Whether driving by on I-64 or strolling toward Forest Park over the Tamm Avenue overpass or rolling down Oakland, you’ve noticed Turtle Playground.
This perfect place to chill and relax before or after heading to the Zoo it getting a major upgrade to it’s playground area.
The seven turtle sculptures created by Bob Cassilly, designed by Richard Claybour and funded by Sonya “Sunny” Glassberg have been around since 1996. (source) The playground area was pretty basic, but is getting a major upgrade. This is part of the work by the awesome Forest Park Forever.
The playground is being updated with community input and that of modern park designers.
The current ideation for playgrounds is one I fully embrace. Instead of steel poles right outta the mid-20th Century, with recollection of burns, minor cuts on flaking lead paint and of course that sound that Gen-Xers know so well: sweaty palms, legs and arms squeaking across the scorching steel slides and monkey bars.
Now nature-scapes are used, including repurposed tree trunks and such for climbing, resting and general beautification. I’ll take a splinter over a lead-infused steel burn.
The new park will be an inclusive playground for kids of all abilities, including ADA paths and picnic tables.
The area will be defined/enclosed to let little ones run amok while the adults relax and chill in peace. There are bathrooms directly to the west, so that is a welcomed amenity for tourists, visitors and neighborhood people.
The star of the show is the turtle slide, who’s “shell” is made of tree stumps, complete with sculptor designed “feet” to be added (see the photo below).
I love the way it is shaping up, and can’t wait to see the finished product.
If you needed another reason to move to the Clayton Tamm Neighborhood, you found one.
