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Forest Grove Elementary Landscape Master Plan
OJ-LA developed a landscape master plan for the Forest Grove Elementary School (RHD) located in Pacific Grove, California. It addresses the school campus’ need to utilize its outdoor spaces more efficiently, integrate new play equipment, explore ways to integrate the existing forest into outdoor learning and play opportunities, and solve vehicular and pedestrian circulation issues. To understand all the issues, OJ-LA interviewed key staff and initiated two design workshops. Forest Grove Site Committee, faculty, staff and parents participated in a workshop which identfied campus issues and opportunities by annotating maps and selected campus images. Concurrently, selected students were given a site tour of the school and then invited to participate in a playground thinking workshop which involved making a model of their “ideal” playground or play activity. These events were successful in that issues, opportunities, and ideas were generated from all types of stakeholders in a short amount of time and it was fun! This facilitated the development of conceptual ideas for the landscape master plan which included new playgrounds, outdoor learning spaces and new outdoor curriculum development, redevelopment of campus entry spaces, integration of habitat gardens, raised garden planters for the children, natural play opportunities, and connecting the school campus with the existing forest and Rip Van Winkle Open Space. The landscape master plan serves as a tool in allocating school funds and donations to specific projects.