Near West Side Chicago, IL

Spencer Elementary Technology Academy

The playground at Spencer Elementary Technology Academy is thoughtfully divided into distinct play areas designed to engage children of different age groups and abilities:

  1. Primary Play Area (Ages 5-12): This zone includes dynamic climbing structures, slides, and interactive play panels to engage older children. The design encourages physical activity, social interaction, and imaginative play, providing a stimulating environment that supports children’s physical and cognitive development. Safety surfacing, such as rubberized flooring, ensures a cushioned landing for active play.

  2. Early Childhood Play Zone: Geared toward younger children, this area has lower, accessible play structures and smaller slides. Designed with gentle, sensory-stimulating equipment, it allows for safe exploration. Engineered wood fiber surfacing is used to create a natural feel while meeting safety standards for fall protection.

  3. Open Play and Gathering Spaces: Open areas with soft surfacing are designed for free play and games, providing flexibility for group activities or events. The layout is ideal for running, informal games, or relaxation, encouraging various forms of engagement and allowing children to play freely.

  4. Sports Court: This multipurpose court is marked for basketball and volleyball, offering an outlet for team sports and structured games. It allows children of various ages to engage in organized sports activities, helping build teamwork and motor skills.

  5. Outdoor Classroom: A unique addition, this outdoor learning area has concrete seating and permeable pavers arranged in a semi-circle for gathering, storytelling, or group learning sessions. It provides an educational extension of the classroom, promoting environmental learning and hands-on experiences in nature.

Each play area is connected with accessible pathways, ensuring inclusivity and seamless navigation across the playground, making it an inclusive, versatile space for education and recreation.

Natural reclaimed materials

The planned playground renovation at Spencer Elementary Technology Academy aims to transform the school’s outdoor area into an engaging and educational space. The playground layout features areas for multiple age groups, including a primary play lot for children aged 5 to 12 and a more open, flexible play area for younger students. It includes varied surfaces such as rubber and engineered wood fiber, chosen for both safety and accessibility.

A notable addition is the outdoor classroom area, featuring permeable pavers and concrete seating designed for group learning. The layout also incorporates accessible pathways and ADA-compliant ramps to ensure inclusive access for children of all abilities. To promote environmental awareness, the design includes a rain garden, native landscaping, and interpretive signage to foster interaction with nature. A sports court with striping for various games, a basketball area, and a volleyball court complete this vibrant, multifunctional outdoor space.

The rain garden at Spencer Elementary Technology Academy is designed as an eco-friendly feature that blends beauty with function. Located strategically to capture runoff from surrounding paved areas, it’s filled with native plants chosen for their ability to thrive in both wet and dry conditions. This selection of flora, including species like sedges, coneflowers, and milkweed, not only manages stormwater but also supports local pollinators, adding vibrant colors and textures to the playground environment.

Incorporated signage explains the role of the rain garden in absorbing and filtering rainwater, helping students and visitors understand sustainable water management and the importance of native ecosystems. This garden also creates a sensory-rich environment for children to explore textures, smells, and colors, fostering a direct connection with nature. By integrating the rain garden into the playground, the design offers an outdoor learning experience that complements the playground’s mission to educate through interaction with natural processes.

The landscaping renovations at Spencer Elementary Technology Academy’s playground are designed to create a natural, welcoming, and educational environment for students. Native plants form the backbone of the landscaping plan, chosen for their resilience to local climate conditions and minimal maintenance needs. This plant selection includes a variety of flowering species and grasses, adding seasonal color, fragrance, and texture to the space while supporting local pollinators like butterflies and bees.

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Playfully Innovative

The landscaping renovations at Spencer Elementary Technology Academy’s playground are designed to create a natural, welcoming, and educational environment for students. Native plants form the backbone of the landscaping plan, chosen for their resilience to local climate conditions and minimal maintenance needs. This plant selection includes a variety of flowering species and grasses, adding seasonal color, fragrance, and texture to the space while supporting local pollinators like butterflies and bees.

Around the perimeter of the play areas and along walkways, trees and shrubs are strategically placed to provide shade and create defined spaces. The trees are selected to provide canopy cover, cooling the playground on warm days and creating comfortable areas for rest. The addition of permeable pavers in key zones supports sustainable drainage, directing water into the rain garden and reducing runoff.

Interpretive signage placed throughout the landscaped areas offers educational insights about plant species, the local ecosystem, and the role of native plants in sustainability. This integration of educational content with natural elements transforms the playground into an interactive outdoor classroom, where students can engage with the environment directly while learning about biodiversity and conservation. The overall landscaping design fosters a calm, green oasis within the school grounds, enhancing both the beauty and functionality of the playground.

The stormwater management plans for Spencer Elementary’s playground focus on sustainable design to control runoff and reduce flooding risk. Key elements include permeable pavers, a rain garden, and a thoughtfully graded landscape to channel water naturally.

The permeable pavers installed in outdoor seating and pathway areas allow rainwater to pass through the surface, seeping into the ground rather than flowing directly into storm drains. This helps reduce runoff volume and prevents erosion around the play areas.

The rain garden serves as a natural catchment basin, collecting runoff from nearby paved surfaces. Planted with native, water-absorbent vegetation, the rain garden filters rainwater while providing habitat for local wildlife. This garden slows down the flow of water, allowing it to infiltrate gradually, thus minimizing strain on the city’s stormwater infrastructure.

In addition, graded slopes across the playground direct excess water toward designated drainage points, ensuring that water is guided away from high-traffic play areas. This approach prevents puddling and promotes a safer, drier environment for students. Altogether, the stormwater management system showcases a sustainable approach to playground design, emphasizing conservation and resilience.

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Verilife Latham