When Educational Opportunities for Children & Families (EOCF) had the opportunity to revitalize one of their existing, home-based early learning centers, they invited MxM to help envision and design a series of transformational outdoor improvement to what was a then a tired backyard lawn to create a hidden childhood oasis within Vancouver’s suburban housing.

Working with EOCF staff, MxM staff hosted a charrette to develop plans for three outdoor learning spaces hosting preschool-age, waddler and infant program attendees. Using a multi-layered strategy to create an immersive playgarden, the spaces meet kids where they are by promoting gross-motor skills, imaginative play, cooperative play, loose parts exploration and new opportunities to engage the natural world with extensive plantings.

The design was inspired by the natural and cultural ecologies of southwest Washington with mining derricks, stones, logs, tunnels, and caves in an exciting diversity of play opportunities for kids across the physical disability and neurodivergent spectrum.