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<br /> Park Planner ,. ' ,d
<br /> BY MICHAEL HECKER `
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<br /> Des gning.a playground with user input
<br /> T oday's youth are far more sedentary than previous feedback on which pieces they liked best.After decades of
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<br /> generations due to multi-channel television,gaming building small neighborhood parks with limited recreational
<br /> systems,and digital devices that discourage children amenities,as recent strategy is to build fewer,but larger,
<br /> from going outside to explore,run,and play.A recent United multipurpose play areas,where children and adults are able
<br /> Nations study reported that 94 percent of a child's day is to interact more closely.
<br /> spent indoors with 8 hours watching some type
<br /> of screen.
<br /> While many playgrounds are designed
<br /> with good intentions,they often lack the !
<br /> environment to keep children and adults - � , , '„:„'`,•1":74,,,,••:1-,r-WA., ,"
<br /> interested.In 2013,the city of Elk River, �1 , ., .° x
<br /> Minn.,set out to change this. In June,the first .;Y ,- 1 =,,t M * ,, �
<br /> "destination playground"opened with a theme
<br /> design as well as unique and iconic features
<br /> that appeal to a broad range of users,including `
<br /> children with disabilities. `-ti E .
<br /> The Orono Park playground began with –»
<br /> a reference to the city's brand—Powered !)
<br /> by Nature. In community-interest surveys, w !..n. tt�',f
<br /> residents frequently cited their passion for the 1 t ! !,J 1,
<br /> outdoors hunting,fishing,walking/biking, �'
<br /> an d the many natural and man-made amenities '.. 4` -
<br /> as a draw to Elk River.The city's park designer
<br /> worked to incorporate this strength into a - .
<br /> destination play system to further enhance the
<br /> Powered by Nature attitude.
<br /> The Nature Of The Playground Rather than relying solely on a catalog from which a
<br /> The public process to decide the final playground few adults choose the amenities,or on ideas based on what
<br /> design included input from school children who visited other adults think might be fun,successful playground planning
<br /> play areas to experience the different features and provide occurs when children are allowed to participate in the design
<br /> Top Photo:Landscape Structures,Inc./Other Photos:Courtesy of Elk River Parks and Recreation PRB www.parksaztdrecbusiness.com
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