I was reading From the Forest: A Search for the Hidden Roots of our Fairytales by Sara Maitland when this project came into the office. A couple wanted to create a place for children in the park and liked the idea of movable play pieces. We pitched "natural play," and began researching wood, water and sand play environments. Laura Evans did the research and shaped the concept, Christian pitched it to the clients Donald and Barbara Zucker, and Michy McCreary and I worked with Curtis Barnhart, a craftsman and contractor in the field.
I didn't question the idea of "natural play," it seemed obvious that kids would like wood sculpture and stepping stumps through the woods, but now I think: why? Sara Maitland would say it is obvious because fairy tales have a special relationship to woods and woods inspire fairy tale thinking. Watching parents and children romp through the woods in this new exploration area makes me think Maitland might be right.
