An oasis of play and learning on the riverfront
Originally published in The Best Times, March 2022. Written by Carol Coletta, President and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership.
Imagine a big, dreamy play space for your grandchildren. A space tucked amid solid oaks and small hills that form comfortable, safe rooms with ample shade. Space filled with wondrous wooden river creatures standing 30 feet tall, made for climbing and exploring. Space that feels right whether you are eight or 80 years old.
All of that is coming to Tom Lee Park on the Memphis riverfront. Danish play gurus MONSTRUM are fabricating the one-of-a-kind River Play in their studio in the small town of Brøndby. There will be four major play structures:
- Two giant river otters for climbing and exploration with slides from the top
- A sturgeon with climbing platforms and a fun zip line
- A salamander in a swampy land with climbing nets and rope bridges
- A caterpillar in a pollinator-themed wonderland with swings and climbing platforms
The animals are designed in wood as beautiful, interesting structures that spark the imagination of kids and adults alike. Their design invites kids to explore and find their own pathways on, through, around and over the play equipment.
As Monstrum designers explain it, “What makes a playground great is that kids are not able to figure it out just by looking at it. They have to explore it. They have to consider a lot of options and paths, assessing their motor skills and safety. This creates continuous movement and a lot of fun.”
River Play is protected from the noise and traffic of Riverside Drive with elevation and trees that create a series of outdoor rooms that offer feelings of safety, comfort, and peace. The elevation also serves the important function of providing step-free ADA access to slides and playground equipment for those with mobility challenges.
In the park’s center, River Play offers easy access to restrooms and water fountains and is just steps from the multi-use courts at the Civic Canopy, a stunning river view at the First Horizon Sunset Deck, and the River Fit outdoor gym and workout zone.
With fun for all, caregivers can enjoy playing with children in the playground or enjoy a more serene experience overlooking River Play with food and drinks from the adjacent Point Bar Pavilions and Grille.
River Play will be just the seventh Monstrum-designed playground in the U.S. but it will be the first to include river otters. Look forward to more places to play on the riverfront, starting in 2023.
