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Raindrops in the Park
Indian Springs Playground in White Lake Township, Michigan is an integral part of the James Clarkson Environmental Discovery Center, known as a true collaboration between landscape, architecture and science and a place of playing, gathering and learning. The Indian Springs Playground complements the Environmental Discovery Center by reinforcing the connection to the natural world through its forms, materials and experiences.
MSI Design, the landscape architecture firm for the award-winning Environmental Discovery Center and Indian Springs Playground, collaborated with the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority (HCMA) on the project. Unique elements of the playground revolve around the water cycle and reinforce the connection to nature and its life force—water. The concept for the Indian Springs Playground is derived from raindrops, the beginning of the water cycle.
The raindrop theme is shown in the form of highly sculpted circular landforms, just like the image of water droplets in a puddle. The landform is the framework for the various play elements and provides an opportunity to draw attention to the sharply rolling topography of the site. The Indian Springs Playground takes full advantage of the site’s natural knolls and depressions and sculpts them into geometrically formed “droplets of water” of various sizes that create and reinforce the interactive play spaces. The playground gives the illusion of visually emerging from the existing topography and “forming from the earth,” while reinforcing the common water theme of the Environmental Discovery Center. Edges of the playground are sculpted into low mounds, allowing parents to find a natural perch to overlook the fun and monitor their children.
The tot area offers composite play structures (Cottage, Sand Studio), a toboggan slide, various rocking/springing equipment (Spinner Bowl, Racer, Speeder), sand diggers, precast concrete play tubes of various heights and metal rings. Photo: HCMA
The playground’s zero-depth spray zone is an interactive and fully automated aquatic facility with the capacity for 200 people. The wet playground is in use only during the summer months, while land-based sculptural play creates an interesting play environment throughout the year. The spray zone comprises key water themed area: the “Rainforest,” where a shower downfall erupts when children trigger randomly spaced vertical spray tubes; the “Wave Zone,” where ground sprays create water tunnels and arches to crawl under and run through; the “Fog Zone” envelops children in a fine mist when a motion sensor triggers the fog spray, while the “Gemma & Spica” area, with wet or dry playground activities supplied by Kompan, provides additional play fun.
Sustainable practices were employed throughout the site and adjacent building development efforts. A geothermal system heats and cools the Environmental Discovery Center building. Geothermally heated water is piped to the spray zone and used in the summer months. Spray zone water is collected and used for irrigation at the adjacent Indian Springs Golf Course, while bioswales in the parking area collect and clean the storm water runoff prior to releasing the water into the site’s wetlands.
Children can move from water play to the land-based play zone, filled with challenging physical activities and brain-teasers. The 120-foot diameter Challenge Maze in the sculpted play zone consists of colorful vertical posts and black vinyl coated mesh to help children develop problem solving skills. Moveable gates allow park staff to change the configuration of the maze throughout the season.
The playground challenges kids with the “Climbing Wall,” an individually-designed and sculpted 10-foot high wall with myriad routes to take via a variety of holds and features to accommodate various ability levels, while remaining accessible and safe for children. A washed pea gravel base provides for safe, clean landing.
Sculpted landforms provide the elements for a “Chutes-N-Ladders” session, where children can move throughout a series of tunnels and slides to provide an endless variety of moving up and down. The “Border Scramble” is an alternate route up or down the play zone hill and allows kids to scramble over natural borders.
The “Tot Lot” is a play alternative for young children, made up of a small, secluded wet sandbox, age-appropriate play elements and a cushioned rubberized surface. Open gathering areas, playfields and picnic spots provide seating for observing the action.
The Indian Springs raindrop-themed playground reinforces connections to water through its forms, materials and experiences. The recreation area combines traditional play pieces—bridges, tunnels and slides—with the innovative spray zone and the mosaic of earthwork. It provides natural areas for children’s continual use and is a unique, adventurous and welcoming playground for southeast Michigan visitors.
Playground
Spray Zone
Site Furnishings
Materials
Owner: Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
Design team
Raleigh, North Carolina
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
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