Sonoma County Regional Parks is trying to offer new ways for children and families to engage with the natural environment with the opening of the first-ever nature-inspired play area in the Santa Rosa area. | Pixabay
Sonoma County Regional Parks is trying to offer new ways for children and families to engage with the natural environment with the opening of the first-ever nature-inspired play area in the Santa Rosa area. | Pixabay
Sonoma County Regional Parks recently opened the Red Tail Play Area at Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, the first-ever nature-inspired play area in the Santa Rosa area.
Located at 3820 Petaluma Hill Road in Santa Rosa, Taylor Mountain is already a destination for a variety of outdoor activities, including biking, disc golf, picnicking and access for both hiking and equestrian trail use, according to the preserve’s website.
The addition of the play area is intended to provide a new way for residents to connect with the natural world, according to a Sonoma County Regional Parks press release. The play area is convenient to the main entrance to Taylor Mountain off of Petaluma Hill Road.
“The new Red Tail Play Area is a place for families and kids to unleash creativity, build strong bodies and minds, breathe fresh air and create memories with loved ones,” Bert Whitaker, Sonoma County Regional Parks director, said in the release. “With this opening, we celebrate another significant addition to Taylor Mountain Regional Park and strengthen our commitment to equal access for all people to outdoor recreation and natural spaces – and their proven benefits for mental and physical health.”
Instead of steal and plastic, the new play area was constructed from natural materials such as wood and rock to compliment that surrounding landscape, according to the release. It has a basket-style swing, a logjam climbing area and an embankment slide.
The new play area also features an oversized replica of a red-tailed hawk nest, with the idea that children can add natural materials to the nest as part of an interactive learning experience, according to the release.
Under COVID-safe protocols, the play area is already open to the public for physically-distanced recreation, according to the release. Visits must be limited to 30 minutes per day if others are present, face masks are required for anyone two-years-old or older, and families are encouraged to try to use the play area during non-peak hours.
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