Thursday, June 5, 2008

Children’s Play Area

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Blasko residence

Children's Play Area

Basically, we want a kids' entertainment area that is as pleasing to look at as it is functional. Our thought was to sink the trampoline and build a custom playset, and then landscape everything and create a perimeter to make it feel more like a secret garden nook on our property. Last year, we found that the adults gathered in this area with Adirondack chairs and drinks to watch the kids on the trampoline and the swings. It gets pretty hot in full sun, so we want to add some smaller shade trees, such as crepes or Japanese maples, as well as some evergreen. Perennials and shrubbery should stay neat and nothing should be prickly to bare feet. We thought about using burms for privacy and definition of the area. We want more screening evergreens, like skip laurel or ligustrum, along the back perimeter. The willows are a focal point, so I would not want to block them from the view. We are also interested in using an artificial turf in this area so that the landscapers don't have to maintain around the kids equipment, and the ground stays soft and green. We would like some landscape lighting and water source, maybe a small fountain. This also might be a good area to do a few kid oriented plants, such as elephant ears, sunflowers, herbs or tomatoes.

  1. Make the addition of children's equipment into an asset to the property rather than a detraction.
  2. Create a safe and inviting area for children by using several concepts
    1. Sunken trampoline
    2. Safe climbing structure play house below, fort above

    4. Mini patio or stage in front of lower playhouse.
    5. Three swings with bridge overhead and maybe a trellis for annual flowers
    6. Rope net (Barbara butler)climbing ladder
    7. Rock wall
    8. Slide, maybe 2, (one curved tunnel, one straight)
    9. Sandbox
    10. Water supply, maybe fountain
    11. Artificial turf soft falling surface
    12. Mosaic details, not as big as this
    13. Mini kids'garden
    14. Seating area for adults
    15. Details everywhere to make it special
    16. Charming landscape
    17. Low maintenance plants, but some color and shade,--nothing prickly—bare feet
    18. Lighting

Below are some photos of landscapes I have collected for reference.

We like some aspects of a planned landscape, but for it to maintain a more natural feel.