PLAY WITH NATURE Discovering the natural environment through play
MAKING SPACE FOR PLAY: Volume Four
WESTTOWN SCHOOL PLAYSCAPE WEST CHESTER, PA
2
WHO WE ARE STUDIO LUDO is a 501(c)3 woman led non-profit founded in 2015 whose mission
is building better play through research, advocacy, and design. We are architects, landscape architects, city planners, and social scientists who have collected user demographics, physical activity, and play behavior data on over 60,000 people in 100 play environments around the world. This dataset is the most current picture of behavior and user preference in play environments in the world, and directly influences all of our play space designs, from rooftops, to schoolyards, to neighborhood parks, to large scale destination playgrounds.
WHY PLAY Play is how humans learn about themselves and the world around them. Playing in nature provides rich sensory experiences that light up our brains, supporting all aspects of development, from mental to physical to social-emotional. Being outdoors calms our stress response, lowers cortisol, and makes us feel happier and more connected. Nature play is not just for kids. As we age, we still crave movement, laughter, joy, and connection. All of this (and more) can happen through play, but the benefits increase exponentially when that play happens in an immersive outdoor setting.
3
OUR RESEARCH We have studied play behavior around the globe, and collected data on over 60,000 people in 100 different play environments, with a focus on the US and the UK. This is the largest data set on play behavior in the world and directly informs all of our play designs. Our research asks a simple question - what makes a great space to play?
OUR APPROACH When we started collecting data in playgrounds, we intentionally selected very diverse environments. Structures ranged from post-and-platforms made from steel and plastic, to giant custom treehouses made from reclaimed timber. Surfaces included sand, pea gravel, grass, artificial turf, wood fiber, concrete, asphalt, rubber, and tile. Some spaces were heavily planted, while others had no nature at all. Public playgrounds were our testing ground to determine how design influenced user preference, play behavior, and physical activity.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT SPACE TO PLAY? 4
HOBOKEN RESILIENCITY PARK HOBOKEN, NJ
5
MOORESTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL PLAYSCAPE MOORESTOWN, NJ
6
OUR FINDINGS One of our most striking findings is that nature has more impact on use than any type of play equipment. Playgrounds with mature trees have 2X more people than playgrounds with no trees. Even small amounts of nature influenced use. We developed an atmosphere scale to measure the impact of nature on behavior, giving each playground a score between 1 and 5: 1 is new trees/immature shrubs; 2 is mature shrubs; 3 is immature trees; 4 is mature trees outside the playground; and 5 is mature trees inside the playground. For every increase on the atmosphere scale, playgrounds saw 26% more use. Mature trees also increased stay time in playgrounds by 19%.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT Nature based play not only encourages more use, but it makes us happier and healthier as a community. Our findings show that half of people in playgrounds are not kids, but teens, adults, and seniors. Play is for everyone. We need play designs that reflect what people want. Our data shows that people prefer playing in nature, with people of all ages.
LET’S BRING NATURE BACK INTO PLAY! 7
SENSORY
Playing in nature provides a rich experience that activates all of our senses; from seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and touching, to the more hidden senses of the vestibular system (sense of balance), proprioception (the position of the body in space), and interoception (internal signals, or how we feel inside our bodies). 8
TOUCHING Nature provides a variety of tactile experiences that invite discovery & agency
BALANCING/ BODY POSITION Irregular & varied surfaces foster better balance & increase flexibility
INTERNAL SIGNALS Naturalized green spaces provide a sense of calm & lower stress response
SEEING Eyes are healthier outdoors, with more opportunities to look both near & far
HEARING Variety of sounds in nature sharpens hearing & builds listening skills
TASTING/ SMELLING Nature ignites the senses, with a diversity of smells & tastes
WESTTOWN SCHOOL PLAYSCAPE WEST CHESTER, PA
11
HABITAT
Nature play is good for humans and good for the environment. Planted areas provide food and nesting for local wildlife. Logs can be home to a variety of insects. Small pools and creeks support amphibians and other creatures. 12
RAIN GARDEN Vernal pools provide education & crucial habitat for insects, frogs, & salamanders
MEADOW Grasses & flowering perennials support imagination play & pollinators
THICKET Dense shrubs provide space for getting lost & homes for birds & small mammals
SEEDS & PETALS Plant parts are great for play & also provide food for a variety of creatures
GRASSES & STICKS Swords & fairy wands do double duty as nesting materials for many animals
LOGS & STUMPS Climbing & scrambling is almost as fun as finding out what lives underneath
ANNA C. VERNA PLAYGROUND AT FDR PARK PHILADELPHIA, PA
15
RESILIENCE
Nature play helps build more resilient places and more resilient people. Rain gardens clean and store stormwater. Including native species increases biodiversity. Adding trees and shrubs reduces temperatures. Utilizing local logs and boulders for play is a sustainable choice with a lower carbon footprint. 16
STORMWATER Rain gardens & swales manage stormwater while inviting discovery & exploration
TEMPERATURE Trees & planting can lower temperatures up to 10°F, encouraging longer play times
NATIVES Using local plants increases biodiversity & encourages joyful interactions with wildlife
LOCAL MATERIALS Native rocks & logs can be scrambles, perches, & climbers, with a lower environmental impact
LIFE CYCLE Wood materials & recycled steel & plastics are more eco-friendly choices for play
LOW CARBON Sourcing materials locally & minimizing manufacturing lowers carbon footprint
ANNA C. VERNA PLAYGROUND AT FDR PARK PHILADELPHIA, PA
19
CONNECTION
Playing in nature ignites curiosity and fosters a connection with the world around us. Learning, growing, and exploring in outdoor nature-based play helps us to become physically healthier, mentally stronger, and more emotionally balanced. 20
LEARNING Nature play spaces spark learning through immersive sensory experiences
CURIOSITY Novel environments light up the senses & encourage curiosity & discovery
AGENCY Loose parts like sand, gravel, wood chips, sticks, seeds, & pods inspire creativity
EMOTIONAL REGULATION Natural spaces calm stress response & help children stabilize their emotions
SENSE OF BELONGING Nature based play encourages life-long connection to the natural world
STEWARDSHIP/ CONSERVATION Happy childhoods spent in nature create the environmental stewards of tomorrow
MOORESTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL PLAYSCAPE MOORESTOWN, NJ
23
BRODNIK OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT BENCHMARK SCHOOL MEDIA, PA
24
IMAGES COVER Photo Credit: Studio Ludo PAGE 2 Westtown School Playscape, West Chester, PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo PAGE 5 Hoboken ResilienCity Park, Hoboken NJ, Photo Credit: OLIN PAGE 6 Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick PAGE 9 Top Center - Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick Top Right – Hoboken ResilienCity Park, Hoboken NJ, Photo Credit: Photo Credit: The Jersey Journal Center Left – Anna C Verna Playground at FDR Park, Philadelphia PA, Photo Credit: Sahar Coston-Hardy Center – Anna C Verna Playground at FDR Park, Philadelphia PA, Photo Credit: Sahar Coston-Hardy Lower Left – Westtown School Playscape, West Chester, PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Right – Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick PAGE 10 Top Left – McKinley Park Tot Lot, Lansdowne PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Top Right – Spa Fields Park, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Center – Hoboken ResilienCity Park, Hoboken NJ, Photo Credit: Caroline Gutman/ICN Center Right – Westtown School Playscape, West Chester, PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Left – Hoboken ResilienCity Park, Hoboken NJ, Photo Credit: Photo Credit: The Jersey Journal Lower Center – Hayes Valley Playground, San Francisco, CA, Photo Credit: The Trust for Public Land PAGE 11 Westtown School Playscape, West Chester, PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo PAGE 13 Top Left – Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick Top Center - Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick Center – Tumbling Bay Playground, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Center Right – Clissold Park, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Left – Tumbling Bay Playground, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Right –Tumbling Bay Playground, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo PAGE 14 Top Center – Philadelphia, PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Top Right – Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit:: Moorestown Friends School Center Left - Clark Park, Philadelphia, PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Center – Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick Lower Left – Marylebone Green Playground, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Right – Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Hyde Park, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo
25
IMAGES PAGE 15 Anna C Verna Playground at FDR Park, Philadelphia PA, Photo Credit: Sahar Coston-Hardy PAGE 17 Top Left – Tumbling Bay Playground, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Top Right – Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick Center – Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Center Right – Anna C Verna Playground at FDR Park, Philadelphia PA, Photo Credit: Sahar Coston-Hardy Lower Left – Westtown Friends School, West Chester PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Center – McKinley Park Tot Lot, Lansdowne PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo PAGE 18 Top Left – Hoboken ResilienCity Park, Hoboken NJ, Photo Credit: The Jersey Journal Top Center – Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick Center – Anna C Verna Playground at FDR Park, Philadelphia PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Center Right – Westtown Friends School, West Chester PA, Photo Credit: Westtown School Lower Left – Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito, CA Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Right – Anna C Verna Playground at FDR Park, Philadelphia PA, Photo Credit: Sahar Coston-Hardy PAGE 19 Anna C Verna Playground at FDR Park, Philadelphia PA, Photo Credit: Sahar Coston-Hardy PAGE 21 Top Center – Pier Six at Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York, NY, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Top Right – Kew Gardens, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Center Left – Smale Riverfront Adventure Park, Cincinnati, OH, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Center – Burgess Park, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Left – Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick Lower Right – Levy Park Playground, Houston, TX, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo PAGE 22 Top Left – Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick Top Right – Hoboken ResilienCity Park, Hoboken NJ, Photo Credit: The Jersey Journal Center – Tumbling Bay Playground at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, UK, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Center Right – Westtown Friends School, West Chester PA, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Left – Welles Park Nature Play Space, Chicago, IL, Photo Credit: Studio Ludo Lower Center – Westtown Friends School, West Chester PA, Photo Credit: Westtown School PAGE 23 Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick PAGE 24 Brodnik Outdoor Learning Environment at Benchmark School, Media, PA Photo Credit: Sahar Coston-Hardy PAGE 27 Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown NJ, Photo Credit: Peter Chollick
26
MOORESTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL PLAYSCAPE MOORESTOWN, NJ
27
RESOURCES London Study of Playgrounds: The Influence of Design on Play Behavior in London vs New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, ISSUU, 2017. Studio Ludo, Talarowski M. National Study of Playgrounds: The Influence of Design on Use and Physical Activity, in 60 Playgrounds in 10 US Cities, ISSUU, 2022. Studio Ludo, Cohen D, Talarowski M, Han B, Williamson S, Galfond E, Young D, Eng S, McKenzie T. Playground Design and Physical Activity, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2022. Cohen D, Talarowski M, Han B, Williamson S, Galfond E, Young D, Eng S, McKenzie T. Innovative Playgrounds: Use, Physical Activity and Implications for Health, Public Health, 2019. Talarowski M, Cohen DA, Williamson S, Han B. The First National Study of Neighborhood Parks: Implications for Physical Activity, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2016. Cohen D, Han B, Nagel C, Harnik P, McKenzie T, Evenson K, Marsh T, Williamson S, Vaughan C, Katta S. Playground Design: Contribution to Duration of Stay and Implications for Physical Activity, Environmental Research and Public Health, 2023. Cohen D, Talarowski M, Han B, Williamson S, Galfond E, Young D, Eng S, McKenzie T. Playground Locations and Patterns of Use, Journal of Urban Health, 2023. Young D, McKenzie T, Eng S, Talarowski M, Han B, Williamson S, Galfond E, Cohen D. Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children, New Harbinger Publications, 2016. Hanscom, Angela J Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature -Deficit Disorder, Alonquin Books, 2008. Louv, Richard. Alter, Adam. “How Nature Resets Our Minds and Bodies.” The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2013, www.theatlantic.com/health/ archive/2013/03/how-nature-resets-our-minds-and-bodies/274455/. Alvarsson, Jesper J., et al. “Stress Recovery during Exposure to Nature Sound and Environmental Noise.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 7, no. 3, 11 Mar. 2010, pp. 1036–1046, https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph7031036.
28
AT THE
“IN THE SPRING
END OF THE DAY
YOU SHOULD SMELL LIKE DIRT.” MARGARET ATWOOD
29
© STUDIO LUDO 2025