Reply To: Designing Natural Play Spaces for Children

[Jeffrey Lindstrom]

Wow! Bye is one of those designers that I really wish people knew more about. And so appropriate for this conversation as well. Talk about a guy who really understands the value of wild and natural spaces. I always loved how his goal was to make a space seem as if it wasn’t designed at all and views the L.A.’s role as more of a behind the scenes facilitator between nature and people.

Going off of that idea, that is more of what I was talking about when I mentioned spaces that are designed. Perhaps I should have used the term “over-designed”. Central Park and Prospect Park are perfect examples of what we need more of – natural spaces that just seem like they belong. 

So I guess this conversation shifted a little bit from what I originally intended. I was initially thinking more about alternatives to traditional playgrounds that we see in schools, child care facilities, and parks which is why I referred to those projects. I think that intentional programming can be of great value when we think about the cognitive development of children and “whole-child development” in these spaces, especially as we present the argument that the outdoors are the best classrooms, and at the very least, an extension of the classroom.

I agree 100% with you, there is no place as rich as wild space and I wish we could just let children go. I too grew up exploring everything myself… outside all the time for every minute my parents would allow. I was usually up in a tree, down in a creek, or riding my bike everywhere I could. While I absolutely love my job and what I do, it would be great if we didn’t have to exist and these conversations didn’t have to happen – if every child still had that natural desire to just explore. Unfortunately, there is a huge disconnect now and Landscape Architects seems to be the most suited to take on the challenge to reestablish that relationship

This conversation reminds me of a quote I heard a while back:

“Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them. A few trickle through the system with their wonder and enthusiasm for science intact.” —Carl Sagan

Actual scientists? Maybe not. But I do think that we stop encouraging them to explore, wonder, and connect to nature…