Great River Children's Museum Oxbow Outdoor Exhibit

Collaborating with the Great River Children’s Museum on an outdoor play exhibit inspired the “Oxbow” - a highly themed, Minnesota-based play environment. All play elements and amenities combine to reinforce the river theme. The “river” itself is an undulating and visually ‘flowing’ resilient play surface with various hues of blue, accented with glacial boulders, driftwood, and sand. The Secluded Beach on the far side of the “River” offers driftwood log seating and creative play in the sand. The Sandy Beach with sand diggers & large driftwood provides more creative play. Mounded “Levees” covered with artificial turf offer fun climbing up and sliding down for young children. The site design includes a variety of tough plants appropriate for a play environment with native trees providing dappled shade and vertical structure. One corner of the site is elevated with large glacial boulders and accessed by a winding ADA path or via the granite steps. The water pump, sand, water tables, troughs, and a spinning water mill provide endless creative play opportunities. Various gate valves allow kids to control the water flow giving them control of their play experience. Springy Lily Pads, natural Log Bridges, and Stump Steppers challenge kids balance and provide connections from one play zone to another. The Musical Island is a central elevated native planting area with musical instruments - kids can work their way around the island trying each instrument or playing a group concert.