Incredible new $1 million playground opens in Richmond (PHOTOS)

A new playground in Richmond is capturing the imagination of kids and adults.

Part of more than a decade of planning as part of the design of Terra Nova Park, this innovative playground was designed by Vancouver’s Hapa Collaborative.

The play environment is inspired by its environment–the “intertidal foreshore, dykes, remnant sloughs, and past and present agricultural use,” of the parkland on a middle arm of the Fraser River.

The community played an integral role in shaping the park, as kids from local schools were consulted on the design of the playground, and even asked to share their ideas for the design.

That design includes an incredible spiral slide, a treehouse, meadow maze, zip line, and a “log jam” climbing structure that is meant to be like the classic West coast experience of walking on logs.

The playground cost $1 million, and has been in the works since 2012, when the plan was approved. Overall, the park has been a major project for Richmond. “In the last three years, civic politicians have approved a total of $2.2 million in spending for the play environment and supporting features, including $650,000 this year for washrooms and landscaping,” notes the Richmond Review.

Although kids have already been playing on some of the features, the official grand opening has been set for September 27.

Terra Nova Park is located in the northwest corner of Lulu Island, at the west end of River Road in the Thompson area of Richmond.

Check out a few images of the playground:

The slide installation (Photo via Hapa Collaborative)

Photo via Imgur

Photo via Hapa

Photo via Hapa

Photo via Hapa

Photo via Hapa

Photo via Imgur

Photo via Imgur

Photo via Imgur

Even some of the grown ups get in on the action:

@richmondreview we love the new terra nova playground and live near the garden city park. It’s amazing. Zip line tops pic.twitter.com/VYzxKag6k7

— DorteK (@DorteKargut) September 10, 2014

 

Here’s the video from 2011 showing the original concept for the playground:

Featured image: Hapa