Presentation at the Library Tonight

Read a full account of the circumstances leading to tonights presentation:


http://barrington.patch.com/articles/snafu-puts-playground-nod-on-hold

Thanks again for your support.

A “Playscape” in Every Yard

Tony Malkusak is a landscape architect in Iowa City, Iowa, and he’s on a mission. He’s trying to create a model that can stamp out a fun, vibrant “playscape” – i.e. a nature-based landscape made for play – in every yard. Check it out!


http://playborhood.com/2011/09/a-playscape-in-every-yard/

Please Share the Flyer

Here's the Flyer for Thursdays meeting. Could you print out and share with your neighbors?

Thanks for your help......

The New Brochure

 Here's our updated brochure for the September 22nd meeting.
Please drop me a line if you would like a printed version to share with neighbors and friends.
Kudos to Luisa for the soundtrack........

Thank You Patch #2

Did you see this weeks article in the Barrington Patch? 

http://barrington.patch.com/articles/latham-park-playground-gets-nod

The Parks and Recreation Committee met last Thursday and approved a proposal for a conventional play structure at Latham Park. Bill Rupp from the Barrington Patch was the first to notify us of this decision.  It seems that the committee had neglected to notify us of the rescheduled meeting.

In recognition of their oversight they have invited us to present our concept for a Natural Playground at their next meeting. The meeting will take place on Thursday September 22nd. at 7.00pm in the Library Board Room. The meeting will take 10 minutes, after which the committee and audience can ask questions and share their support. Your input on that evening will be incredibly valuable. Many of those supporting the "traditional" play structure have been lead to believe that the "Natural Play"  concept would divert funds from erosion abatement and park landscaping.

Our task is to explain that the playground design will be a modest, privately funded,  community lead initiative.

Kids, Play and Risk

Dear advocates for play -  

The Providence Children's Museum is excited to partner with KaBOOM! to present a community conversation on Tuesday Oct. 4.  Please come!  And please spread the word....

http://childrenmuseum.org/communityevents.asp

Hope to see you then to swap ideas, outrage and inspiration.

Thanks Patch!

Bill Rupp, editor of the Barrington Patch was kind enough to write an article on the Natural Playground. It's a very informative piece that helps distinguish the playground from the 

more substantial master plan and park renovations.

For those who have not read Patch yet, it's a new way to find out about, and participate in, what’s going on around town. Take a look at the Barrington Patch at:

http://barrington.patch.com/articles/natural-play-area-seen-at-latham-park

Thanks for your input!

Thanks to everyone who came to the Community Center last Saturday to discuss our natural playground proposals. It was a nice opportunity to reconnect with many of our neighbors, and we appreciated the chance to hear your thoughts and concerns for the Future of Latham Park. We hope that the day will lead to further dialogue with our neighbors, particularly in advance of our upcoming presentation to the Parks and Recreation Committee at 7.00pm on July 28th. Please share the date with your neighbors and join us that night if you can.

Meanwhile, add your thoughts to the dialogue - what do you think of a natural playground at Latham? Please comment here.......

New Plan ready for Community.

We are currently putting the finishing touches to a new colored plan. You can see the new plan at the community center on Saturday. 

See you there!

A Vision for Latham Park

Our design proposes a sheltered area for the youngest children contains sand for digging, low-embedded tree stumps for balancing, and logs to crawl through. A sloping section nearby provides the perfect place for a slide embedded in the hillside as well as seating areas for parents and caregivers gather to chat and keep an eye on the little ones.
 For the older kids who need more independent play, there is a shallow rock-lined stream

bed that they can fill with water by working a hand pump. They can build dams and

small falls and float “Pooh sticks” under the low bridge. And when they tire of keeping

their stream filled, the water will seep into the ground until the next time.

Multi-leveled landscaping creates small hills that, combined with the expansive field,

invite running, rolling and pretend play for all ages. Natural objects, like shells, stones

and sticks gathered from the beach and logs and embedded boulders, are the toys. Trees

and shrubs minimize the effects of the prevailing winds and create more places for play.

As we continue our discussion about children’s play, it is important to remind ourselves

that manufactured play ground equipment was designed mimic the climbing, balancing,

and coordination skills that children have developed in nature throughout history. Why

not simply give them the real thing?

States Adopt Children’s Outdoor Bills of Rights

States Adopt Children’s Outdoor Bills of Rights