Rubus Landscape Architecture is thrilled to be part of the design team for the new, 17 acre Nature Playscape in Forest Park St. Louis. Announced on October 22 by Forest Park Forever President and Executive Director Lesley Hoffarth, The Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape will open to the public late spring 2021.
This 22 acre site began as a classic trees and turf area, and now 17 acres is being restored to forests and grasslands and contains 9 ecologically diverse play areas including a: Young Forest, Upland Prairie, Bottomland Forest, Sensory Garden, Gravel Bank, Wetland, Spring, Large Meadow and Mounds.
Rubus Landscape began design with Interboro Partners in 2018 and quickly enjoyed a supportive and talented design team lead by Interboro Partners including: David Mason & Associates engineers, Citizen Carpentry, June Hutson ecologist, Sarah Tisdale educator, Roots First planting consultant and the Forest Park Forever Executive team, Restoration Crew and Horticulture Crew. Key to Rubus Landscape’s involvement was our experience building the Zucker Natural Exploration Area in Prospect Park. Key to our design process, and a specialty of Interboro Partners, was a far reaching civic engagement process facilitated by Interboro Partners and Citizen Carpentry. Many St. Louis residents, especially kids were asked to envision a nature-based play area and we incorporated many of their ideas.
It is an exciting time for nature-based play, and St. Louis will soon feature one of the largest in their 1000 acre urban park in the heart of St. Louis. Thank you Forest Park Forever for your vision and hard work and thank you Anne O’C. Albrecht and all donors who made this possible.