Pod Playground in Canberra, Australia
On the grounds of Canberra’s National Arboretum, gigantic acorn-like pods spiral up into the sky as if enchanted by a magic spell. Created by Australian landscape architect Taylor Cullity Lethlean, the Pod Playground features three acorn-shaped houses connected by slides, tunnels, ladders and a climbing wall.
Children’s Paradise, Sweden
Specially designed for Liseberg, Sweden and taking its inspiration from beautiful decorative bird cages, ‘Children’s Paradise’ is full of the same elements used by pet birds, on a larger scale. There are ladders, perches, bells, mirrors dangling from chains and swinging nets – and if you climb high enough, you might spot a massive bird or two.
Kid’s Castle in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
This fun castle-shaped playground in Pennsylvania features five levels of fun for kids with a dramatic exterior that’s straight out of a fairytale. Built in 1996, ‘Kid’s Castle’ looks a bit like an overgrown treehouse and features spiraling slides, a medieval maze and lots of dark wooden interior spaces to explore.
Parque Gulliver, Valencia, Spain
Children are transformed into Lilliputians as they climb all over the prone form of Gulliver at this park in Spain. Inspired, of course, by Jonathan Swift’s novel, ‘Parque Gulliver’ is a sculptural playground functioning as one big slide. Steps are hidden all over Gulliver’s body, including his legs, offering access to climbing ropes and nets.
