Engaging The Children

BRIDGES Students Share Their Vision

As part of a creative learning assignment students in the BRIDGES program with Springfield Public Schools, shared their ideas for Jordan Valley. After learning about City Planning and the importance of Community Involvement, the students participated in a visioning exercise where they listed ideas for what they would like to see in Jordan Valley. The only stipulation was that they “Think Big.” The visioning process focused on the Quarry site, but several ideas could apply to other areas of the park. The kids also came up with ideas for a “State-of-the-Art Playground” to be located in a portion of the Quarry as part of the overall development.

kids crayon drawing: couple enjoying romantic boat on lake

Kids Ideas for Quarry

Fishing
Rock climbing
Trail walk for younger kids
Restaurant where fish are cooked after they are caught in ponds
Skate parks and areas for smaller kids, can rent items
An outdoor IMAX theater
Carousel or Ferris Wheel
Dog park
Area for people to plant flowers
Maze
River Walk
Camping
Kiosks, maps, signs
Gift shop with items to buy on JVP
Holiday places or themes
Barn swings
A section for games
Canoe maze with jets
Go Cart track
An amusement park where people are featured as balls in a pinball game
Slide on a pole and spin while going down
Electronics area
Miniature model of the world and have landmarks to walk around
Waterfall and fish pond.
Trails made of natural materials by waterfall
Rent roller skates and go on trails. Bikes also
One place for games – entertainment area.
Place to travel in time. Start from early times and travel. Could feature history of Springfield.
Pool and water slides. Kiddie pool for younger kids
Slide that spins
Foam pit for bikers
Alien-based things, underground or fly around city
Skate park with ramps that would go to building tops
Trails – one for walkers and one for wheels
Mini crash testing
Have activities where people stick on walls with use of Velcro
Movie drive-in in the East Meadows
Giant trampoline with harnesses
Roller coaster underground like a railroad track
A building were you can get lessons for ice skating
Bungee jumping off a tower – simulated sky diving
Advanced laser tag
A Middle Ages theme
Mining experiences for kids
Tree top climbing
Place for Barney shows
Dinosaur play equipment
Automatic Ferris Wheel
Pony rides and horse rides
Sky diving simulators
Museum like a castle (got idea from city museum in St. Louis)
Castle idea could be combined with features like rock climbing
Water park playground
Ultimate playground with a fun house with fun mirrors, etc.
Have an ice cream stand at a bike rental place
Dinosaur park with a water slide
Winter themed water slide
Water park playground
Water shows
Indoor hill with snow. Ski or snowboard down
Pirate ship with slides coming out of it
Floating café or café beside water features
Monkey bars designed for smaller people
Fireworks on July 4th
Underwater simulation – aquarium
Scaled down Sea World show
Place with water where you could swim with dolphins
Room with snow inside to build snow men and have snow ball fights
Playground with water features. Include activities for younger kids
Tour under water and back up again
From limestone have waterfall that goes into lake with a café nearby
Gotham City – Drive Batmobile
Titanic playground – Pool with blow-up Titanic with a life boat that goes down
Mt. Rushmore type from bluff with water coming out of the mouth.
Do zip line where you go into the water
Dog pool and water slide for dog. Doggie diner for people and dogs
Statue of Liberty to go into
Lake with paddleboats
Tower bigger than Hammonds Tower with miniature landmarks
Playground with favorite characters and stairs to different activities
Lake with features going into lake
Stage area with concerts
Bumper boats that go to different places
Couples could rent canoes with lights on them and food available & tire swings
Drive through docks to eat
Off bluff, zip line into lake
Skateboard park with training area for younger kids
Harry Potter Magic themes to playground like go into Hogswarts
Princess play parks
Rent boats for lakes
Swim up to snack bars
Evening shows
3 story playground designed by kids (got idea from 4th gr. Teacher)
Corn maze with frightening creatures
Park for three year olds
Climb up rock wall on bluff where you can go to a President’s head and look out eyes