The guidelines were originally established by Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds in collaboration with Denver Parks and Recreation, The Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, and Valerian, a landscape architectural firm that uses sustainable and water-conscious design to encourage people to interact with their environment.

For more information about natural playground design, training, keynotes, and products, contact Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds today, or call 1-844-557-0451. Follow Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Goals of these guidelines

1. To provide a framework for municipalities, funders, health and wellness advocates, communities, and children, to enable and encourage more nature play opportunities in built environments.

2. To establish unstructured sensory play as a valuable and integral foundation for the design of parks and open spaces.
   

3. To provide a structure for robust community consultation processes that ensure a play space that will serve intended users, while also facilitating collective buy-in from a diverse group of stakeholders.
   

4. To develop a maintenance and facilities protocol that enhances the intended use and condition of park or playground assets, while increasing opportunities for nature play.
   

How to use these guidelines

These guidelines are intended to be used and referenced throughout the entire nature play space design process. They outline strategies that can be used by municipalities, municipal agencies, design consultants, contractors, and end-user groups. They should be used in conjunction with applicable jurisdictional requirements and permitting to aid in:

• Site selection
  
• Project financing
  
• Public involvement and education
  
• Project programming
  
• Project design
  
• Project construction and maintenance
  
• Risk management