Kauffman Park Friends Community Design Session - 6/7/2016 |
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On a lovely evening this past June, Kauffman Park Friends solicited the help of the community to plan a new playground. Families brought their young children and their great ideas! Babysitters were on hand to play with the children while the adults met. We mounted a huge aerial photograph of the park to the fence and supplied post- it notes and sharpies in order to collect ideas for different areas of the park. We had a terrific turnout, productive conversation, and lots of great ideas. A huge thank you to everyone who attended.
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Design Session Summary |
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FREQUENTLY MADE SUGGESTIONS
Maintain open sight lines in all areas so children of all ages can be seen, have less drop-offs like ladders for toddlers to fall from, keep wood chips as ground cover rather than artificial surface, maintain shade (if old trees are removed, use mature, shade providing replacements) install more benches/seating for parents, install bike racks. More pathway and playground post lighting is needed.
Maintain open sight lines in all areas so children of all ages can be seen, have less drop-offs like ladders for toddlers to fall from, keep wood chips as ground cover rather than artificial surface, maintain shade (if old trees are removed, use mature, shade providing replacements) install more benches/seating for parents, install bike racks. More pathway and playground post lighting is needed.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FITNESS PATH
Install distance sign indicating km/miles achieved using certain portions of the fitness trail, install fitness stations lower post lighting, and more benches along the trail. The trail is .2 miles from entrance to entrance – it would be nice to have a trail map at either or both entrances that indicated such for fitness purposes.
Install distance sign indicating km/miles achieved using certain portions of the fitness trail, install fitness stations lower post lighting, and more benches along the trail. The trail is .2 miles from entrance to entrance – it would be nice to have a trail map at either or both entrances that indicated such for fitness purposes.
SUGGESTIONS FOR CURRENT PLAYGROUND AREA
Playground (for ages 2 – 8 years)
Twirly slide, double racing straight slides, lower height monkey bars, climbing rock like at Elmwood Park in Rocky River, lilly pad pole crossing element like at Madison Park, uneven bars like what used to be at Lincoln Elementary, repurposed car, tire course, and red ADA swing from Lakewood Park, baby swings, regular swings, an expression swing, attached zip line like at Madison Park
Splash Pad
Hand-pump activated natural water play features as found at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Nature Discovery Ridge or Sensor activated splash park /spray basin like Morton Park in Fairview Park or Rockefeller Park on Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Natural Play Area
Sand box with digging equipment, natural play elements for open-ended pretend play and bulding activities like at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Nature Discovery Ridge, sensory music/sound play like at University Circle
Public Restrooms
Add exterior drinking fountains. Access to restrooms during park hours not just during games. At least one low sink and toilet for smaller children, more prominent trash and recycling bins.
Playground (for ages 2 – 8 years)
Twirly slide, double racing straight slides, lower height monkey bars, climbing rock like at Elmwood Park in Rocky River, lilly pad pole crossing element like at Madison Park, uneven bars like what used to be at Lincoln Elementary, repurposed car, tire course, and red ADA swing from Lakewood Park, baby swings, regular swings, an expression swing, attached zip line like at Madison Park
Splash Pad
Hand-pump activated natural water play features as found at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Nature Discovery Ridge or Sensor activated splash park /spray basin like Morton Park in Fairview Park or Rockefeller Park on Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Natural Play Area
Sand box with digging equipment, natural play elements for open-ended pretend play and bulding activities like at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Nature Discovery Ridge, sensory music/sound play like at University Circle
Public Restrooms
Add exterior drinking fountains. Access to restrooms during park hours not just during games. At least one low sink and toilet for smaller children, more prominent trash and recycling bins.
SUGGESTIONS FOR AREA NORTH OF PLAYGROUND - (previously Little Links)
Reading Garden & Gazebo
Nice gazebo with picnic tables under it like the one at Rocky River's City Hall Park to be used for picnics, playdate gatherings, birthday parties, etc. (rain barrels could be installed to collect roof run-off), grills, fruit tree orchard, natural dirt path winding through, shady comfortable seating for reading, writing, lunch breaks, or observing nature.
Reading Garden & Gazebo
Nice gazebo with picnic tables under it like the one at Rocky River's City Hall Park to be used for picnics, playdate gatherings, birthday parties, etc. (rain barrels could be installed to collect roof run-off), grills, fruit tree orchard, natural dirt path winding through, shady comfortable seating for reading, writing, lunch breaks, or observing nature.
SUGGESTIONS FOR AREA NORTH OF LEAF COMMUNITY GARDENS
Big Kid Central
Frisbee golf course, more trees and coversation/gathering nooks/seating, circle of boulders for sitting and talking, more challenging version of the tire course at Lakewood Park involving balance beams, etc., larger swings, large climbing dome
Big Kid Central
Frisbee golf course, more trees and coversation/gathering nooks/seating, circle of boulders for sitting and talking, more challenging version of the tire course at Lakewood Park involving balance beams, etc., larger swings, large climbing dome
SUGGESTIONS FOR SOUTHERN FEATURES
Basin
Previous plans have showed hillside seating surrounding an outdoor theater or stage at the bottom of the basin. General concensus is residents want to keep the sledding/rolling hill that leads to the basin intact.
The Courts
Suggestions for use other than tennis or basketball: Bocce ball, archery, roller hockey, bike lacross/polo, volleyball and tetherball (would require installation of sand), additional public parking, pickleball court, horseshoe courts, shuffleboard
Jimmie Foxx Field
Replace remaining bleachers with natural hillside seating, project movies onto a movie screen mounted to the back of the Scorekeepers Building, play audio through built-in speakers and using the small hillside facing the screen for resident's blankets and chairs.
Parking Lot
Install a walking path north of parking spaces along fence for safety, remove the fence, provide multiple areas of access down to the fitness trail from the parking lot
Be sure to check out the Kauffman Park Friends facebook page for the latest updates!
Basin
Previous plans have showed hillside seating surrounding an outdoor theater or stage at the bottom of the basin. General concensus is residents want to keep the sledding/rolling hill that leads to the basin intact.
The Courts
Suggestions for use other than tennis or basketball: Bocce ball, archery, roller hockey, bike lacross/polo, volleyball and tetherball (would require installation of sand), additional public parking, pickleball court, horseshoe courts, shuffleboard
Jimmie Foxx Field
Replace remaining bleachers with natural hillside seating, project movies onto a movie screen mounted to the back of the Scorekeepers Building, play audio through built-in speakers and using the small hillside facing the screen for resident's blankets and chairs.
Parking Lot
Install a walking path north of parking spaces along fence for safety, remove the fence, provide multiple areas of access down to the fitness trail from the parking lot
Be sure to check out the Kauffman Park Friends facebook page for the latest updates!
It takes a village
The support of our city government is a key component, however in order to make many of the great ideas you've contributed, we need to raise additional funds via private donation. That's where you come in!
