Abundant Playscapes

02/26/2019

Thanks to the US Play Coalition for sharing and inviting him to deliver a PLAYTalk at our Play Conference! This is going to be good!

PlayTALK Spotlight: Michael Hynes, Ed.D., is the outspoken Superintendent of Schools for the Patchogue-Medford School District in Medford, New York. On our PLAYtalk stage he will discuss the “Importance of a Whole Child Education and Play in School.” PLAYtalks are our version of TED Talks and 15-20 minute dynamic, entertaining, enlightening, engaging, inspiring, informative talks by thought leaders in the play world.

His article, “Play, Recess and Mental Health,” was #1 for 2018 in EDUCATION WEEK. Read it here: https://mobile.edweek.org/c.jsp?cid=25920011&item=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.edweek.org%2Fv1%2Fblog%2F95%2Findex.html%3Fuuid%3D77019

05/15/2017

This gorgeous hunk of red oak wants to be included in the Wickiup Hill Wondering Woods natural playscape project. It is about 42" wide at base of trunk and also 10' tall. I'm thinking about standing it upright to be a climber (again) and getting a chain saw to cut out a tunnel. What do you think it wants to be?

03/02/2017

Please consider supporting this talented artist (and my niece) Andrea Slu. She is doing great things and is such a positive influence on young children through her teaching of art class. Thanks!

ATTENTION! I WANT TO SHARE ART WITH YOU! Thank you for getting to here, I hope my story helps inspire you to donate but as an appreciation of my thanks I want to send you an art piece! *Please include your address with your donation and  I'm going to be busy, busy, busy getting these to you as  ...

02/24/2017

I wanted to share this recall for all my child care & home playground friends.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Little-Tikes-Recalls-Toddler-Swings

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled swings and contact Little Tikes for a refund in the form of a credit towards the purchase of another Little Tikes product.

02/22/2017

Project installation is about 50% complete. Re-storing an old wooden playground in Evanston, IL. The carpenters and installers are doing an amazing job rebuilding Penny Park playground!

11/27/2016

Just completed phase 1 for the Academy of Early Learning playscape. I hope the children have as much fun playing there as I had building it!

08/12/2016

Was in Evanston, IL last night at a Community Input Meeting sharing our proposed design for the Penny Park Playground restoration project. Great questions and discussion for an awesome project!

http://evanstonnow.com/story/government/bill-smith/penny-park/2016-08-12/75730/neighbors-happy-with-new-penny-park-plans

After a couple years of controversy, the handful of neighbors who turned out for a 2nd Ward meeting Thursday evening seemed pleased with revised plans for rebuilding Penny Park.

07/18/2016

Some images from a great project I am working on down in Van Buren County, IA - at the Van Buren County Hospital CCC. We are almost completed!

07/13/2016

Very good listen on the value of play. Among the guests were Dr. Stuart Brown from the National Institute on Play and a play ICON in the industry and Bambi Yost, Asst. Professor of Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University. We need more of these types of forums for discussion and putting the message out there.

http://iowapublicradio.org/post/playgrounds-and-importance-play

As outdoor playtime has dwindled for many kids in the United States our understanding of the importance of that time has grown. "Kids are 71 percent less

06/30/2016

A great read. I've been wondering whether we need to re-think how we allocate operating funds and capital improvement monies in parks & recreation. Some folks in the public sector are going to figure this out and move money & resources toward open-ended play and playworkers.

Stroll through your local playground on a summer day and take note of what’s missing: swings, seesaws, jungle gyms, and, all too often, children....

06/28/2016

06/27/2016

Was up in Mankato, MN on Saturday for the Midwest Play Conference at Minnesota State. Heather Von Bank and all her team did a fabulous job - one of the best 1-day conferences I've been to in a long time! Lisa Murphy, the Ooey-Gooey lady did the keynote. Met some old friends and some new ones including Tom Bedard who had a great presentation on sesnory tables.