'Natural' is word of choice for new Salmon Bay playground | Parents & kids

Ideas were flying fast and loose when three dozen adults and a swarm of children met Jan. 22 to start planning Salmon Bay School's new playground. But, there was one theme that kept returning with both students and their parents: nature.

Apart from the typical suggestions of monkey bars and swings, and the more out-of-the-box lobbying for bumper cars or go-karts, the Salmon Bay students wanted to see water in the form of a stream or small pool, tree houses and caves to hide in, boulders and trees to climb and grass to play on.

The only grass, trees and dirt to be found on the Salmon Bay School playground are located between the upper and lower field in a mid-block crossing where children are not allowed to play. One student said she wished they were allowed to play on the grassy slope.

For more ideas from Salmon Bay School students, watch the video above.

Parents and adults from the community largely shared the children's desire for a bit of nature on the playground. They suggested trees, a pile of dirt to poke around in and sustainable materials. And, they complained the playground has too much asphalt and looks too urban, more like inner-city New York than Ballard.

One of the goals for the new playground is to be accessible and fun for children with autism spectrum disorder. It is only the second Seattle Public School playground to be designed with children with ASD in mind.

Robin Lofstrom, a Salmon Bay parent and project manager for the new playground, said when her son approaches a playground, it is overwhelmingly fast and busy. He needs a place that is cozier to relax and recharge in, she said.

Another parent said when her son was in elementary school, he would spend his playground time walking the perimeter. He looked lonely, but that was his happy place and a time to work on his imagination, she said.

The current Salmon Bay School playground and athletic field is designed around sports and games, especially ball games, parents said. The parent whose son used to walk the perimeter said children with ASD don't understand the rules of children's games; the rules and the games change too fast to keep up.

Maggi Johnson with Johnson/Southerland, the architecture firm working on the new playground, said many children have the same needs as children with ASD, and the playground can work for everyone.

Parents discussed how children with ASD love swings and would enjoy teeter-totters and mazes painted on the asphalt in addition to more relaxing elements.

During the next three weeks, Johnson/Southerland will combine the suggestions from adults and children into three design alternatives for the new playground. Those designs will be presented at a public meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Salmon Bay School Library, located at 1810 N.W. 65th St.