Located just to the north of Toronto, Ontario, in the rapidly expanding Town of Richmond Hill, Ozark Community Park is a model of the successful integration of recreation and play activities with nature interpretation and ecological restoration opportunities. Located just to the north of Toronto, Ontario, in the rapidly expanding Town of Richmond Hill, Ozark Community Park is a model of the successful integration of recreation and play activities with nature interpretation and ecological restoration opportunities. The park is located within the narrowest, most heavily populated and subsequently the most threatened portion of the Oak Ridges Moraine ?EUR" a provincially significant geological landform that acts as a giant recharge area for an aquifer for much of the Greater Toronto Area and contains substantial natural habitats. As a result of the sensitive location of the park, the protection and promotion of the importance of the natural environment that is exemplified at Ozark Community Park is a priority for the community and the surrounding region. The retrofitting and revitalization of many of North America?EUR(TM)s aging parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities is increasing in necessity, frequency and innovation. Ozark Community Park was originally developed to house a large indoor sports arena, surrounded by a large asphalt parking lot and several sports fields. A large natural protection area was located immediately adjacent to the park; however, chain-link fencing provided a physical and figurative barrier between the park and the natural protection area. The proximity of the park to the adjacent natural area was little more than coincidental. The park was juxtaposed between this natural area, an existing residential community and a new residential development area. There was no play equipment located within the existing park, and very little opportunity for creative play. In response to the changing needs of the surrounding community, Schollen & Company Inc. was retained by the Town of Richmond Hill to develop a vision to redesign and retrofit the existing park once the municipality acquired ownership of the adjacent natural area. The primary objective of the project was to create a mutually beneficial relationship between the park and the natural environment; in addition, the existing recreational amenities needed to be reorganized and enhanced and new elements ?EUR" including a children?EUR(TM)s playground and outdoor learning environment ?EUR" were required to fulfill the needs of a wider population base. Because of the restriction of the existing facilities, use patterns and natural areas, educational and interpretive components of the new design needed to be conveyed through unique design details. What was once a conventional park with a programmed recreation focus was transformed into an environment-focused community resource with unique recreational, play and learning elements and experience-based natural interpretation opportunities. Through innovative, sensory-based design, the park became a place. Natural Environment Integration The protection and enhancement of the natural environment is the central focus of the stewardship responsibilities of landscape architects. The redevelopment of Ozark Community Park was an opportunity to create a unique relationship between recreational and play opportunities and the natural environment through a sensitive and ecologically responsible design. The natural protection area on the site consists of a sensitive wetland community that provides habitat for a variety of native plant material and wildlife, including wood frogs, painted turtles and many species of birds. Much of the appeal and character of the surrounding residential communities is linked to the presence of the park, the natural landscape and its associated attributes and amenities. During the design phase of the project, great efforts were made to protect and enhance the natural environment while simultaneously embracing and celebrating its importance. The orientation and access to the park was completely altered in order to locate the principal vehicular and pedestrian entrances within sight of the natural protection area and to take advantage of the views across the wetland into the site. The location of the children?EUR(TM)s playground areas was chosen to maximize children?EUR(TM)s exposure to the natural environment while providing unique opportunities for active and passive play. Bold and dramatic steel nesting totems are grouped together at the edge of the wetland close to the boardwalk and senior play structure. These nesting totems were custom designed for the project to reinforce the relationship between humankind and the natural environment while combining art, urban form and nature. Play Opportunities Central to the success of the retrofit and redevelopment of Ozark Community Park was the innovative siting, design and detailing of the central children?EUR(TM)s playground area and outdoor learning environment. Located in the middle of the park, nestled into the surrounding natural protection area and overlooking the wetland, the playground area provides the link between the natural and the recreational areas of the park. Access to the playground is gained either from a boardwalk that is suspended over the wetland and connects the playground to a perimeter pedestrian trail, or from the new central pedestrian promenade that provides a formal, central organizing pedestrian element that connects the sports area to a new pavilion structure. The playground area was developed through a sensory-based approach to design. Working closely with a structural engineer, Schollen & Company Inc. strove to impart a sense of floating above the wetland. Through the use of cables to support a deck that is cantilevered out into the wetland, the resultant feel is indeed that of floating; the simple and effective placement of a steering wheel creates the opportunity for children to feel like they are at the helm of a ship, sailing through the wetland. The supporting cables, in addition to the surrounding mature pines, lend a feeling of enclosure around the senior play structure. Bold use of color and material deliberately contrasts built form and nature. The different components of the playground are centrally located near the surrounding wetland; however, the junior structure, senior structure and swings are located within separate islands of sand safety surfacing. The safety surfacing, contained by concrete curbing, is flush with the surrounding asphalt pathways, thereby minimizing the potential for trip hazards. The pathways provide separation between the play events while providing opportunities for hard surface play ?EUR" such as skipping, chalk drawings and bicycle riding ?EUR" that all are important aspects of play. Children can ride their bikes from the asphalt onto the flush wooden boardwalk ?EUR" the subsequent sounds and feeling of tires riding over wooden decking is greatly appealing and intriguing to the children who frequent the playground. The sound of children playing ?EUR" supported by the sounds of grasses blowing and crickets chirping ?EUR" adds to the music. An increasingly important consideration in the design of playgrounds is the adequate provision of shade. New shade trees have been planted to augment the existing mature canopy of native trees and large shrubs that surround the playground. Many opportunities exist for children to escape from the sun ?EUR" either under the play structures or under the protective branches of surrounding trees. Located in close proximity to the playground at the terminus of the central pedestrian promenade, a pavilion and adjacent water fountain provide additional respite from the heat and sun of summer. In addition to active play areas, it is important to provide areas for quiet, passive play opportunities for children. Gently bermed lawn areas are located in close proximity to the play areas to provide opportunities for passive play ?EUR" and winter sliding. Ample seating for children, parents and care-givers is provided through the inclusion of benches that coordinate with the play equipment and boardwalk railings. In addition to the benches, limestone seating boulders ?EUR" a natural material that complements the ecological theme of the park ?EUR" are sensitively placed throughout the playground to provide casual seating opportunities and raised play surfaces for adults and children alike. The senior play structure, manufactured by GameTime and supplied by Crozier Agencies of Toronto, Ontario, is the largest piece of play equipment at Ozark Community Park. Working together with the GameTime representative and the Town of Richmond Hill, Schollen & Company Inc. oversaw the design and installation of the play equipment. Multiple levels of viewing platforms, a bridge, three different slides and multiple upper body strength and dexterity activities combine to provide opportunities for simultaneous play events for older children. Shade and opportunities for quiet, creative play are provided underneath the structure to maximize cost-effectiveness and play opportunities. The equipment has multiple access/exit points to ensure that children are able to effectively move through the structure and explore a range of activities.