Mount Greenwood Park, Chicago:
The Artful Playground

Julie Smith, Associate Landscape Architect, Hitchcock Design Group

Mount Greenwood Park in Chicago received an all-new play area as part of a larger park renovation that also included improved baseball and softball fields, an ice-skating rink and a swimming pool. The new play space has separate modular play structures for ages 2–5 and 5–12, two swing sets, a splash pad and interactive "sound sculptures".

Mount Greenwood Park, on the southwest side of Chicago, is home to one of six therapeutic programs offered by the Chicago Park District that bring together children and adults of all skill levels and abilities. The park provides users with a vast array of amenities, which include baseball and softball fields, a swimming pool, an ice-skating rink, a fieldhouse and a playground.

On the east side of the park is the playground, which was aging and inaccessible for park users. Recognizing the value of an environment that fosters outdoor play for children and families, the Mount Greenwood Park Advisory Board, a group of local volunteers, worked with Hitchcock Design Group and the Chicago Park District to develop a plan for renovations to the playground. In working with the Advisory Board, Hitchcock Design Group and the Park District understood that the community was deeply invested in the playground, and therefore public input and approval would be critical to the success of this project.

A custom pipe climber (GameTime) and a custom rope climber (Landscape Structures) create options for children climbing up the hillside to the spiral bell musical element at the top of the mound.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+
Credit: HDG

During the design process, several community meetings were held to solicit input from the public on the proposed concepts for the new playground.

Through these community meetings, the public worked with Hitchcock Design Group and the Park District to create a design that engaged and inspired children age two through twelve. Their combined vision for the park was to provide a unique area that could cultivate interest in the arts, while fitting within the existing footprint of the old playground. The renovated playground features multiple well-defined zones, with music, art and sculpture threaded throughout, while providing a universally accessible experience.

The two swing sets and the 5-12-year-old play structure are manufactured by GameTime. The modular structure provides accessible play opportunities for children of all ability levels, including those involved with the therapeutic recreation programs offered at Mount Greenwood by the Chicago Park District.
Credit: HDG

The public remained involved with the project in a variety of ways. The Chicago Public Art Group led an after school program that allowed students to design and assemble, with the help of local artists, mosaics for concrete totem poles lining the main walk throughout the park.

Mounds covered by rubber play surfacing (Sof Surface Inc.) provide children with options to climb while trying to reach the top of the hill. The play surfacing allows users with mobility challenges to move through the park with ease. Marmo maple and "Skyline' honeylocust trees were added to the site to provide visitors with more shade.

The "bricolage" design provided by Chicago Public Art Group highlights the low ramp walls that provide an accessible route to the play structure.
Photo Credits: HDG

Building a "Sound" Foundation
The area now called Mount Greenwood was established as a trading area in the early 19th century, named for a notable sand ridge covered with trees. The area was known in its early days as "Seven Holy Tombs" because of the many cemeteries in and around the hill. Located in a southwestern corner of the city, Mount Greenwood was not incorporated as part of Chicago until 1927, and modern plumbing and electricity did not arrive until 1936 – three years after the city hosted a World's Fair celebrating technological progress. Most of another century later, with the community's support, the renovations to Mount Greenwood's park playground spawned a new play area that creates an engaging, attractive, safe, accessible and educational play environment.

The above and at-grade water features (Water Odyssey) have a slip-resistant surface (Sof Surface Inc.), plus intermittent water features to conserve water use.
Photo Credit: HDG

Public art and interactive sculptures are integrated into the landscape, formed to reflect and respect the origins of the area. That foundation is shown in the design of the main walkway, which spirals out of the ground to a height of six feet and culminates at a custom designed 15-foot tall interactive spiral bell with chimes. This chime is just one of several interactive musical sculptures located within the park. Other interactive sound sculptures include a 14-foot tall cymbal, two steel drums, two xylophones and a rainmaker, which invite users to play them. Sculptor James Brenner and acoustical design collaborator Jake Worley-Hood worked through the Chicago Public Art Group to design instruments that stimulate visual, audible and tactile senses. Each piece is constructed of steel with patina-coated finishes, and is designed to withstand years of outdoor use. Additionally, every instrument has been tuned to have its own individual tone, which fills a distinctive musical position when the instruments are played in concert with each other.

The sound sculptures by sculptor James Brenner and acoustical designer Jake Worley-Head are made of stainless steel with a patina finish to increase their longevity through heavy use. Musicians of all ages and abilities can play solo or in concert, as the instruments are tuned to complement each other when played together.
Credit: HDG

Additional recreational experiences have been incorporated throughout the hillsides of the mound, including a hill slide, climbing net, pipe climber and climbing mounds. Custom climbing structures with raised decks and ramps, slides, overhead elements, activity panels for all ages and abilities were installed over a playfully-patterned rubber surfacing system. The first of two swing sets, manufactured by GameTime and supplied by Recreation Concepts, sits to the east of the large play structure and provides belt and accessible swings. The second swing set occupies the west end of the site.

A spray pool with above and at-grade features lets children interact with the water, which is designed to spray intermittently to control the amount of water used. Site furniture, accessible paths, lighting, drinking fountains, ornamental fencing and landscape improvements round out the enhancements to the playground.

Colorful mosaic images created in collaboration with the Chicago Public Art Group are showcased on the columns that line the main walkway. Due to the tremendous community involvement and support for the Mount Greenwood playground, the ribbon cutting ceremony was well attended by the local residents, and featured a musical performance using the sound sculptures installed at the park by the artists that created them.
Credit: Chicago Public Art Group

Low ramp walls within the playground serve the dual purpose of providing an accessible play structure and a resting place. The community hired the Chicago Public Art Group to install the bricolage after the initial project was completed. The 2–5-year-old play space is outlined by an insect-themed bricolage concrete ramp wall that is a place for adults to rest while supervising children. A sea-creature inspired bricolage complements the center retaining wall. These brightly colored decorative features visually enhance the space and create a sense of excitement for users.

The new playground had to be designed to fit within the existing footprint of the park's original playground. The site plan shows how separate areas were specified, so children of different age groups and varying abilities could find something to spark their interest in the play area, while ensuring safety and visibility for adult supervisors.

Sustainability for a Rainy Day
Sustainability measures were also incorporated, beginning with the application of Chicago's Storm Water Management ordinance. The regulation, newly implemented during the installation, requires the use of best management practices to minimize stormwater runoff, easing the load on the city's combined sewer system. The design of the Mount Greenwood playground site directs the majority of the stormwater through the playground's soft surface to infiltrate into the ground and surrounding lawn.

The Chicago Park District's Construction Waste Management Program was another sustainably minded regulation that was essential to creating the space. The construction waste management program calls for diverting demolished material from landfills and promotes recycling. To that end, a locally produced recycled rubber play surface system covers a majority of the site, giving the playground durability. The incorporation of these measures, and the specification and use of low-impact, environmentally-friendly products will help prolong the use and enjoyment of Mount Greenwood Park's playground, while lessening its environmental impact. The renovation has received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the community and made the park a premier destination for family fun once again, all while fulfilling the therapeutic recreation programming space the park district needed. "You simply needed to be at the grand opening to capture the excitement! The new playground was embraced by the community and covered with eager children and families.

"The interest and use hasn't stopped since," said Linda Daley, deputy director for capital construction for the Chicago Park District. This outdoor space provides adventure for visitors of all ages and abilities, and encourages engagement of with the arts through the musical sculptures and bricolage design. From the play space, to the programmable space, to the unique integration of public art installations, the playground is a revitalized asset that is a true reflection of the community
it serves.

Project Team
Artwork Consultant: Chicago Public Art Group
Civil Engineer: Civiltech Engineering, Inc.
Electrical Engineer: Milhouse Engineering and Construction
Landscape Architect: Hitchcock Design Group
Mechanical / Structural Engineer: Primera Engineers
Owner: Chicago Park District
Survey: Nakawatase, Wyns and Associates, Inc.

Vendors:
Chicago Public Art Group: Mosaics / Bricolage / Sound Sculptures
GameTime: 2-5 accessible modular play structures, double hill slide, swings, custom pipe climber
Landscape Structures / Nutoys: Sway fun, custom net climber
SofSurface: Rubber Play Surface
Water Odyssey: Water Feature