Nature play space opens at MLK Station park

Austin’s parks department and its community partners have been installing various types of nature-focused play features for children across the city’s park system, focusing first on neighborhoods that have been deemed lacking in natural green spaces. The latest such playscape is at MLK Station Neighborhood Park. During the community outreach that was done in advance of the design process, local residents said they “wanted to be able to climb, jump, balance, build forts as well as access water, trees and native plants. These elements were echoed in the final design which includes a stump, log, and boulder play trail; circular stump seating with central space for loose parts; and play hill. It also features a seating/gathering space, a looping natural trail, a mulched central trail, limestone block seating, adjusted and re-secured stepping stones across the creek, and ongoing treatment for invasive bamboo.” The Children and Nature Network will be hosting special weekend Nature Play Days this summer “to help build understanding and comfort with these new features.” The play area’s grand opening is Saturday, June 4, noon-3 p.m., MLK Station Neighborhood Park, 2907 E. MLK Jr. Blvd.