CentroNía@Harvard Street receives a new playground!

• The Playground Design Process
• Design Day
• Build Day
• More information

Results

The children at CentroNía@Harvard St. now have a beautiful, multipurpose play space. It has four different sections, each providing stimulating play opportunities integrated with educational components.

1) Gross motor activity: Experts agree that unstructured play is very important in children’s development. This largest section of the area includes state of the art playground equipment. A large structure incorporates slides, ladders, and raised platforms that physically challenge children, building muscle tone and encouraging active play.

(photo of large structure)

2) Fine motor activity/arts/music: This section is not commonly found in most playgrounds, and is focused on engaging children’s fine motor skills. There are drums, chimes, bells, and educational panels with which children can perform spontaneous experimental concerts for their friends, teachers, and anyone else within hearing range.

(photo of panels)

3) Outdoor classroom: This simple yet inviting structure is ideal for the pre-k curriculum that includes an arts/science fusion element and works well as a partner space to the nearby garden.

(photo of outdoor classroom)

4) Garden: The children’s garden, a project conducted in collaboration with the children, CentroNía staff, and Rebecca Lemos, a local artist, is a space for exploration and observation. The garden provides a hand-on activity for both science and arts-based learning opportunities. Tending to a garden in an urban setting provides a valuable community service, and encourages interest in environmental stewardship.

(photo of garden)