22 Winter 2012 Applegater
Cantrall-Buckley Park
NEWS
A new playground for your park
As you’ve probably read in previous
Applegater articles, we’re looking forward
to making major improvements in both
the day-use area and the campground at
Cantrall-Buckley Park. The final phase of
the Campground Improvement Project to
make it RV-friendly will come later in this
decade. First, over the next couple of years
we hope to replace the day-use restrooms
and remodel the playground.
Jackson County Parks has tentatively
scheduled replacement of the restrooms
for their 2014-15 fiscal year. The new
building will probably be a prefabricated
concrete structure similar to the building
that was added to the campground in
2008. It is anticipated that placement of
the building with a crane will mandate its
location on the existing playground. In
preparation, we’ve started planning for the
new playground and next year will begin
our fundraising campaign.
A group of Applegate mothers who
regularly take their kids to the playground
have signed on to help the Greater
Applegate Community Development
Corporation (GACDC) park committee
with design and the fundraising campaign.
They’ve come up with some innovative ideas
to make Cantrall-Buckley’s playground
attractive to more people. We’re still
working on the design, but this article
will describe some of the features being
discussed.
Naturescapes and playscapes
A “naturescape” is a playground
inspired by nature, promoting exploration
and exercise in a natural setting. A
naturescape creates an outdoor learning
environment that incorporates native
plants, trees, edible landscaping, logs and
boulders to climb on, a children’s garden,
real wood blocks, plenty of room to roam
and run, buckets and pipes to make
music, and loose building materials that
encourage creativity.
The word “playscape” describes
a landscape type that is completely
designed for play, not just a place with
equipment that is associated with the word
“playground.”
These new words demonstrate how
much exciting innovation is occurring
in defining what used to be called the
“playground.”
Playground design
Following a theme of “Living with
the Land—Natives and Settlers,” the
playground area could contain simple
equipment such as a wooden house (fort,
log cabin), bridge, balance beam, metal
bars, steps, ladders, swings, a slide that
uses the natural slope of the land, obstacle
course, merry-go-round, hammock net,
and track ride. Logs and boulders could
serve as a border for the playground area.
The uphill side of the playground might
benefit from a rustic log fence to keep
children out of the upper roadway. Rustic
log benches and a couple of picnic tables
will be positioned around the playground
area.
Local builders, landscape designers,
and artists will be employed wherever
possible. The plan will incorporate
noncommercial equipment, including
wooden and metal play structures that
blend with the landscape and fit with the
historical playground theme. Health and
safety will be considered in selection of
materials, such as in wood treatments.
Nature trails
The playground would provide an
inviting gateway into the nature trail
system with natural artistic elements
such as carved wooden poles framing the
trailheads and a musical art piece. Rustic
native and pioneer shelters including bark
houses, log cabins, and a Chinese mining
camp could be located near the playground
along the trails with educational signage to
explain the natural and cultural history of
the area (see “Education”). These shelters
could be built as a community effort and
would not be a part of the playground
itself.
We will improve upon the existing
nature trails with a focus on their becoming
a naturescape or playscape near the
playground. Natural elements such as logs
for climbing, steps cut into downed trees,
boulders, wooden platforms and bridges, a
series of carved wooden mushroom totem
poles for hopping, living willow structures
by the river, and a ropes course (as in the
“Tangle” in Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings
Park, Perth, Australia). Our goal will be
to beautify and define a trail system while
providing a natural place to play and have
an adventure.
The Applegate Trails Association
(ATA), which has been busy creating and
improving trails and trail access around
the Applegate Valley, has expressed interest
in participating in the trail improvement
project.
Education
The rustic shelters mentioned earlier
could be part of an outdoor natural and
cultural history exhibit with educational
signage talking about the history of this
area, perhaps including a mural that
depicts a timeline.
Safety considerations
Crosswalks to the river and to the trail
above the playground, and a sign along the
road, immediately before the playground,
asking drivers to go slowly and watch for
children, would enhance safety aspects of
the playground. Playground rules, e.g.,
no glass or alcohol, no smoking, etc., will
be posted. Finally, after demolition of
the present restroom building, concrete
could be poured over the existing pad to
recycle the impacted area into part of the
playground area to be used for scooters,
skateboards and bikes.
Planning
If you’d like to join us and take part
in the planning effort, we’re certainly open
to new ideas and points of view. Contact
Dave Laananen at the phone number or
email address below.
David Laananen and
Michelle LaFave
541-846-0500
david.laananen@asu.edu
RVHPA Donations
Christmas ~ Solstice Party
at the
Applegate Library
December 23, 3 to 5 pm
Music • Sing-along
Refreshments • Holiday spirit
Bring your friends! Join the fun!
18485 North Applegate Road
Applegate, OR
Jason and Liza Smith’s home burned down last summer. They live at the base of
Mule Mountain below Applegate Lake. Jason and Liza allow the Rogue Valley Hang
Gliding and Paragliding Association (RVHPA) to land in their fields during its events.
After their home burned, RVHPA took up a collection.
As you may know, Woodrat Mountain is internationally renowned as a flying site.
Once the drive was published on an international pilot’s forum, donations came from
as far away as Australia. In total, pilots raised $2,100 and presented a check for that
amount to the Smith’s in August.
On a similar note, the Portland paragliding club held their annual fundraiser for
Ruch School during the Starthistle fly-in over Labor Day. They presented a check for
$753 to Ruch School, which will be used to pay for some students who are traveling
to Washington, DC.
OSU Extension Classes
Grape Pruning
Saturday, February 16, 9 am - Noon
Cost: $10 public; free to Master Gardeners with badges
This is a beginner’s class for people with little to no experience in pruning grapevines.
This class is a lecture and demonstration activity only. The student will understand
cane and spur pruning, and propagating grapes from cuttings. At class end,
students will be allowed to select cuttings from the table-grape varieties grown at
the Extension facility.
Fruit Tree Grafting
Wednesday March 13, 2013, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Prepayment of materials fee of $25
George Tiger, Retired OSU Horticulture Agent
Learn how to create your own apple tree or save grandpa's favorite apple tree. The
techniques and tools for grafting fruit trees will be taught. Participants will choose
apple tree varieties to make three grafted starts to take home. Limited to 25 people.
Call 541-476-6613 to register.
Classes held at 215 Ringuette Street, Grants Pass, OR.