To bring something truly special to Buffalo Bayou Park for young park users, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and SWA approached North Carolina State University’s Natural Learning Initiative (NLI). The team, including landscape architects Robin C. Moore, Director of NLI, and Jesse Turner, NLI landscape architect, provided their expertise of designing and programming nature play and learning spaces around the country.
The goal is to attract children to interact directly with nature. Curving, meandering elements of the play space were inspired by the movement of water, according to Moore. Equally interesting was designing this space in a major urban center. Nature Play & Learning Places: Creating and Managing Places Where Children Engage with Nature, a publication by The National Wildlife Federation and Natural Learning Initiative (with recommendations from around the country including our own Houston Parks & Recreation Department), was recently released.