Plano design team presents playground enhancement plan for Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

A landscape architect presenting the design team told attendees that the city is moving forward with a plan to expand and redesign the playground at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano and will now move into construction planning, including preparing construction documents for bidding.

The project aims to preserve natural elements of the preserve while improving circulation and offering more diverse play opportunities, the presenter said. "Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed feedback regarding the playground enhancements at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve," the landscape architect said, describing several months of community input and site visits that shaped the design.

The team described how the playground sits at the top of a wooded hillside between prairie and the Cross Timbers ecosystem and said they studied a cross section of the site to understand how the natural landscape flows through the playground area. They identified five distinct use zones for the enhancements: an arrival corridor, gathering areas, Cross Timbers, a play prairie and a lookout. The arrival corridor will include natural stone structures, concrete pathways, custom signage, a pedestrian plaza, boulder formations and identity markers to create a distinct entry. Gathering areas will include an enhanced pavilion, a central hub plaza and informal seating. The Cross Timbers zone will use durable materials and play elements such as angled posts, climbing ropes and faux logs; a perimeter seat wall will remain to provide resting nodes. The play prairie will feature ground-play elements and interpretive panels that highlight the prairie ecosystem. The lookout will be a multilevel signature play structure designed to engage users of varying abilities and provide elevated views of the preserve.

The presenter said the design prioritizes minimizing disturbance to the preserve’s trail system while enhancing circulation for visitors. "This playground enhancement is designed to be a welcoming space for visitors of all ages to explore and enjoy," the landscape architect said.

The next phase, the presenter said, is for the design team to move into construction planning and to prepare construction documents for the bidding process. For questions about the project, the presenter directed people to contact the City of Plano Parks and Recreation department.