Move on for natural playground at Ellenwood Park
Survey supports change
Natural surroundings could soon branch into the playground at Ellenwood Provincial Park in Yarmouth County.
Community members have been talking about the state of Ellenwood’s playground for years, says Yarmouth Recreation’s active living co-ordinator, Jillian Griffin.
“Even some folks working within the park recognize the best years of the playground structure have come and gone,” she said.
“We’re fast approaching the point where regular maintenance will not be enough to keep the structure safe to play on.”
She adds the playground has been well used over the years and the community is telling Yarmouth Recreation and the Department of Natural Resources it’s time for something new.
That “something new” is a natural playground.
These are designed to showcase natural things in the environment that children can play on safely.
Stakeholders have indicated that when looking to replace the playground at this location, it makes a lot of sense to use and highlight as many natural pieces as possible.
Last December, Yarmouth Recreation held a public survey asking the community if they support the development of a natural playground at Ellenwood Park.
There were 110 responses: 92 per cent of the respondents said they supported a natural playground at Ellenwood.
Eight per cent indicated they would need more information. No one was against the idea.
The survey showed at least 20 people expressed interest in being involved in the planning, design or fundraising aspects of the project and an additional 24 people wrote a short letter to the Department of Natural Resources telling them why they think a natural playground would be beneficial to the community.
The big difference between natural playgrounds and traditional playgrounds, says Griffin, is the use of features like logs, stumps, boulders, hills and grass instead of plastic or metal, wherever possible.
It’s common for natural playgrounds to include aspects of traditional playgrounds like swings, slides and music walls as well.
A music wall is hung with household items, percussive instruments ( or pieces of former instruments) or anything that would make a pleasing or interesting sound when rubbed, struck or plucked.
The cost of the project will This natural playground installed in Halifax in September 2017 provides an idea of what the structures could look like. The elements are normally unique and specific to the environment they are installed in. ultimately depend on the community’s vision, along with resources that can be secured.
“The next step will be to bring everyone together who’s interested in the project and support them to develop their action plan to move this project forward,” said Griffin. This natural playground installed in Halifax in September 2017 provides an idea of what the structures could look like. The elements are normally unique and specific to the environment they are installed in.