On Dec. 10, 2018, the Westminster Legacy Foundation presented $200,000 to the Westminster City Council in support of the innovative nature playground built at Westminster Station Park. Located at the dazzling Westminster Station Park which connects Westminster to downtown Denver via the light rail, this unique outdoor space provides the children of Westminster the opportunities to develop essential skills and building blocks that lead to being healthy and well-rounded.
As technology advanced and became exponentially more compelling to youth of all ages, research showed (circa 2016) that on average, an American child spends more than seven (7) hours a day in front of a screen. Too much screen time can negatively impact the cognitive development of young minds. Playgrounds with strong, interactive “nature” elements help combat stunted cognitive development, and they have been proven to positively affect gross motor function, fine motor skills, imagination and social skills - simultaneously. This alarming data resonated with WLF’s board of directors. They decided that efforts were to be made to support this truly unique playground for Westminster’s children. Efforts included soliciting donations and sponsorships, writing grants and educating the public on the advantages of playing outside and interacting with nature .
What is a Nature Playground?
The playgrounds are made of natural elements including trees, boulders, water, sand, chirping birds, blue sky and – most importantly – plenty of imagination. The nature playground at Westminster Station Park will include a “mountain” with boulders, ropes and timbers for climbing and a series of tree houses connected by bridges - that has accessibility for everyone.Inventive and novel, Westminster’s nature playground is setting the standard both locally and nationally for this type of innovative park. In 2023, this playground received a national award for excellence and its groundbreaking design.
Why a Nature Playground?
With the ever-present cell phones and tablets, youngsters are now spending too much time on their screens and posting on social media; therefore, Westminster decided to try a new and refreshing type of outdoor engagement - a nature playground! Research indicates, when children go to traditional playgrounds, they may become bored quickly as these play spaces have limited features - slides, swings, monkey bars, climbing ladders and one or two “hiding places.” Imagination and play soar at a nature playground as it has so many unique attributes, such as, boulders that can be traversed a variety of ways, timbers that inspire a different game with every visit and a much larger area for kids to explore and play. Families with children come back to these playgrounds more often and stay longer during visits.
With the gift of $200,000 for the Nature Playground at Westminster Station Park, the Westminster Legacy Foundation reached a notable landmark! With this donation, WLF has given more than $1 million back to the community since its founding in 2001.
