Project Play at Mahany Park
Acting as the prime design consultant in a Design / Build team - site planning, design development, and contract documents were provided for this one acre portion of Mahany Community Park. This park is the first fully accessible park for the City of Roseville and careful consideration was given to designing elements for all abilities and ages. Land Architecture, Inc worked closely with Valley Crest Landscape Development and the City of Roseville to develop a park that allows for play through four senses: touch, smell, sight, and sound.
The park includes three water play elements, a sand play area, a sensory garden, and a sensory log with sound. The play apparatus are split into the ladybug area for children under two and the butterfly area for ages 2 to 5. The apparatus for the 2 to 5 area is fully wheelchair accessible with several activity panels. Both areas are protected by the sun with shade fabric in the shape of their namesake insect. The sensory garden has plants to smell and have interesting textures to touch. Interspersed through the plants are buttons that play nature sounds. The sensory log is wheelchair accessible and has textures to explore with your hands and sounds to listen to. The main water feature is the water fountain finger park from which the water runs down the dry creek bed under a bridge and into the landscape. The resilient surfacing has colorful butterflies and flowers to complete the insect and nature theme.
Phase 2 has been designed for children 5 to 12 years of age and includes a large tree house play structure, fully accessible to all children, a swing set and space climbing net. The equipment is more challenging but allows every child to explore at their own pace.
Project Play at Mahany Park was honored by the California Parks and Recreation Society with the Award of Excellence in Facility Design – Specialty Park Design at it's 2010 annual conference as well as the District 2 Award of Excellence for 2010.