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Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission is $32,000 shy of its goal of $258,000 to build a nature play center at North Mountain Park at 620 North Mountain Ave. This would be the first full interactive nature playground in Ashland, according to the NMP Nature Center Manager Libby VanWyhe. The difference between a nature play center and a playground is the nature play center isn’t made from cheap, brightly colored plastics, but instead it’s made of natural materials that encourage kids to play in nature without displacing any existing habitats. It would also provide an educational experience about some local Ashland features brought down to scale such as the watershed. “Research shows that childhood nature experiences can increase physical and mental health, scholastic performance and an ethic of conservation later in life,” according to a sponsorship request letter. “But, according to the National Wildlife Federation, the average American child may spend as few as 30 minutes in non-structured, outdoor play each day.” Studies show that within the past two decades childhood obesity has spiked considerably since more children are glued to video game screens and families are eating a diet of high-processed foods due to busy schedules. These same studies show that the psychological, physical, social and academic health of children is positively affected when they have daily contact with nature, according to the Children and Nature Network. The benefits are insurmountable, according to VanWyhe, and include reduction of stress and attention deficit disorder symptoms, improved eye sight, nutrition, academic performance and self-discipline, to name a few. Some of the proposed design features include a ground water pump and simulated stream channels that would lead into a sand-play area, fort building area, craft table, willow dome, willow tunnel, log boardwalk through a wetland area, log balancing beams, cut stump path and a boulder climber. “I have been really interested in exposing children to nature and allowing them to interact with nature in a free-play environment,” VanWyhe said. “Up until this point I’ve been approaching that through facilitated curriculum and allowing students to come out on field trips to learn about nature and natural history, but … there’s not really a place at North Mountain Park for kids to manipulate their natural environment without undue impact on the habitats.” Last fall at a public forum, drawings of the possible additions to the park were placed around a room and the public, children and adults were tasked with voting on only four, in case the funding goal wasn’t met. VanWyhe said she believes they may meet their goal by the end of November deadline in which case all of the design ideas can be constructed. “With any luck we’ll be able to implement the whole design in all of its beauty and entirety,” VanWyhe said. She said she was inspired after playing in the Westmoreland Park in Portland. “I realized that’s what North Mountain Park is missing, a safe way to explore nature in a hands-on environment, handle natural materials, manipulate your environment, not just talk about how a watershed works, but actually see water pumped over the landscape and play with it,” VanWyhe said. So she contacted the designers, GreenWorks PC, and they’ve agreed to take on the project. VanWyhe said the park is hoping to share their plans with the public again at the annual Bear Creek Salmon Festival on Oct. 6. If the funding goal is met, construction is set to begin in the spring of 2019. For more information, to donate and volunteer, visit ashland.or.us/NaturePlayArea. Contact Daily Tidings reporter Caitlin Fowlkes at [email protected] or 541-776-4496. Follow her on Twitter @cfowlkes6 .