"We will conserve only what we love. We love only what we know. We know only what we are taught."
(Baba Dioum, former coordinator general for the Conference of West and Central African Ministers of Agriculture, in a speech to the General Assembly of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.)


Time spent outdoors is healthy for the mind, the body and is, for the community of West St. Paul, Minnesota, a way to learn about the important role pollinators play in our environment. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, pollinators are essential for survival. Without pollinators, the human race and all of earth's terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.
We need them for a variety of reasons - pollinating food sources, contributing to healthy soils and clean water and helping to maintain biodiversity are a few important examples. Teaching children, adults and entire communities about pollination through play is an incredible and meaningful way to create a culture of conservation and protection of what we need and love.

A Place to Learn While Playing
Owned and managed by Dakota County Parks, Thompson County Park underwent a series of updates in 2021 with the help of Aune Fernandez Landscape Architects (AFLA). The $2.29 million project included a new accessible playground that was intended to bring learning, adventure, awe, imagination, and movement to visitors while using the play space as a vessel to teach about pollinators.

Assisting Aune Fernandez Landscape Architects in the design of the playground were the team at BCI Burke, who provided the playground equipment, and Christopher Johnsen from St. Croix Recreation, a playground equipment consultant, the supplier of the playground surfacing, and the connection for the equipment manufacturer's involvement.
The fun yet, educational playground opened in the spring of 2022.

The Setting
Thompson Park is a 57-acre area that provides a quiet respite in the midst of the city. As a destination space, the park has everything anyone could want for a day outside - wooded trails, a lake, a picnic area, a four-season event center (the Dakota Lodge) and the beautiful, inclusive playspace that brings the pollination process to life and provides an exciting, intergenerational play experience for everyone who visits the park.

Walking along the park's trails, visitors can venture off to the River to River Greenway that goes to Kaposia Park in South St. Paul and to the Mississippi River Greenway.
Other improvements include a new dock, benches and lighting, and updated signage - both wayfinding and interpretive.

 

The Playspace
If there was one word to describe Thompson County Park's playspace, it would be extraordinary. If there was more than one word, ingenious, insightful, fun, and creative would be part of the description. Whatever we say about it, this park radiates creativity and will turn heads for years to come!

The playspace educates children on the importance of pollinators by using a variety of different forms such as themed play components, informational panels, and surfacing that feature honeybees, flowers and information along the pathways about pollination. In this way, the space fosters curiosity and conversation about this important biological issue.

Picnic tables are now closer to the playground, which better addresses sensory issues, are ramp-accessible and are protected by rubberized safety surfacing.

The Play Equipment
Within the play environment there are opportunities to climb on the majestic Nucleus Evolution Tower that overlooks the playspace beckoning children in for adventure and excitement as they take in the views within the park. The tower is designed to create an awe-inspiring experience that will keep children wanting to come back for more play.

Equipment variety brings something to the space for everyone and encourages children to try new activities within a place that is comfortable for them. Spinning, sliding, swinging, imaginative play, social play, and scavenger hunts that foster exploration and active play all combine to bring so many play opportunities for children of all ages, preferences, and abilities.

The Difference is in the Details
Flower petals that surround the spinners, marked pathways through the space that mimic pollinator routes, panels that provide play and education in a natural way, carefully chosen colors, purposeful elevation changes that enhance the play experience and nature-themed playground equipment are a few of the details that come together to make this space special.

Musical instruments that interact with the custom panels create a uniquely interactive play experience and allow children (and adults) of
all abilities to be part of the pollination process. The details in this playspace also include practical factors such as sightlines throughout the entire space so caregivers can allow for free play and movement and still watch and engage with the children.

Combining Hardcapes and Softscapes
The importance of combining hard and softscapes is apparent at Thompson County Park. Bringing nature into the space, trees and planters surround the play environment and provide the perfect complement to the club house-style playground. Besides introducing natural elements to the playspace, the mature trees provide much-appreciated shade.

Native plants, grasses and shrubs are planted around the space to add to the beauty of the area, promote creativity, enhance the feelings of awe and help prevent erosion. The finished play area with the natural plantings blends perfectly with the rest of the space creating a harmony within the park as a whole.

The Takeaway
According to Dakota County Parks, the updates are all part of a plan to "address needs due to increased use, expand programming and activity options and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act."
Education is key to understanding and understanding is key to conservation. Thompson County Park is a perfect example of bringing a combination of play and learning to communities and helping to create a better, more sustainable world through play design.

This space is ready to play!

TEAM LIST
Owner: Dakota County, Minnesota
Landscape Architect: Aune Fernandez
Landscape Architects (AFLA)
Playground Design:
Jason Aune, AFLA;
Christopher Johnsen, St. Croix Recreation;
BCI Burke Design Team
Playground Equipment: BCI Burke
Surfacing: St. Croix Recreation