Playgrounds can be amazing gathering places for people of all ages. Your environment can be a living, growing space where folks from the neighborhood can meet and children can safely play and learn about the natural world around them. A safe play structure is a wonderful start to your new environment, but the equipment you choose is only the beginning. The real Soul of the Playground comes from what you add to the space surrounding the play structure!

I’m listing a bunch of ideas that you can use to add Soul, as well as other resources to further inspire you. However, this is just a start to get you thinking. The best ideas will come from you! To begin, take a minute to sit back and think about your own childhood experiences. (These experiences can give you new ideas for additions to your playground.) Where was your favorite outdoor place to play? What was that environment like? What were the smells and sounds? What did you do there? Who was there with you? What did it look like and feel like and how did it change over the seasons? What sort of games did you play and what did you discover there? These are all very important questions. They are all about the place where you first interacted with the natural world. That place was your introduction to the environment and the community and the cycles of life. What do you remember?

Now think about how your new playground can bring in some of those same experiences for the children that will play there today. How can you add nature? Art? The change of the seasons? Sounds and smells? Places for older adults? Gardens? Local history? Your community is a one of a kind place — your play environment can be too!

Nature
So often the places that adults remember playing in are natural places, and not playgrounds at all. I’ve heard stories from adults about playing in creeks, under willow trees and even in huge dirt piles in vacant lots. You can easily bring in these deep play opportunities with elements of nature that are unique to your area. Think about plants that undergo dramatic changes during the seasons. When considering plants, also think about the “play value” the plants may have. “Play value” of plants refers to plants that create hiding spaces; drop fun play props such as leaves, nuts or seeds; allow safe climbing; or make sounds in the wind. Plants can also be wonderful for children with disabilities — many plants have interesting smells and textures. Strategically planted trees and shrubs can help create shady spots around your play environment, as well as cut down on wind or the noise of traffic. Plants can also attract birds and other wildlife. Think about the people in your community. Are there any folks with green thumbs? They could be a great resource when deciding what plants to choose and how to plant them. Another great resource is the book, Plants for Play by Robin Moore (listed at the end).

Trees
Plant different kinds of trees throughout your play space. Find out which trees grow best in your area. Some good playground trees are: Maples, Oaks, Weeping Willows, Pines, and fruit trees. Choose a variety for extra interest. Local nurseries may be willing to donate trees or deliver them for free. Other things to consider when selecting trees: What final height is best for your site? Which spot has sunlight and access to water? Where do you want shade? Are there underground utility lines that need to be avoided?

Herbs
Many herbs are extremely hardy and perfect to plant in play areas— they smell good and are safe to eat! Think about what fragrances you might want to add to the play space and where to plant them. It is also fun to include herbs that we use in food such as Oregano or Basil so children can see where they actually come from. Other good choices are Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint and Thyme. There are some varieties of herbs such as Creeping Thyme that grow nicely between stepping stones. When you walk on them, smells drift up to your nose!

Gardens
Community gardens are a great way to invite members of the community of all ages into the playground. You’d be amazed at the level of pride and friendship that develops in a community garden. If you have enough room, different sized plots can be divided for interested folks to plant their own vegetables and flowers. A lockable tool shed is a nice addition as well as benches and tables. If there is water on site, great! If not, people can bring it from home or you could set up rain-catching barrels and get water for free!

Hills
Earth mounds and grassy hills can be added to create imaginative landscapes. Shapes can be free-flowing and abstract or can represent animals such as a serpentine snake or the back of a turtle. All that is needed is a few loads of topsoil and grass. I like to use screened topsoil because it’s less chunky, but it needs lots of packing because it’s also rather fluffy. Either grass seed or sod can be used on top. Seed is cheaper, but takes more time until it’s ready to be walked on. Both need a lot of water in the beginning. Sod requires at least 2 weeks of daily watering to help it take root.

Art
Are there artists in your community who could be recruited to help? Sculpture, murals, windchimes, benches, tables, railings, garden gates, and stepping stones are just a few of the possibilities. For young artists, your project could be a great place to publicly show off their talents! These elements help add individuality and interest to your one of a kind playground.

Sound!
Sound elements can add a whole different layer to your playground. Windchimes can be hung in trees. ThunderDrums to pound on can be made from 55 gallon plastic barrels found at car washes (they hold the soap and car washes are happy to get rid of them). Turn them upside down and mount them to posts or a fence. Fists can be used to pound on them or mallets can be made from dowels with softballs or lacrosse balls fastened to the end. Be sure to secure the mallets to the drums with cable. Other sound ideas are Listening Cones made from traffic cones. Mount them to a fence and children can listen to the sounds of the surrounding area. Cow bells and other chimes can be hung in trees and shrubs. Talk Tubes can be made from lengths of PVC tubing with connectors and right-angle elbows. A child at one spot on the playground can whisper into the tube and a child on the other end can hear the words. The tubes could be mounted to a fence or sunk in the ground. Be sure to angle the ends down to keep rain out of the tubes.

Good luck with your playground planning and have fun thinking about how to add Soul to your environment. Remember: you are creating the childhood memories of the children who will be using your playground. Help make them warm, rich, diverse, safe, green, surprising, loving memories.

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