Lancaster City Council is inviting children and their parents to Happy Mount Park on June 6 to help design an innovative ‘natural play area’.
Taking place between 2pm and 5pm, the aim of the event will be to give children the chance to experiment with different natural materials and share ideas of what could be included in the play area.
Helen Ryan, Cultural Projects Manager at Lancaster City Council, explained: “Traditional play areas tend to be made up of play equipment which leaves little room for imagination or personal development.
“The new area in Happy Mount Park will be based on the principles of ‘natural play’ – encouraging more creativity in the design of play environments using natural elements such as trees, rocks, mini-hills and other natural play features.
“To make sure the play park contains everything that it needs to we need to hear from the people who will be using it – children themselves.”
The city council has been awarded more than £114,000 (BIG Lottery, Lancashire County Council Play Builder and Community Design and Arts Council England) to develop and deliver plans for the new play area in the park and has commissioned acclaimed art and architecture practice Muf to lead the design. In 2008 Muf were awarded the European Prize for Urban Public Space.
As well as leading the event in Happy Mount Park, representatives from Muf will be taking pupils from Morecambe High, Beaumont College and a local primary school to Grizedale Forest. The pupils will be encouraged to explore the forest to inform the design process.
• For more information visit:
http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/sports-and-leisure/arts-development/natural-adventure