All for the Children

It started out to be a relatively small planting bed in the front of their house. And then it morphed into a magical play space for their four children. This play space is not a space like you see in other yards, however. Instead, it is an earthy, rustic, and terrific space, limited only by imagination.

For West Des Moines homeowners James and Carly, the project started out to be a 10- × 10-foot planting bed and ended up being an elaborate 3-year play space project. “This property is all things to our family” James explains. “It’s our home, and it’s where we work. I often work from home, and Carly homeschools our children.”

Working with local landscape designer Jeff Hendrickson of Ted Lare Design+Build, the homeowners left the project details to the Lare team. “It was a great project,” Hendrickson points out. “We explored with drones, and we created a three-season porch, an outdoor kitchen, and an observation deck. Our crew had a blast working on this project. It was such fun.”

There were some obstacles before the creativity began. Because of the placement of a septic system on the south side of the house, designers had to avoid using their large, heavy equipment in that area. Quite by accident, workers also found a second septic system. To avoid that, the team built a stairway of stone on the north side of the house to move materials and machinery down the hill.

OVER THE ROOF

A hot tub had to be delivered over the top of the house. It was too big and heavy to be moved down the stairs. The yard in the three-fourths of an acre had to be mostly cleared of huge honeysuckle bushes before building the play space. “Needless to say, it was a team effort,” says Hendrickson. He estimates there are 500 tons of boulders on site.

The play space features installations such as bubbling boulders, which are standing boulders fitted with water features that bubble. It has secret hideaways and rock paths and bridges. It has obstacle courses and spots to sit alone.

Rest-area seats are made of large chunks of trees. There are rock-climbing poles in various heights, depending on a child’s height, and boulders throughout the space.

CEDAR PLAY SET

A cedar play set with swings and a slide is the centerpiece. The set was configured by Bears Playgrounds of New York. Designers came from the Big Apple to measure the space and returned to build the set. As Hendrickson says, the designers wanted to make sure to get it right.

The younger children can play in a sandbox outlined with logs. Natural creek beds are underfoot throughout the project.

Each child got a small sculpture to “plant” somewhere to mark a special spot.

Hidden lighting illuminates the playground at night.

As part of the whole project, the observation deck, a screened porch, and an outdoor kitchen merge the house into the play area. James does most of the cooking for the family, and he wanted an outdoor kitchen. The kitchen was one of the add-on projects that became part of the overall planned renovation.

Lots of Carly’s ideas came from Pinterest. “I had a lot of ideas, and the space kept growing.” In school, her students learned about pollinator gardens and just how many mushrooms can grow in a yard, so gardens are a part of the space. It seems safe to say that this play place offers opportunities for fun, hope, and inspiration.

“I always liked nature and was very into the experience,” Carly says. “That was except for one time. When our daughter was 5, she followed a deer into the woods. We literally lost her, and it was very scary. It was quite the way to meet new neighbors.”

“We have optimized every inch of the yard,” she explains. “Most of our renovation and improvement budget has gone to our home’s exterior. We want our kids to be outside. As parents we worry about their screen-saturated world.”

GET MUDDY

Carly and James feel having spaces to climb, swing, jump, and get muddy is important.

“That’s the way we believe childhood was meant to be,” Carly says.

The couple both say they wanted spaces to share with others. They host life groups, a women’s group, and homeschool events, such as outdoor movies. “It’s a space not just for our family, but for others to share and enjoy,” they say.

The family has endured some rough spots over the past three years. “Our yard has been one of the biggest sources of comfort for us,” Carly explains. “It’s beautiful and serene, so it’s hard to feel anything but peace. We hope it can provide peace for our children over the years and for others we host and entertain.”

Of course, the space can provide magic, pure and simple, too. Ask the couple’s older son, Will, age 4, who will tell you his favorite feature is the fire pole. “I go down it 100 times every day,” he exclaims.

Yes, there’s magic in the space. •