Some parks around the world take the idea of the ( 메이저놀이터 )playground to the next level with huge playsets, surreal designs and inclusive equipment that ensures everyone gets a chance to play. These interesting playgrounds from around the world go beyond the typical wooden swingset or basic slide. Check them off your bucket list if you’re ever in the area.
Lazy Dayz Playground at Smothers Park in Owensboro, Kentucky
Lazy Dayz Playground at Smothers Park comes up big in both area and design. This award-winning, barrier-free playground is accessible to kids of all ability levels with carefully selected elements to support the goal of being an inclusive place to play. You’ll find several different play areas that give kids plenty to explore, and each play area has ramps that allow kids in wheelchairs to access the equipment. The designers of this park went well beyond the minimum ADA requirements to eliminate as many potential barriers to play as possible.
Its waterfront location adds to the fun feeling of this massive and magical playground. Sit by the riverfront promenade to watch the cascading waterfall. Three fountains in the park add to the excitement as well. The fountains come to life every 15 minutes with water shows that thrill kids and adults alike. While you’re there, look for the oversized animals like a giant frog and a squirrel in a tree. These fun accents add a whimsical touch to the park.
Tower Playground in Denmark
What do you get when you shrink down five of the most famous buildings in Copenhagen and add playground equipment? Tower Playground. Towers included in the design are Our Savior’s Church, City Hall, Round Tower, Marble Church and Exchange Tower. The playground elements are integrated into the replicas of the tower portion of these famous Copenhagen buildings, so kids feel like they’re giants climbing among the rooftops of the city.
Kids not only get to play in the towers, but they also learn more about them, so this park is a bit like a mini history lesson. Kids explore and play on climbing walls, rope bridges, slides and other traditional equipment. The bridges and other equipment connect many of the towers, so kids can move from one tower to the next. They can even climb the exterior walls of some of the towers with integrated climbing holds.
Many of the structures have fun details built into them. Kids can ring bells at the top of the church tower. In Town Hall Tower, they’ll find a microphone system that allows for public announcements. Round Tower has puzzles in it. Kids can play electronic catch over the roofs of the buildings as well. It’s a truly interactive, educational and creatively inspiring place to play.
Clemyjontri Park in McLean, Virginia
Designed as an inclusive playground to accommodate kids of all ability levels, Clemyjontri Park covers two acres, making it a massive play option in Virginia. This huge and amazingly well-designed playground was built in 2006. The park uses wide ramps to give access to kids who use wheelchairs and other equipment for mobility, and some swings are designed for kids in wheelchairs, too. The maps and mazes include Braille lettering to accommodate kids with visual impairments. Lower monkey bars are more easily accessible by all children.
Rainbow-colored surfaces draw the attention of kids, but they’re more than just bright and cheery. The protective surfaces around the equipment are non-slip and porous to make them safer for everyone. The playground divides the equipment into four “rooms” or sections of the space: Rainbow Room, Schoolhouse and Maze Room, Fitness and Fun Room, and Movin’ and Groovin’ Room.
You’ll find many traditional playground components like jungle gyms and swings throughout the areas, but they’re presented in a fun, colorful way with child-friendly theming and accessible designs. As if the play equipment itself isn’t enough, this park features a fully functional massive carousel right in the center of the action.
Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Playground in the UK
Created to honor the memory of the late Princess Diana, this Peter-Pan-inspired playground near Kensington Palace encourages kids to use their imaginations. It opened in June of 2000, and it serves up traditional elements like swings and slides but presents them in a fun, whimsical way. Visitors get into the park for free, but there is a queue on busy days, so you may have to wait a while to explore this creative play area.
The centerpiece of the play space is a massive wooden pirate ship, and part of what makes this playground so spectacular is the amount of detail that went into the ship. Kids can take control of the ship’s wheel, use pulleys and climb all over the ship’s wooden structure. The design makes it easy for kids to dive into imaginative play.
Mermaid fountains and tepee forts add fun touches to the area. Many of the play structures in the park also allow for wheelchair access, making it accessible for most kids.
