Natural Outdoor Playspaces for Children

50 gallon drums have been cut in half and fitted with sturdy wood legs to create child-friendly 'boom drums'!  The patinaed copper finish makes them as beautiful as they are fun!

This spectacular living willow hut provides a peaceful, cloistered space for small groups of children to engage in quiet play.  Fashioned by renowned local willow artist Howard Peller, the hut is more than able to withstand cold Ohio winters.

Dramatic hibiscus flowers and soft switch grass wreath a natural creekbed water feature at a central Ohio early childhood center.

Attractive, weather-resistant signs situated in lush beds display short readings from popular children's books at this poetry garden at a municipal library.

A salvaged stainless steel sink has been set into this custom-designed outdoor play kitchen for young children. With the help of the recirculating water container under the sink, the children can wash fruits and vegetables that they pick from their adjacent farm garden.

One of the school staff members pulled this canoe out of a dumpster!  A favorite pretend play spot for the children, it also brings a sense of place to this seasonal river pebble rain garden.

A slide and wood observation deck, complete with a 'swinging bridge' and steering wheels, offer large motor play opportunities for children of all abilities in a beautiful natural setting.

Hardy, colorful native perennials (including beebalm and cup plant) absorb runoff from a handicapped parking area at this central Ohio library.

This large farm garden, complete with raised beds of vegetables, fruits and flowers, is surrounded with colorful native plants that ensure good pollination.

Fashioned with wood siding and beams from a salvaged historic Ohio barn, this charming potting shed is outfitted inside with carefully-chosen materials that encourage creative play.

Natural stone slabs and boulders have been placed in a bed of smooth river pebbles to create the experience of rushing water at this early childhood school.  Although the waterfall creates a good spill of water and a rush of sound, there is less than 1/2" of standing water in the bed of pebbles, ensuring safe play experiences for the children.

An attractive wood pavilion in this farm garden offers a shady spot for the teachers and children to do art activities with natural materials and enjoy simple snacks that they've prepared with fruits and vegetables from their garden. 

These large galvanized troughs have been planted with a variety of plants that engage all of a child's senses. They're a great height for children using walkers or wheelchairs to also be able to experience the textures and scents of the plants. 

Artwork is always a wonderful addition to any children’s garden! This sculpture of a baby monkey was created on site from salvaged sugar maple by artist Adam Bradley. Part of a group of sculptures created by Adam scattered throughout the garden of a mother monkey and her children, it symbolized the matriarchal makeup of the school.