Playground Guide - 2017 - 22

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Staring Lake Park Redesign
Creates Memorable Space

taring Lake Park, located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is
an incredible destination park that boasts every amenity,
from an amphitheater to a nature center and a walking
and biking trail. With all of these amenities, Staring Lake appeals to a variety of people, residents and visitors alike, and
serves as a space for everyone to enjoy.
After about 18 years, the city of Eden Prairie decided the
playground at Staring Lake Park needed an update. The team,
led by the Parks and Recreation Department and in partnership with WSB & Associates, St. Croix Recreation, the local
Burke playground dealer, and a Burke Landscape Designer,
transformed the existing play space into a multigenerational
gathering space.
With the goal to create a theme that works with the amphitheater and offers an artistic flair, the Staring Lake Park project
began. One of the design challenges is that the park is in a bowl
and there is a hill leading out of the play area to another play
area. Using Verto Climbers to naturally traverse the hill area and
move from one play area to another provided a way to create
a climbing challenge and subtly suggest a natural flow to the

Parks & Recreation

space. Another feature made possible by the unique topography
of the park is the embankment slide. Kids love it and sliding
provides a variety of developmental benefits and the unique use
of the slide makes the space that much more engaging and fun.
With a robust area for imaginative play that includes a
" stage, " Sound Garden musical space and a Playhouse, kids
will develop the necessary social skills and use their imaginations to guide them in hours of cooperative play that helps
them develop skills that transcend the playground. The individual areas for kids ages 2-5 and 5-12 engage them physically
and help them exercise both body and mind.
The result of this is effort is an incredible, diverse play environment that enhances the entire park and community.

800.266.1250
www.bciburke.com

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http://www.bciburke.com

Playground Guide - 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Playground Guide - 2017