19.06.2017 - Ausgabe: 3/2017

Fantastic play options that provide the ideal destination for a family day out

For the past 6 years, the playground equipment manufacturer Kinderland Emsland Spielgeräte has been collaborating with Karls Tourismus GmbH, their aim being to develop unique attractions for the Karls Erlebnisdörfer leisure park chain. This partnership has seen the creation of unique play landscapes based on inventive themes. This means a visit to one of the amusement parks becomes an unforgettable experience.

The Karls Erlebnisdörfer concept - a chain of adventure village recreation centres - has meant that the parks have long been one of the most popular leisure destinations in the east of Germany. In the largest of such villages that is to be found in Rövershagen, visitors can enjoy a day full of fun and activities - without even having to pay an entrance fee. Of course, this is not a strategy that is usually associated with the leisure park sector and so it comes as no surprise that these adventure villages, together with the authentic diversion they provide, have put them firmly in the league of top attractive destinations for a day out.
In addition to the village in Rövershagen, there are similar parks all of which are located in notable tourism regions. There are two smaller versions of the adventure villages on the islands of Rügen and Usedom and a larger one in Berlin. The latter is currently being modified to include accommodation and a larger range of attractions in order to encourage guests to stay here for more than a single day.

 

Playgrounds as marketing instruments

Kinderland Emsland Spielgeräte designs and constructs adventure play concepts for many different leisure parks and zoos. Among their installations are a small gold rush town, a large Canadian mine and a medieval play castle with village - their creativity seems to know no bounds. Every attraction is different and offers different forms of fun. There are many factors, such as location, target group, duration of stay, ease of access and other facets of a leisure park that determine what form a play feature should take. It is often necessary to meet with the customer on several occasions and plan in close collaboration the project to be realised.

 

Collaboration with Karls Erlebnisdörfer chain

Kinderland Emsland Spielgeräte has worked in concert with Karls Tourismus to design and develop play landscapes for all of its adventure villages. The Karls team usually provides the initial concept that is then taken up by Kinderland and given concrete form. Following presentation of the outline idea, various changes may well be incorporated before the project is fully formulated in practical terms. Then comes the actual construction work, completion of which by the commencement of the visitor season is of particular importance. Every village is supplied with its own exclusive playground with unique scenario. In the Warnsdorf village, for example, there is a tree that has been blown down that is split in the centre and has been adapted for play purposes. Branches are linked by ropes to offer an exciting balancing and climbing route that runs around a tree house with sliding bar and swing. The feature can thus be explored from all sides.

In Rövershagen there is a special indoor zone; the play world and the retail area have been incorporated in a pirate-themed setting. It is possible to climb up the tower to the second level above the heads of the visitors in the retail area below. The integration of the existing 'Tob-Land' play feature has significantly increased the section dedicated to play.

Also to be found in Rövershagen is a giant swing that looks not unlike a crane, hence fitting in with the nautical theme. At 8 metres high, this definitely provides for quite special swinging fun.

One of the play attractions in Berlin takes the form of a dilapidated house. It has been so realistically constructed that many visitors are fooled into believing it is a genuine ruin that is due for demolition. For children, on the other hand, it is a wonderful location for exploration. Where else can you slide over a real container or climb up an old chimney onto the roof?

The theme for the village on Usedom was provided by the discovery here of a beaker from the time of the Funnelbeaker culture of the early Neolithic period. Scaffolding held in place by poles gives visitors the impression that the archaeological excavation is still in progress. There are even giant recreated funnel beakers to balance on and opposite these is a spectacular tube slide that brings visitors back down to the bottom. On the other side of the footpath, there is an excavation that has been flooded with water - obviously the archaeologists forgot to bring a water pump with them.

Karls and Kinderland have also developed attractions specifically designed for small children. The large barn and genuine tractor are ideal for role-playing games. Water play features are always adapted to the theme of the park and all the sandboxes provided for Karls are unique.

The play environments are thus individual to each of the Karls adventure villages that offer recreated historical settings that visitors can experience at close quarters.

 

Image: Kinderland Emsland Spielgeräte