YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
The best example of this is the “Dzintaru Mezaparks” in Jurmala, Latvia, where during the last 12 months an exceptional playground has been created using equipment from the German Corocord and Kompan companies – including spacenet constructions and rope bridges.
Both the location in an old pine forest as well as the facilities including innovative rope play equipment made by the spacenet manufacturer Corocord from Berlin, single out this playground from other concepts of a similar kind.
“Jurmala has realised that it is worth investing in high-quality playground equipment for this kind of project in order to consistently improve the holiday-resort infrastructure,” said a satisfied Torsten Frank, building engineer and General Manager of the Corocord Raumnet GmbH in Berlin. He sees the project in Latvia as a role model for future facilities in Eastern Europe - the spa town is already exemplary due to its success with tourism over the past years. Between 2005 and 2006 the number of overnight stays in Jurmala rose by 25 percent to nearly 125,000 and this not only in summer – the classic bathing season – but in winter and spring as well. Guests to the old spa centre with its 32 kilometres of beach are increasingly from Western Europe. “It is a key factor that we can offer our guests the largest selection possible of different activities”, stated the First Vice Major of Jurmala City, Aigars Tampe in 2006. With the “Dzintaru Mezaparks”, this spa town, steeped in tradition, has taken another important step towards achieving this target.
Focus during the realisation of the adventure and play area in “Dzintaru Mezaparks” was on the harmony between old and new. Planning began in 2004 under the direction of the architect Arnis Dimins and his team from the Sia Substance office. By 2005 the planners had designed the ensemble of rope structures and other play equipment for an unused area in dense pine woodland. An especially responsible approach to the trees existing here was first priority to ensure that further generations can play, have fun and relax in harmony with nature here - the woodland was to remain untouched as far as possible, and this made the project particularly challenging.
A further prerequisite was that the play area should conform to EN 1176, even though this international standard is only recommended at present in Latvia and the other Baltic countries. This came as no surprise to Torsten Frank: "The Baltic region is a market determined to meet high Western European standards. This particularly applies to large and important projects," says Corocord’s General Manager.
The Sia CDL office headed by Janis Lasis contributed competency and know-how regarding rope play equipment to the project planning. By the end of 2007 the activities area was complete with play equipment - nearly all of it Corocord or Kompan products including a three-part bridge construction of rope net and suspension bridges that link two play areas. In addition, the ensemble also contains a variety of rope net combinations as well as climbing, trolley, swinging and rotating play equipment made by Kompan. The Corocord spacenets (including a large hexagonal spacenet, several octa nets and play nets as well as a hammock) make up an organically appealing ensemble located among the trees and reaching heights of between three and ten metres.
An especially fascinating feature of this collection is that its size and woodland location mean that it is never possible to see the entire playground area at the same time. This turns it into a magic adventure trail through the coastal woodland with changing lines of sight constantly opening up new perspectives. At the end of the play trail are situated cafés, a skateboard arena, a street ball field and other facilities.
Thanks to high-quality equipment and innovative planning, the play and adventure area has become an exciting playground and recreation area for all generations. Its layout underlines its integration into Jurmala’s overall tourist concept.
