Nature Play Areas

Pioneer Park is one of several THPRD sites that uses natural elements to encourage unstructured and imaginative play.

Several studies show that nature play contributes to the intellectual, physical and emotional development of young people. THPRD is committed to investing resources into projects that yield opportunities for young people to connect with nature at an early age.

“Nature play areas are more open and inviting spaces for children to freely play,” says local naturalist Michael Barton. “These areas require children to actively move their bodies, utilize their often latent imaginations, interact with other children in meaningful ways, and connect to the environment surrounding them.”

The Natural Learning Initiative lists the following benefits to nature play.

Supports creativity and problem solving
Enhances cognitive abilities
Improves academic performance
Reduces Attention Deficit Disorder symptoms
Increases physical activity
Improves nutrition
Improves eyesight
Improves social relations
Improves self-discipline
Reduces stress

Before it was part of the district’s vision, natural play became a priority for Natural Resources as a means to protect natural areas.

“We used to stop kids from playing in the woods, and we thought that was sad,” said Bruce Barbarasch, Superintendent of Natural Resources. “A lot of kids – even grownups – benefit from doing creative things and discovering on their own. So we took a Dutch approach. We said let’s create some areas where kids can do this without damaging our higher quality natural areas.”

The district’s first designed nature play area was at Hyland Woods Natural Area, where off-trail activity was damaging wildlife habitat.

“We realized that if we gave everyone a place to go and do their thing, everybody wins,” Barbarasch said. “We refined the trail system, focused off-trail use in one place, and provided a place for kids to enjoy.”

When the district opened Cooper Mountain Nature Park, project partner Metro was interested in adding nature play. The result is a much more structured area than at Hyland Woods.

“It has traditional play equipment, a sand pit, a gravel area, some boulders, a hill with trees and a slide,” Barbarasch said. “There are also flowers. If kids pick them, we say ‘great!’ ”

Now, he added, the district takes an opportunistic approach to nature play.

“If we’re developing a site, we’ll ask if it makes sense to have nature play there,” he said. “Informally, I envision one off-trail area and one structured play area in each quadrant. We need to develop the program slowly over time so we don’t end up with sites that don’t work. We want to learn from what we’re doing.”