Client: Geauga Park District | 2020-2022
The existing park at Frohring Meadows has a trail and picnic shelters, but any play area for younger children was lacking. This nature playground and garden was designed to explore through play the habits and traits that make pollinators unique and special while promoting eco-gardening practices. Mounds were created out of spoils from a previous project at the park and they were graded to a gentle slope terminating at a custom deck and expansive view of the meadow. Each custom play component relates to a specific pollinator species, for example the log tunnels nestled in the side of the mound relate to Carpenter bees who bore circular holes into soft wood to lay their eggs.
Ecological planting principles were used to develop the planting scheme including continuous flowering throughout the season, single-flowered varieties, and planting larger blocks of single species. The larger meadow restoration project in the park included host plants for many of Ohio’s butterflies and insects. This play-garden introduces another, Anaphalis margaritacea, larval host plant for the American Lady Butterfly.
*Construction picture courtesy of Geauga Park District