Landscape Architect Articles

Sunrise Boundless Playscape09-01-11 | News

Sunrise Boundless Playscape

By GLMV Architecture, Wichita, Kansas

The Gamma Area is ?EUR??,,????'?????<

What happens when you combine a half-acre of sun-baked Kansas parkland with a community?EUR??,,????'?????<

The playscape was the dream of members of an area Rotary Club that chose to champion a Boundless Playground to commemorate the club?EUR??,,????'?????<

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

A boundless playscape is entirely barrier free. It is equally accessible to all children, regardless of age, or physical, cognitive, developmental or sensory disabilities. The idea behind a boundless playspace is to encourage children?EUR??,,????'?????<

At the time the Sunrise Boundless Playscape was designed, few other play areas in Kansas went beyond the minimal requirements of accessibility required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA guidelines for play areas require 50 percent of equipment to be accessible. In contrast, 70 percent of the Sunrise playscape is fully accessible to disabled children or adults.

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

Children can take a break from the ?EUR??,,????'?????<

When Wichita?EUR??,,????'?????<

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

The Galaxy line (Kompan) includes the Canopus space station, with three spinners and a suspended PlayShell for climbing. The Spinners let the kids decide the tempo of spinning by using their arms and legs to cling to the center for fast ride or lean back to slow it down.

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

The Sunrise Rotary Club?EUR??,,????'?????<

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

Building bermed ramps allowed disabled access, but also allowed amending the soil for better plant growth.

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

Finding a Home
The playground had to find a home in a park with plenty of open space, parking and inexpensive well water for irrigation. Wichita?EUR??,,????'?????<

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

The ramp design for the central play area is easily accessible by kids in wheelchairs. The colorful, poured-in-place rubberized surfacing (DuraPlay Safety Surfaces) helps delineate play areas.

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

Challenges
The park did pose some site design challenges. Located in an area where sand was once mined, the soil was extremely poor.

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

Shade?EUR??,,????'?????<

The lack of existing trees and inhospitable soil meant a variety of shade structures would be required to make the playground attractive as a summertime destination.

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

GLMV?EUR??,,????'?????<

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

This view looks toward the redbud grove on the south end of the site, which includes a winding path. McCluggage Van Sickle & Perry, the architectural firm that would evolve into GLMV Architecture, took on the playground project on a no-fee basis. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The gazebos, in addition to offering respite from the sun, have become meeting points for organizers of all types
of activities. During a recent daylong cleanup of the playground, Steffes was able to witness the area?EUR??,,????'?????< pattern first hand.

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

Sunrise Boundless Playscape is also used after sundown. Silhouette lighting was installed in the playground as a security measure, explains Mr. Steffes. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

One of the most complex design issues GLMV addressed was tied to the very essence of the playground: accessibility. The challenge was how to design a playscape that doesn?EUR??,,????'?????<

?EUR??,,????'?????< Mr. Steffes.

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

A second toddler area was substituted for a ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The solution to fully integrating children of all ability levels was accomplished with ramps and grade changes that are cleverly disguised. The ramps are so seamlessly incorporated into the overall design and flow of the play space that their utilitarian purpose is not immediately evident. The ramp design provides aesthetically appealing site line breaks. The ramp elevations also provide a windbreak, which is crucial in windy Kansas.

Making the playground so highly accessible was also achieved through selection of the playground elements, which focused on nontraditional and more interactive play, as opposed to traditional ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The playground equipment was much different than anything else the designers had been seeing at the time, notes Steffes. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Learning how to design using unfamiliar equipment required some on-the-job training. Steffes remembers showing up in a suit and tie to check on the installation of a piece of equipment. Seconds after climbing aboard, he found himself sprawled flat on his back on the ground.

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

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

The whimsical wind spinners were designed by landscape architect Stephen Perry. Perry did the master plan for the park, but retired before construction began.

Toddler Play
In addition to the main playground area, the 27,000 square foot Sunrise Boundless Playscape also features two toddler play areas: a swing area with traditional swings and those designed for disabled children, a sand play area and a sound garden complete with steel drums, a rain wheel and oversized marimba. The site also features a puppet house, an amphitheater and associated berm seating.

The entire playscape is built on a colorful rubberized surface, which at the time was a new material. Bright, light colors were integrated into a palette to delineate different play areas and make the playground a treat for the eyes, and help deflect as much of the Kansas heat as possible.

The Sound Garden and Shade Trees
The sound garden and its larger-than-life musical instruments were located along a path designed to wind through a stand of redbud trees native to the site, providing precious shade.

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

The Sound Garden (Grounds for Play) offers (from left) a Jamaican steel drum, a rain wheel, thunder drums, bongos and limbarimba.

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

Locating
The musical instruments were positioned distant from the main play area to keep the sounds from ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Sand Play
Steffes says this project has helped him learn a lot about how children play with sand. Sand has ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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

Financial Realities, Limited Funding
Decreasing county funding has affected the completed playground. County staff removed planting beds and mulched areas because of decrease staff maintenance hours.

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

A sensory garden area designed with live plants has been similarly altered because of lack of county resources.

The families who flock to the Sunrise Boundless Playscape appear to be more than pleased with GLMV?EUR??,,????'?????<

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

By turning a barren sunburned field into a bustling, whimsical destination where children of all abilities can share fun and recreation, GLMV Architecture and its partners brought the Sunrise Rotary Club?EUR??,,????'?????<

???????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR

About GLMV Architecture
GLMV Architecture, Inc. is a firm with a legacy dating from 1919. The firm provides all facets of architecture, landscape architecture, planning and interior design.

With a combined staff of 120, GLMV provides services nationwide from offices located in Kansas, Missouri and Texas. Licensed in nearly every state, the firm serves clients in health care, elderly care, government, corporations, industry, aviation, education and food service.

Long before sustainable projects were fashionable, GLMV was designing energy-saving facilities. GLMV has designed and certified projects to LEED standards, with silver, gold and platinum ratings. The goal of enhancing occupant comfort and health while reducing operating costs and environmental impact is the value-added solution GLMV provides its clients.

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

Project Team
Landscape Architect
Joseph Steffes, RLA, ASLA, LEED AP (Project Manager)
Stephen Perry, ASLA (Retired Principle)
General Contractor
Dondlinger & Sons Construction Co., Inc.
Playground Contractor
PG Playgrounds LLC
Playground Consultant
Boundless Playgrounds, Inc.
Owner Representative
Pat Gallagher, Chairwoman, Sunrise Rotary Club Playground Committee
Project Owner
Sedgwick County Park, Wichita
Photographer
All photos courtesy of Michael Bankston,
Michael Bankston Photography

Vendors
Playground Equipment
Big Toys, Inc.
Dynamo Industries Inc.
Grounds For Play
Kompan, Inc
Site Furnishings
Most Dependable Fountains, Inc.
Ameristar Fence Products, Inc.
J.R. Custom Metal Products Inc.
Hardscape
Alpenstein Retaining Wall System
DuraPlay Safety Surfaces, Inc.
Pavestone Company
Rockwood Retaining Walls, Inc.