Abstract:
This project is the development of a design for a proposed reading garden and educational playscape at the main branch of the Hancock County Public Library (HCPL) in Greenfield, IN. The problem addressed is building reading skill and interest and understanding of the environment throughout the community. The focus of the educational playscape is reading and environmental education for children ranging from preschool age to 12th grade. The focus of the reading garden is to reignite reading interest in adults and older teens and connect the Greenfield community to their literary history. The site was designed to serve as an additional patch habitat for migratory water fowl and other transient wildlife, with the intent of educating visitors on the habitat needs of wildlife. A site plan, grading plan, planting plan, and site details were generated as part of this project. The final design addresses the above listed needs through an Authors' Walk with art installations, a reading garden, two playscapes, and a naturalized retention pond.
The project location is the main branch of the Hancock County Public Library in Greenfield, IN. The library property is an eleven acre site, the southern half of which is already in use while the northern half is a field of weeds. The proposed reading garden and educational plays cape occupies the northern half of the site.
