Historic Green’s Farms Church and Nursery School, Westport, Connecticut

Historic Green’s Farms Church and Green’s Farms Nursery School enlisted Haven to redesign their outdated and awkward outdoor play and recreation spaces. We sought the input of church leaders, members, nursery school families, a fitness expert, and liscensing, and carefully considered of the town’s planning and zoning and neighborhood families.

After consulting with all stakeholders we carefully synthesized that information to craft a brief that included developing the landscape as an extension of a recently completed renovation of the historic meetinghouse, developing the landscape as a community resource, creating customized spaces for youth programs including a firepit, catering area, and new basketball court, create flow and cohesion throughout the property that is flexible enough for multigenerational church, community, and nursery school use, increase the sense of wonder and peace with an emphasis on nature, creative and sensory play, retain limited parking, and beutify the property with ecologically beneficial native plantings and a flush of heritage bulbs in spring.

Thoughtful reimagining of the space—including a previously fenced out hill and and unused portion of a one way driveway—increased the usable area by nearly 6,000 square feet all while reducing the non-conforming coverage of the lot, keeping existing parking, and hiding waste and recycling facilities. The hill not only increased square footage but added topographical interest and allowed for the addition of an embankment slide.

After a careful activity analysis of the current playground and the current structures an immersive nature playground was designed to not only retain all of the existing gross motor, trike, and STEM play activities but to introduce many more and infuse the space with social and creative agency, fantasy and loose parts play, and sensory enrichment.

Layered native tree, shrub, carex, grass, fern, and perennial plantings that cater sensory enrichment of the landscape especially in fall, winter and spring when the property if most heavily used. Thick underplanting--a green mulch--absorbs excess rain runoff of the sloping area, improves soil, and reduces ongoing maintenance. Semi-evergreen vines, such as Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler' lend a secluded and old growth feel to the areas that aren’t deep enough to accomodate a hedgerow.

Neighbors needs and community engagement were considered through posted invitations to enjoy the property as well as quiet hours after dusk.