Latest news with #naturalplayground
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Natural playground set to open at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Rockford
A new natural playground featuring wooden structures and interactive landscapes is scheduled to open soon at the Nancy Olson Children's Garden. The Forest Preserves of Winnebago County and Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden are set to celebrate the completion of the playground with a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 18 at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, according to a community announcement. The natural playground is designed to encourage children to engage with their environment using natural elements and landscapes. The project was made possible by a $389,900 grant from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program, which is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Playground features designed for all ages and abilities The new playground is expected to offer year-round play opportunities for children and families across the Rockford region. 'This amazing new feature will help provide year-round play activity in a natural setting here at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, and brings a totally unique style of outdoor play to the Rockford region for children and families of all ages and abilities,' Alexander Mills, Executive Director of Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, said in the announcement. 'We could not be happier to grow the Nancy Olson Children's Garden in this way!' This story was created by reporter Abreanna Blose, ablose@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Natural playground to open soon at Klehm Arboretum in Rockford Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Playground to open outside heritage centre
A natural playground is being built in a country park after receiving £150,000 in funding. The new park is being constructed at the the Land of Oak & Iron heritage centre within the Derwent Walk Country Park in Gateshead. It has been designed in keeping with the area's natural surroundings and will include a wooden climbing frame, swings and a roundabout. Chris Watson, from Groundwork NE & Cumbria, which owns the centre, said the playground would allow more "family-focused" events to take place. "We host many wonderful events and activities at the centre, from seasonal children's trails and school holiday activities to music events, creative workshops and heritage talks," he said. "This new natural play park will be an exciting addition, which we hope will attract more families, and allow us to host more family-focused activities in the safe environment of the heritage centre." The Land of Oak & Iron promotes the local woodland as well as the area's heritage of British sword making and iron and steel production. Visitors were asked for their views on what should be added to the centre and a children's play park was the most popular recommendation. The playground's equipment will be installed in time for the school summer holidays in July and will be placed on top of turf, rather than synthetic flooring, to fit in with the natural landscaping. The £150,000 investment was provided through the government's Shared Prosperity Fund. John McElroy, cabinet member for environment and transport at Gateshead Council, said the playground would give more children access to green space and the "associated physical and mental health benefits this delivers". Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. New trail 'connects area's historic sites' Beams supporting woodland path damaged Land of Oak & Iron Groundwork NE & Cumbria
BBC News
05-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Natural play park being built in Gateshead country park
A natural playground is being built in a country park after receiving £150,000 in new park is being constructed at the the Land of Oak & Iron heritage centre within the Derwent Walk Country Park in has been designed in keeping with the area's natural surroundings and will include a wooden climbing frame, swings and a Watson, from Groundwork NE & Cumbria, which owns the centre, said the playground would allow more "family-focused" events to take place. "We host many wonderful events and activities at the centre, from seasonal children's trails and school holiday activities to music events, creative workshops and heritage talks," he said."This new natural play park will be an exciting addition, which we hope will attract more families, and allow us to host more family-focused activities in the safe environment of the heritage centre." The Land of Oak & Iron promotes the local woodland as well as the area's heritage of British sword making and iron and steel were asked for their views on what should be added to the centre and a children's play park was the most popular playground's equipment will be installed in time for the school summer holidays in July and will be placed on top of turf, rather than synthetic flooring, to fit in with the natural £150,000 investment was provided through the government's Shared Prosperity McElroy, cabinet member for environment and transport at Gateshead Council, said the playground would give more children access to green space and the "associated physical and mental health benefits this delivers". Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
