How West Chicago Park District created an indoor jungle adventure
By Ashleigh Torbert
When the West Chicago Park District opened the ARC Center in 2014, the goal was simple yet ambitious: to bring all the city’s recreation services under one roof and to create a true community hub for residents of all ages.
Central to that mission was a 3,500-square-foot indoor playground designed for children from birth to eight years old.
It didn’t take long for the playground to become the heart of the facility, a beloved space where imaginations soared, families gathered, and memories were made.
Recognizing The Need For Transformation
After nearly a decade of use, the original playground began to show signs of wear. Manufactured overseas, it faced serious challenges: no available replacement parts, no maintenance support, and a failure to meet ASTM safety standards. When the manufacturer ceased operations entirely, the West Chicago Park District knew it was time for a new plan.
Determined to go beyond a mere replacement, district leaders envisioned an unforgettable experience that would captivate visitors of all ages. They sought a partner that could bring this vision to life.
Mission Accepted
The West Chicago Park District turned to Wacky World Studios, a PlayCore company specializing in high-quality themed indoor playgrounds, to reimagine what the space could be. With over 25 years of expertise, Wacky World Studios embraced the challenge of transforming the aging play area into an immersive jungle adventure. The result? A revolutionary, immersive environment—an indoor jungle adventure that delights, excites, and inspires everyone who enters.
“Honestly, where I think it came from was my first job in Parks & Recreation in Chicago. I worked for a gentleman who grew up with the Disney philosophy. And I kind of developed that mentality of every outdoor park, indoor place is something in and of itself,” says Gary Major with the West Chicago Park District.
A New Kind Of Play Space
“I was thinking about telling a story when we were looking at the overall floor design in this space. I wanted to tell the story from the moment you walk in the door. The story of this feature is about a family that’s shipwrecked on an island. You see the shipwreck as a check-in desk as soon as you walk in. And it's sitting right on the beach. And you'll notice the floor design and the front of the building has a little water area,” says Steven Walker, the Art Director at Wacky World Studios.
The space and all the details that the designers incorporated set the scene, but the children take the story into their own hands as they explore and play in the space.
From the outset, the team set ambitious goals:
- Create a legacy project that honors the vision of the district’s leadership.
- Build an inclusive space that welcomes children and adults of all abilities.
- Incorporate cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling.
- Refresh an aging play space while driving new revenue and programming opportunities.
Every design decision centered around creating a space that would spark wonder while also meeting practical needs like improved traffic flow, visitor storage, and caregiver seating. During the planning and research phase, Wacky World Studios’ designers engineered the equipment to achieve the project’s goals. The planned design called for the following:
- Steel for the infrastructure
- Sculpted foam outer structure with a polyurethane coating
- Designs to meet ASTM guidelines
- Five digital projectors to create a life-like waterfall and river scene
- Plenty of fun and exciting surprises for users to discover while at play
- A story that inspired children to continue with their version of the narrative.
Stepping Into The Adventure
From the moment one steps inside TreeTop Escape, the outside world is left behind, and a deserted jungle island invites imagination and adventurous play. Elaborate, hand-painted digital wall coverings create a seamless, 360-degree environment. Tigers and orangutans climb through the trees. A shimmering waterfall cascades down a rock face.
The floor becomes part of the adventure: a projected river flows through the play area, reacting dynamically as children run and play across it. Slides, climbing structures, and musical elements invite endless exploration.
The centerpiece of the space is a 26-foot-tall, three-dimensional tree, the largest indoor tree Wacky World Studios has ever built. From its trunk rises a multi-story treehouse with bridges, stairs, and lookout points that offer endless opportunities for climbing, crawling, and imaginative play.
The shipwreck, designed as the check-in desk, hints at the backstory behind the space, encouraging children to imagine themselves as shipwreck survivors.
“With TreeTop Escape, even the walls are covered with murals, so you're immersed in an environment. So, it's not just a playground, it's a whole new world that you're in,” says Gina Radun, Executive Director of the West Chicago Park District.
Fully Immersive Experience
Inside the 3,500 square-foot indoor playground area, Wacky World Studios created a fully immersive family experience featuring:
- 360-degree immersive wall coverings
- Animated one-story waterfall
- Animated interactive flooring
- 26-foot-tall, three-dimensional tree
- Multi-story treehouse
- Multi-story slides
- Integrated visitor storage lockers
- Integrated caregiver sitting area
- Integrated themed check-in desk.
Innovation Meets Inclusivity
One of the guiding principles behind TreeTop Escape was to ensure the space would be accessible and inclusive for all visitors. Special attention was given to multi-generational engagement, with integrated seating areas for caregivers and wide-open spaces to accommodate children and adults of varying abilities.
Safety was another critical priority and goal for the playground. The new playground aligns with all applicable ASTM standards, utilizing steel infrastructure, sculpted-foam outer structures with durable polyurethane coatings, and thoughtful layout planning to promote safe, adventurous play.
State-of-the-art technology, including five digital projectors, brings the space to life in a way that traditional playgrounds can't match, creating interactive features that grow and evolve with visitor engagement.
“We create these places where people can come and be in a world that's so much different than everyday worlds,” says Tom Norquist with PlayCore. “And that's important not just for our physical health from a movement perspective but for our emotional and mental health as well.”
Transformative Results And Community Impact
TreeTop Escape exceeded the client’s every expectation. Families now make reservations weeks in advance to secure birthday parties and special event slots. Children beg to return, and parents find a welcoming, comfortable environment.
Above all, every child who encounters TreeTop Escape has the same reaction when they arrive—their mouths drop open, their eyes get wide, and they all utter the same word, “Wow!”
The benefits of the investment extend far beyond the walls of the park district. Studies show that every dollar invested in childhood physical recreation yields seven dollars in long-term benefits, from better health outcomes to improved academic performance and reduced healthcare costs. One dollar invested in programming and resources for children equals $7 in long-term benefits. Children who have physical activity for 25 minutes three days a week produce $4,000 annual savings in medical and loss-of-productivity expenses.
"We were nervous to renovate a space so beloved," says Radun. "The new experience Wacky World Studios created was beyond our imagination. In addition to the state-of-the-art play structure, the 360-degree wall coverings, three-dimensional theming, and projection animations transformed the space into more than just a playground; it is an experience all our visitors enjoy and utilize."
A Lasting Legacy And Model For Future Projects
TreeTop Escape stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when a bold vision meets creative expertise. The project shows how parks and recreation departments can partner with specialized design studios like Wacky World Studios to create transformative spaces that go far beyond traditional expectations.
The West Chicago Park District didn’t just renovate a playground. They redefined what indoor recreation can be, a place where stories come to life, where imaginations run wild, and where the spirit of adventure is alive.
And for every family who steps into TreeTop Escape, the magic is just beginning.
Ashleigh Torbert has a passion for creativity and communication that fuels her approach to every writing project. She loves all things play and fitness as well as creative projects.