The Play Environment, a New Paradigm for Play Areas

Start Date

10/17/2019

End Date

10/17/2019

Description

Play environments fulfill a vital role in the physical, social, and cognitive development of their users. These spaces allow kids and adults to engage all their senses to find calm and work together to assess and overcome challenges.
There are two important design trends that have helped amplify the reach and benefits of public play spaces over the past several years - inclusivity and nature play. We now see more parks and playgrounds that celebrate inclusive design. Rather than programming for specific separate user “restrictions”, play environments offer a range of accessibility and challenges that promotes side-by-side play. Integrating natural spaces allows a greater freedom of expression, imagination, creativity and exploration.
These play environments blur the boundaries that separate people of differing abilities, ages and interests. Creating inviting play environments that appeal to the largest possible number of people is a way to bring greater social vitality to any community.

Location

Albuquerque, NM

Distance Learning

Course Equivalency

Subjects

Parks & Recreation

Health, Safety and Welfare

Yes

Hours

1.0

Learning Outcomes

1. Understanding: Participants will learn how play environments differ from traditional design in a way that addresses the needs of a diverse population.
2. Evidence Based: Participants will learn how studies in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and biophyllic response affect the design of play environments.
3. Incorporation: Participants will learn how to incorporate strategies in a variety of projects to create a spaces that benefits a large population of users.
4. Amplification: Participants will learn how strategies for creating play environments can be applied to schools, health care facilities, corporate and residential landscapes

Instructors

Greg Miller, FASLA, PLA

Course Codes

Provider

New Mexico Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects

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