Wesselman Woods announces new addition to Nature Playscape in early 2024
EVANSVILLE − After years of planning and fundraising, Wesselman Woods is bringing life back to the kid's playscape area with a new addition: A treehouse.
The Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape, built in 2018, offers more than five acres of outdoor learning and exploration for visitors.
"The Welborn Baptist Foundation Nature Playscape welcomes thousands of children, families, and adults each year, [and] after introducing the Bernhardt Family Bird Sanctuary in 2022, we wanted to continue the momentum and develop more opportunities to explore, play, and connect with nature," said Wesselman's Executive Director Zach Garcia.
It will be located at the front of the Nature Playscape, surrounding the Eastern White Pine Trees at the entrance.
The treehouse's layout will include ramps and accessible entrances to flow with the current environment and accentuate education programming.
“Children will be able to explore the different ecosystems of the understory, mid-canopy, and upper canopy. With the elevated platform overlooking Odonata Pond, children will be able to observe turtles, herons, and fish from a safe distance, without disrupting wildlife," said Payton Broshears, Wesselman's Directory of Environmental Education. "The treehouse will emphasize our encouragement for risk play and exploration, allowing children and adults to experience a new level of the ecosystem together."
Following a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday with members of the community, the mayor, and donors, construction hope that it will be done in early 2024.
The playscape offers additional trails, nature play "rooms", a bird sanctuary, a red bud tree tunnel, a dry creek bed ecosystem, plants, and structures around the sanctuary to help promote harmony between humans and wildlife.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Nature Playscape at Wesselman Woods announces new addition in 2024
