Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The Dunham School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana looks beyond academics to help children in their community grow! Elementary school students are encouraged to develop their physical, sensory, and social skills through their daring new playground, Tiger Town.
Designed by Pelican Playgrounds, Tiger Town is full of opportunities for students to come together, whether it’s through the main play structure with its challenging climbs and adventurous slides, or through nearby freestanding equipment such as Quatro Seesaw, a PlayCubes® climber, a spinning rope climber, or a custom tiger climber.
The playground also features Quito—a 15.54’ freestanding net climber named for Ecuador’s capital, the closest capital city to the equator and the second highest in the world. Here, kids can traverse through 3-levels of climbing ropes, strengthen their bonds with one another by hanging out in multiple cozy spaces, or experience an adrenaline rush as they slide down the attached Mighty Descent.
In addition to helping kids burn energy and develop their physical skills, play provides benefits in the classroom by improving focus, inspiring creativity, and increasing lesson retention. As generations of students gather to explore this innovative play space, they’ll be better prepared and empowered to unite as a community in the future.
Odenton, Maryland
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Odenton, Maryland
Created by Playground Specialists, Piney Orchard Playground provides a distinct play experience for residents of all ages in Odenton, Maryland!
From the red top of SkyTowers® to the blue and purple Climbing Squares, the main structure of this playground creates an eye-catching rainbow that moves across the entire space. Yellow and green steel climbers can be found throughout the middle of the structure, challenging kids’ strength and coordination in a multitude of ways. Rainbow slides are also located throughout, with a towering tube slide for daring climbers as well as shorter slides for younger children.
The rainbow motif continues throughout the space in the form of a multi-colored PlayCubes® structure, a striking orange and green Unity® Teeter Tunnel®, and blue and purple Unity® Steppers. Pops of color can also be found at the PlayTown™ Garden Sensory Walls, where kids can engage with thought-provoking inserts, and at the swings, where kids can enjoy a unique vestibular experience together via Hoopla Swing.
At the end of a day here, kids may not find gold—but they’ll certainly leave with friendships and memories to be treasured for years to come.
West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
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West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Hickory, NC
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Hickory, NC
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Kansas City, MO
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Kansas City, MO
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Bel Air, MD
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Bel Air, MD
This brand new apartment complex packed a whole lot of play into a small footprint—an investment that will continue to add value and attract new families in the future. It’s the perfect spot for kids of all ages to unite in play.
Windom, Minnesota
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Windom, Minnesota
West Dennis, MA
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West Dennis, MA
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Kent, Washington
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Kent, Washington
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
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Windsor, Ontario, Canada
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Each year, the city of Windsor selects a few local playgrounds to be refreshed with the goal of putting great play destinations within reach of every family. While the playground at Walker Homesite Park might be small, it’s a wildly popular place for families, especially those taking advantage of the surrounding baseball diamonds.
Before the city expanded more than 40 years ago, this area was occupied primarily by farmland. To honor that local history, the city selected a farm-themed destination playground. In accordance with requirements for separate play areas for kids ages 5 to 12 and 12 months to 5 years, two separate play structures with custom panels were created. The 5-12 structure was designed to look like a tractor parked next to a silo. A doublewide ramp provides enhanced access so kids with mobility devices can climb on board. The early childhood structure off to the side provides just enough challenge for little ones and utilizes custom panels and a roof to take on the appearance of a barn. Even the poured-in-place surfacing has been customized with tire track marks leading from the tractor.
At the other end of the play space is an area just for swinging, which includes the multi-user Hoopla Swing. The addition of a freestanding Cozy Cocoon finishes off the playground, giving kids a quiet place to retreat to or spin the day away and dream of simpler times.
For Augusta Evans School in Mobile, Alabama, the new school building was a welcome update. But with limited budget, the project did not include a playground. Teachers and administrators knew they had to fill the gap.
Augusta Evans School is specialized—serving only kids with cognitive and physical disabilities. Children with special needs are more prone to obesity and diabetes. And children with ADHD and/or autism need outlets for excess energy. The benefits of play were not optional here.
So, fundraising began. Volunteers hosted golf outings, sold bricks, and reconditioned Mardi Gras beads for resale. Principal Allen Baggett launched a speaking tour of local organizations, barbecues, biker clubs—anywhere people were standing still. And people responded, including a major donation from the Rotary Club of Mobile.
Then came the next challenge: finding the right partner to build a playground for kids with special needs.
Principal Baggett researched all the options locally, regionally, and nationally. He talked to lots of people. Then he chose Playworld. “I needed someone who specialized in play,” he says. “This playground
needed to be great.”
Baggett worked with Warren Schlender, Playworld rep in Marietta, Georgia. “Warren came to see the school and meet the kids,” Bagget says. “He got a sense for what we needed, and gave us ideas, options, and a plan.”
The result is lots of fun and exercise for the kids, and lots of specialized features to accommodate diverse abilities. In fact, the playground is A–rated for inclusivity, thanks to a full range of activities, challenge levels, cozy spaces (for sensory relief), transfer stations, and wheelchair access.
Principal Baggett highlights other features, too, including the surface material. “A lot of our kids have challenges with getting around. Between that and potential falls, I like knowing our kids are safe.”
The NEOS® 360°—an electronic challenge game with lights and touch pads—is a center of attention, prompting lots of friendly competition. “It wears them out,” Baggett says. “It wears me out!”
The playground gets rave reviews from students and teachers alike. It’s helped everyone make the emotional transition to the new school, and it helps the kids focus in class—so they can get back outside for more recess.
It took a lot of hard work to bring the power of play to the Augusta Evans kids. But considering the physical, emotional, and social benefits, we’d say it was well worth the effort.
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