Cross-campus collaboration creates community playground

The Human Services Club is heading a cross-department initiative to improve Lakeland College’s playscape.

Club president and child and youth care student Katherine Dinesh says the club was looking for a special project to work on when the idea of creating a nature-inspired play area for the community was presented.

“We wanted to give back to the community,” Dinesh explains. “Our instructors came up with the idea of creating a natural playscape and we worked together to come up with all the concrete ideas. Natural play spaces are very important for children, especially in a society which is so reliant on technology. Our idea is to help children with the sensory aspects of development, while being out in nature and playing.”

The playscape is already under construction beside the arboretum on Lakeland’s Vermilion campus. Plans for it include a tunnel, A-frame and stairs as well as a mud kitchen, water play area and sound wall, all created with donated or locally sourced material.

According to Dinesh, the best part of the project is that it is a group effort involving the entire campus.

“It’s called the Human Services Club but we have students from all the different schools bringing their perspective on things,” she says. “Human services plays a role using theory and what we are learning to plan and design the playscape. Interior design students are helping with colours, designs, technical aspects of implementing the playscape. Some agriculture students have brought their carpentry skills and environmental sciences students are helping with planting and natural aspects like that. It’s very nice to have a combination of students working on this project.”

Construction on the playscape began in the second week of September and will be ongoing for the foreseeable future. It has been designed by students in collaboration with interior design instructor Jordan Kalczak. The foundation, maple boundary and staircase have been constructed with plans for painting and planting tentatively scheduled for the spring.

When it is finished, Dinesh says the playscape will be open to the community, including the children attending the childcare centre on campus.

Lakeland students looking to get involved with the Human Services Club and their playscape project are invited to attend one of the club’s meetings, held Thursdays at 11:30 in BB102.

Photos: Top - Katherine Dinesh reviews plans for the Playscape. Bottom - the Human Services Club members and advisors at the future site of the playscape.