Maple Grove unveils new ‘naturescape’playground

Within minutes after the ribbon was cut on the Maple Grove Charter School’s new playground last Thursday, kids were excitedly crawling around the climbing logs at the heart of the unique “naturescape” area sprawling across the front lawn of the school.

What was once a conventional playground made of metal and hard plastic was replaced with structures created out of Canadian hardwood, recycled material and boulders that were unearthed during excavation earlier this summer.

The school worked with Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds of Hamilton, Ontario and ReVi Design of Wausau to design and build an eco-friendly playground that blends in with the school’s other back-to-nature facilities, which include a school forest with maple syrup sap lines, nest boxes, beehives, gardens and an outdoor classroom.

In addition to the Log Mash climbing logs, which crisscross each other like giant jacks, the playground also features twin slides down to another play area with an A-framed hut, a chalkboard and a mirrored wall. On the other side of the Log Mash is a set of swings hung on wooden frames.

Maple Grove principal Robin Hanson said the playground project would not have been possible without a Charter School Imple- mentation Grant, which the school has received on an annual basis for the past three years. She said the grants help Maple Grove improve the learning experience both inside and outside the school building and fulfill the charter mission of promoting environmental agriscience and stewardship of the natural world.

The new playground “reflects that mission beautifully,” she said.

“It’s not just a place to play,” she said. “It’s a space that encourages curiosity, cooperation and the joy of just being outdoors.”

To the young students in attendance, Hanson extended an invitation to explore the new equipment.

“This space is for you!” she said. “This is for you guys to go out and play and use your imagination.”

Hanson said all the equipment was built in Canada and shipped directly to the school in June, with Bienenstock’s master designer personally overseeing the first week of a three-week process to install the playground. A few new maple trees were planted as part of the project, and a couple of boulders dug up during the excavation were incorporated into the design.

In order to provide local input for the new playground design, the school formed a planning committee made up of teachers, parents and an environmental education coach who was hired as part of the grant. Hanson said Maple Grove students love playing in the woods behind the school, so the committee wanted to build on their affinity for naturebased recreation.

Kindergarten teacher Sabrina Riehle, a member of the playground planning committee, said each component of the open-ended space was chosen to “engage the senses, support both fine and gross motor skills and provide opportunities for both quiet reflection as well as imaginative play.”

“Nature-based playgrounds encourage decision making, safe risk-taking and provide calming environments that benefit mental well-being, all while strengthening our connection to the natural world,” she said.

Parent Annette Neske, another member of the playground planning committee, said she and her family has been involved with the Maple Grove Charter School for over seven years and she’s watched with excitement as her kids learned how to tap maple trees, raise chicks, tend gardens and care for rabbits. She said designing a new playground has been a goal for years, and she was honored to be part of the process.

“This playground will be enjoyed by students who are with the school today and those that will join the Maple Grove family in the future,” she said.

Andrea Sheridan, superintendent of the Athens School District, welcomed the crowd of parents, teachers and kids to the ribboncutting ceremony, calling attention to the many months of planning that went into creating the new playground.

“To our students, this is your space to explore, to create and just be kids,” she added. “We hope you enjoy it as much as we’ve enjoyed building it for you.”

Jessica Frahm, executive director of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, said the ribbon-cutting was a “spotlight moment” for Maple Grove, highlighting the charter school’s unique approach to education.

Maple Grove Elementary, which is located in the town of Hamburg and became part of the Athens School District five years ago, currently enrolls about 130 students. Hanson sees the playground as a commitment to current and future generations of students.

“I see learners challenging themselves, working together, discovering nature and make memories that will last even beyond when they leave here,” she said. “They’ll come back saying ‘Look at the awesome playground we got to play on.’”