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Virginia Tech

Playable Ground

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Playing outside is of vital importance to children's mental and physical health; play is a biological necessity that teaches children the skills they will need in order to survive as adults. Yet the colorful and ubiquitous playground structures found in most parks often fall short of their full potential. These plastic playgrounds, which should serve as catalysts for creative thought and action in children, are limited in their sameness. Furthermore, the playground structures, which are manufactured in bulk and then bolted onto the ground at their final destinations, have little connection to their sites. I propose to investigate the characteristics of playgrounds in Washington, DC, and to use this investigation as a catalyst in the creation of a different type of grounds for play. I will create a playable ground which utilizes the specific qualities of site to engage children to move their bodies and their minds in imaginative ways.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Landscape Architecture
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Landscape Architecture
Department dc:contributor.department
Architecture
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2015

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Weaver, MaryKate Olson
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Heavers, Nathan
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Bork, Dean R.
  • Piedmont-Palladino, Susan C.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:5570
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/54023

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Weaver, MaryKate Olson. Playable Ground. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/54023