Here’s the current project I’m working on at a wonderful Montessori school in Newport News, VA. Located in a business park, the current play area is on top of an asphalt parking lot. Well, let the transformations begin! When I visited earlier this year the kids and staff shared amazing ideas and visions for their new yards. Here they are incorporated into the Master Plan….
This is too cool! My montessori was right next to a forest and they would let us run around and build forts during recess…. guess you could say we built our own sustainable playground.
Nice Cass!! that is the ultimate play environment play opportunity. So glad those adults said “YES” to that! (my elementary school had a sweet little wild woodsy spot just outside the chainlink fence (with an open gate) and the adults said “NO”. big rule. you’d get in trouble if you crept into that natural space to have a look around. how sad and lame is that?) thankfully more schools are starting to rethink all this stuff and take advantage of what your school already knew was an asset and opportunity for play and discovery and learning. those forgotten wild woodsy spots are all over the place on the edges of school grounds….
looking for ideas for a toddler natural playscape. We also are building over asphalt. I appreciate your ideas.
toddler areas are fun. over asphalt: any way to rip it up first? are you adding dirt over top like this montessori school did?