Monroe County in New York recently constructed a green area designed for nature play for children, Rochester Homepage reports.
The play area, in Abraham Lincoln Park on Empire Boulevard in Penfield, is
eco-friendly, featuring parts of fallen trees that have been designed for play.
Children have thoroughly enjoyed the park because it is different from most other play areas, the news source reports. Larry Staub, director of parks for Monroe County, told the news source that it lends itself to "more
natural play for the kids," which he said was the goal. "You don't need video games and store bought products to have fun."
A study from Hostra University in 2004 found that children today spend significantly less time outside than their mothers did when they were children. The researchers surveyed 830 mothers nationwide regarding their children's play experiences as well as theirs as children.
There are a variety of play structures made from sustainable, natural materials today, offering kids opportunities to get reacquainted with the environment on the
playground.
Mark Quinn, the Superintendent of Horticulture for Monroe County, told the news source that children coming to the park tend to gravitate toward the "woodland environment" that the green play area offers. "It doesn't get any greener than that," he said.