Photo Credit: landscape Structures, Inc.
Today’s youth are far more sedentary than previous generations due to multi-channel television, gaming systems, and digital devices that discourage children from going outside to explore, run, and play. A recent United Nations study reported that 94 percent of a child’s day is spent indoors with 8 hours watching some type of screen.
While many playgrounds are designed with good intentions, they often lack the environment to keep children and adults interested. In 2013, the city of Elk River, Minn., set out to change this. In June, the first “destination playground” opened with a theme design as well as unique and iconic features that appeal to a broad range of users, including children with disabilities.
The Orono Park playground began with a reference to the city’s brand—Powered by Nature. In community-interest surveys, residents frequently cited their passion for the outdoors—hunting, fishing, walking/biking, and the many natural and man-made amenities as a draw to Elk River. The city’s park designer worked to incorporate this strength into a destination play system to further enhance the Powered by Nature attitude.