Landscape Structures Playground Pays Homage to Atlanta

November 8,2011

New Woodruff Park playable art structure to be unveiled during National Recreation and Park Association Congress and Exposition

Landscape Structures Inc., the leading commercial play equipment manufacturer in the world, will unveil an innovative playable piece of art on Nov. 1. The playground was designed to be a central part of the recently rejuvenated Woodruff Park area in Atlanta, Ga. The playground will be revealed during the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress and Exposition, which is being held Oct. 30 - Nov. 3, at Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center.

"Landscape Structures is dedicated to creating innovative play areas," said Landscape Structures President Pat Faust. "The playground is a work of art, but it gives the children of Atlanta infinite ways to interact with the sculpture."

The original design was conceived by Jeff Santos of Coquitlam, British Columbia. Santos was the winner of the Playable 10 Contest, held in partnership by Landscape Structures, Georgia Institute of Technology, Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), Atlanta's Taskforce on Play (ATOP) and Bank of America. The playground's design pays tribute to Atlanta with a shape that mimics the letters "ATL." Built into the piece are various playable elements, including climbing walls, monkey bars and two different sizes of slides.

"I wanted the playground to have a unique shape, but also be inviting to children." Santos said. "The design really plays to kids' imagination and curiosity."

The new playground is in good company with the other improvements that have been made in the park over the last few years. CAP and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID), since taking on operations of the park, have set their sights on making Woodruff Park the Downtown destination for healthy activity. Best known of these improvements is the Woodruff Park Recreation and Reading Room and the recently installed music system. But other new amenities like exercise and recreation equipment and Walk For Lunch programming have increased the active offerings of this urban oasis.

"Woodruff Park aims to be an amenity for visitors, employees, children and families and no park is complete without a dedicated place to play," said A.J. Robinson, president of CAP and ADID. "Through our partnership with Landscape Structures, Bank of America and ATOP, we're providing Atlanta's Downtown community with a combination of art and recreation."

The playground is slated to be installed in Woodruff Park in spring 2012. The structure is designed in the spirit of Landscape Structures that an inclusive playground is an important part of a healthy, thriving community.