Nature Play at RMA
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Friends of the Front Range Wildlife RefugesHelp us reach our individual donor goal for a Nature Play area at RMANWR for neighboring youth!
$760
raised by 3 people
$15,000 goal
5 months left
Listening Session at Holly Park
The Nature Play Community Engagement meeting at Holly Apartments on July 14th involved 39 participants (15 children, 24 adults) and was facilitated by Susan, Lara, Vanessa, and Kerry, with Jane as an interpreter. Participants were provided with lunch, drinks, a handout displaying 26 examples of Nature Play features, and Refuge brochures.
The meeting began with introductions and an explanation of the role of Friends of Front Range Wildlife Refuges, as well as a vision of the proposed Nature Play space at the Refuge, which will be larger and use more natural resources than the Commerce City site on Commerce City's Prairie Gateway Open Space. Discussions also included programming at the Refuge, the benefits of outdoor time, and sensory aspects of the Nature Play space, with a goal to make it more engaging than screens. The session concluded with participants ranking preferred features, sharing ideas like hills or sliding features. Participants received a gift card on their way out the door for their contributions.
The Friends are wrapping up a multi-year effort to make the refuge a more welcoming place, including new art that was just installed at the 56th St. pedestrian entrances.
Next, we are working on the design-build of a Nature Play area behind the VC that would be a multi-generational amenity for residents from local communities and for the students on field trips coming from schools within a 2 mile radius. Our Nature Play area will incorporate elements like climbing structures, STEM-based components, and loose-material play, encouraging children to explore, experiment, and take calculated risks that contribute to their overall growth.
With the exponential growth of urbanization and a rise in indoor, sedentary activities, families are seeking nature-based experiences closer to home. RMANWR offers a prime location to bring this vision to life, expecting 50,000 visitors and more than 3,300 youth from Title I schools annually. The project also addresses the limited recreational options for young children at the Refuge, creating a natural space designed for 4-12-year-olds and making the outdoors accessible to all abilities without dividing based on specific age groups.
Through extensive community engagement, including feedback from local schools, nonprofit partners, and community members, we will ensure the Nature Play design reflects the needs and desires of the area.
With the high demand for field trips and outdoor programming from schools across the region, RMANWR’s Nature Play will serve as an outdoor learning hub, complementing the Refuge’s environmental education programs. Children in this physically and mentally engaging space will connect deeply with the natural world, forming lasting memories that extend into lifelong values of stewardship and conservation.
Sign up for updates here: https://ffrwr.org/nature-play/