YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
Future residents will be offered an ecological and aesthetically-pleasing home-living ambience, with a view of the lake and the possibility of participating in many leisure activities. In addition, the quality of life and quality of time spent there has been increasing since November 2011 due to the interesting play areas. These facilities are used extensively by the children from the neighbouring apartments. Also, people from the town are attracted by the in some parts nine-metre-high red forest of poles.
The playgrounds were planned on behalf of Phoenix-See city lake development company, BSL (Boyer und Schulze Landschaftsarchitekten – landscape architects) from Soest and were constructed and built by SIK-Holz®. The result of this good working relationship, which was received the specialist support of the Agency for Children’s Interests of the city of Dortmund, was the success in implementing good play value in an attractive manner, both in terms of shape and colour.
How could it be otherwise… of course, the play grounds revolve around the mythological fantasy figure, the Phoenix Firebird, which had never been seen – only its traces!
Here, the children find the Phoenix’ nest with gigantic eggs where many opportunities to balance and climb are offered, and a large water-sludge-system which runs on solar power.
In the Phoenix colony older children are able to climb even higher and get a view of the lake. From the platform, which is 5 metres in height, you can travel back down again using the tunnel slide. In this play area there is a play house with a sand corner where younger children can play amongst themselves, and children with wheelchairs can also have easier access.
The last place portrays the flight of the Phoenix – and there are different swing options which make you want to fly.
An exciting, balanced range of facilities for all age groups. This is how Gerd Mlynczak, Manager of the Agency for Children’s Interests of the city of Dortmund, sees it: “Here we have witnessed the interesting implementation of the topic with highly-appealing facilities for the children. And what I’m particularly pleased with is the prompt realisation. That’s what I call child-friendly!” Reinhard Budde, Manager for Green Issues and Conservation of the city of Dortmund, is also very satisfied: “The play areas do not only offer a wide range of play opportunities, being an optical magnet, they are also very easy to maintain which is essential nowadays.” (www.phoenixseedortmund.de)
Locust trunks were used – the toughest, native type of wood – so that the play areas would also last a good length of time. Also, with the equipment, great care has been taken in respect of resistance, which, however, in no way reduces the diversity and creativity. Flying carpets, snake baskets, pendulum seesaws, net tunnel, climbing walls, diverse slides are just examples of the range of facilities on offer.
Anyone who wants to find out more, should head on down and try out all the slides.
Claudia Gust (SIK), TM
Photos: SIK
