Lower Onslow goes natural

Children will be able to craft their own adventures

Kids at the Lower Onslow Preschool will have plenty to do when their new and unique “natural” playground is complete.

Work on the Lower Onslow Play Space has begun, and once finished, children will be able to play in a completely natural environment driven by their imagination and creativity.

“The idea is that it’s not your traditional playground with swings and slides, but that it’s natural,” said Jennifer McKay, president of the Lower Onslow Community Centre, where the park and preschool are located.

“It encourages kids to use their imagination more and be more creative. Sure there are ropes and a slide, but there is also mud, climbing rocks and other natural materials. It is unique in that way.”

The park, designed by Cobequid Trail Consulting, will feature a mud kitchen and water wall for kids to create mud and sand sculptures, a climbing hill complete with climbing rocks and a slide, and a feature they call the ‘Tidal Bore,’ which will be a hole with ropes crossing it, simulating the crossing of a river.

Choosing a natural playground over a more traditional playground will hopefully allow the kids to not only experience the best of nature, but also open them up creatively.

“They can use their imagination to utilize the playground in any way they want,” said McKay.

“There will be a cave we call the bear cave, and not every kid will use it the same way. It all depends on their imagination. We’re too structured now with how we get

kids to play, so this promotes a more open, imaginative way to do that.”

The play space will be fully accessible, meaning anyone both young and old can enjoy the space safely and conveniently. It will also be completely enclosed, and will feature a designated sitting area for parents or guardians to watch over the park.

McKay said it would also follow all safety rules and regulations for standard playgrounds, as safety and accessibility are their main focus.

“You aren't jumping off cliffs or anything, you are just enjoying a natural, safe space,” she said.

Ground for the playground behind the centre, and the project is planned to wrap up sometime in the fall. The full cost of the project is around which $60,000,they obtained through fundraising, country and provincial grants, and generous donations from the community themselves.