: ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Pedestal Table, 3 & 4 Seats:???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Custom Fabrication

Plant Palette

Platanus Acerifolia, ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Prunus Serrulata ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Calamagrotis Acutiflora ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Juniperus Horizontalis ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Liriope Muscari ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Panicum Virgatum ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Pennisetum Alopecuroides ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Perovskia ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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