Our scheme is inspired by the classic children's board game: Chutes and Ladders. The board is brought to life in three dimensions with the construction of two large scale "ladders" that act as shading devices, and with a lushly planted "chute" that represents the long buried Mill Creek. It connects the front and rear of the site while dividing the play space into public and private zones. A trike track parallels the chute and includes a closed circuit for younger children. The board game is realized on a smaller scale with landing spaces represented by eight outdoor playrooms - each with a different ground surface and unique play theme. Smaller chutes and ladders throughout the site reinforce the theme. Rain water is incorporated into active play in The Laboratory and The Studio. Shade trees define outdoor classrooms and rich plantings support rain gardens.

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The PlaySpace Design Competition created by the Community Design Collaborative and Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC) invited non-profits, public agencies, artists, and architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, and planning firms to submit projects that “represented international best practices in the design of outdoor play spaces.”

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Out of over 40 international entries, Viridian’s Reviving Recess: Bright Futures Chutes and Ladders won first place!