Whispering Woods Children's Garden at Hatcher Woodland Preserve
Whispering Woods is a proposed 1.75-acre children’s garden designed as a dynamic, all-senses experience for all ages and all abilities. The garden presents opportunities for three distinct types of play: dramatic, social, and immersive, with play elements that allow children to play Over, Under, and Through. A variety of sinuous pathways and alternating zones of open and enclosed spaces comprise the plan. Sensory planting of perennial shrubs, grasses, and deciduous and evergreen trees create a lush backdrop for all types of dramatic, social, and hands-on play. To enrich the immersive experience, the design further amplifies the existing topography and creates bold and dynamic spaces for all ages to explore.
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The entire garden is connected through a unique Sensory Loop designed specifically for children with vision impairments or mobility limitations. By providing a safe and engaging route through distinct textures, scents, and levels of enclosure, the Sensory Loop allows children to build orientation skills, refine motor skills, and develop a sense of confidence and independence.
