Today, the staff and students at Colene Hoose Elementary School in Normal, Illinois were joined by the donor, and the world-renowned design and build team leaders to launch the construction of one of the most dynamic and engaging playgrounds and outdoor learning spaces at any school in America. The group broke ground today and planted the first new trees for the school’s space.
Charlie Jobson grew up in the town of Normal and has returned to create the park to honor his mother and father who lived in the community for 40 years. “I believe this project sets a new standard for school and community playgrounds in Normal, Illinois and America.” Mr. Jobson generously donated $5.1 million dollars to create this new space.
The natural playground rethinks the entire 16-acre grounds as a place for learning, exploration and play. The design by the well-known Danish landscape architect Helle Nebelong includes an Alphabet Labyrinth, a Snail-Shaped Mound, a River Garden, an Amphitheater and several multi-functional outdoor classrooms, and play settings. Logs, boulders, sand, pebbles, various trees and shrubs – including edible plants – and the meadow, form the basis of the space.
“This will be a wonderful space to engage children in the natural world and inspire them to learn, create, and have daily access to nature,” said Ms. Nebelong. “The seasonal changes and multi different textures will open up and widen the student’s senses and enrich their lives with a myriad of wonderful miracles, they will keep in mind forever. I feel grateful for having the opportunity to participate in my design and the many underlying considerations”. Ms. Nebelong runs her own practice, hellenebelong.com, which specializes in healthy and inclusive design. The essence of her approach is to create attractive and inspiring spaces where people’s well-being and creativity are developed through experiences with nature, culture, and architecture.
In a traditional playground, not only is there almost no sensory stimulation but 60% of the physical engagement for large muscle play and fitness is performed by20% of children (the A-type and most physically fit), while 80% of the children (the most vulnerable and least physically fit) are almost completely sedentary. Natural playgrounds, on the other hand, provide a balance in engagement levels for all children of all abilities in a sensory-rich environment that produces big gains in a kinesthetic sense, sense of place, and sense of wonder. They also provide outdoor classrooms, spaces for quiet contemplation, creative and dramatic play, fine motor engagement, balance, agility, gross motor, and cognitive engagement while boosting children’s immune systems and empathy scores.
The project is managed by Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds (BNP), who are responsible for developing the drawings and specifications for the work, manufacturing the components, constructing the design and leading the, build for the project. “It has been a joy to assemble such a talented team of local artists, contractors and craftspeople and mesh them with our team and some of the most talented people I know from around the world ” said the founder of BNP, Adam Bienenstock. “This project sets a new standard for outdoor spaces for our children and will stand as one of the best examples of this work in the nation. I must credit the board and leadership team at McLean County Schools for their ‘children first’ approach throughout this 2-year process. Without such a great group of professionals at the school board, Charlie and Helle’s vision could never have been realized”
The design for this project was presented to, and refined by, members of the local community and members of the school and broader education and facilities staff. Dr. Kristen Weikle, the Superintendent of the school district, noted the overwhelmingly positive response from the community. “Our staff, students, and parents are all excited to launch this project today and what it means for all of us.”
“A natural playground at Colene Hoose will transform our grounds as well as our community,” said Dr. Kristen Weikle, the Superintendent of the school district, noting the overwhelmingly positive response from the community. “This is an amazing opportunity and we couldn’t be more grateful to have such an amazing partnership with Mr. Jobson and his foundation. This shows the deep connections that were built at early ages in Unit 5, creating a desire to collaborate and to give back to help better our community and schools.”
The project will commence construction this week and continue until October. The planting of the meadow and some of the shrubs and trees will be completed in the spring of 2022 when planting conditions are optimal. The natural playground will last for generations, matching the lifespan of traditional parks and playgrounds, and will comply with all building codes, accessibility regulations and playground standards.
