The 33-Foot Side-By-Side Slides At Wisconsin's Fox River Park Offer Old-Fashioned Fun For Kids And Kids At Heart
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published July 23, 2020
×
Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Technology is a great thing; however, it does have a downside. For one, kids these days are often more interested in playing with electronics than playing outside. As a way to counteract children’s disinterest in nature, natural play areas are popping up all around the country – and we just so happen to have a great one here in Wisconsin. Take a look:
Located in Waukesha, Fox River Park has lots of perks, including a natural play area.
So, what exactly is a natural play area? Becoming increasingly popular, these unique play areas incorporate natural elements into traditional playgrounds with a goal of encouraging children to get outdoors.
The recipient of the 2019 Excellence Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects, the natural play area at Fox River Park boasts several fun features, but the most popular is definitely the twin slides built into a hill.
There’s a sandbox, too. However, just like many of the park’s other attributes, it’s anything but typical – and that’s because it has a unique spiral shape, which encourages imaginative play.
Wildlife encounters are also part of the fun, thanks to a natural rain garden and butterfly garden. Between the two gardens, kids can get close-up views of butterflies, water bugs, frogs, and tadpoles.
The park’s perks don’t end with the natural play area, though. The 257-acre riverfront park also boasts over six miles of wooded and paved trails along with several observation decks for taking in the stunning surroundings.
