Nature playground enlivens École Laura Secord

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/09/2020 (2076 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The breadth of work of a landscape architect ranges from community parks and garden, to large-scale developments and more. Beautiful public and private spaces in each neighbourhood, such as École Laura Secord Nature Playground, were designed by Landscape Architects.

The community-driven initiative called Our Backyard is in its second and largest expansion phase. The vision for the space was to develop the playground into an extension of the Wolseley neighbourhood backyard in honour of the late Harry Venema. Little Bluestem Landscape Architecture + Design used principles of land-based education to create a place usable for play and learning in all seasons. The natural materials were arranged throughout the space to encourage physical literacy with plenty of opportunities to climb, balance and take risks.

Little Bluestem guided stakeholder engagement meetings with the Laura Secord parent council to determine the items of importance and the best direction for the community space and budget. The project’s goals were to introduce diversity, different levels of activity and quiet zones within the space. The design included accessible pathways, plantings and small gathering areas with picnic tables, benches and art tables.

Little Bluestem introduced native plants, shade trees and an aspen grove to increase biodiversity, help with carbon sequestration and provide much-needed shade on the school grounds.

There are also many fun elements strategically placed throughout the site to create a fun and active space, including a berm, music circle, canoe and climbing adventure area and plenty of boulders and logs.

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Did you know September is Landscape Architecture Month in Manitoba? Every year, the Manitoba Association of Landscape Architects compiles a growing list of events around Winnipeg to celebrate Landscape Architecture in the province.
For more information on events happening around Winnipeg in September please visit www.mala.net

Be sure to follow MALA on Instagram @mala.landscape.architects and on Twitter @mala_net.
Join the conversation by posting your own pictures of your favourite outdoor spaces with the hashtag #MBLAmonth to learn more about what landscape architects do.

— courtesy of Manitoba Association of Landscape Architects