Welcome to Mermaid Park Playground: A Destination for Nature-Inspired Play
Mermaid Park in Whitpain Township represents a landmark achievement in community-centered, nature-inspired play design, one that General Recreation is proud to have brought to life. The project began when General Recreation responded to a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) developed by Kurt Baker, then the Parks and Recreation Director for Whitpain Township, who envisioned three distinct play pods connected by accessible pathways, each anchored to a different natural theme: Animals & Insects, Forest, and Earth.
From the outset, the goal extended well beyond standard accessibility compliance. Working alongside Landscape Structures’ custom design team and General Recreation’s Inclusive Play Consultant, Marla Davis, Project Manager Will Hemler led the effort to translate the Township’s vision into three richly detailed play environments. Baker, along with current Parks and Recreation Director Mike Richino, remained closely involved throughout the planning process, ensuring that the community’s aspirations were honored at every stage.
“Significant attention was paid to the Township-provided storyboard,” Hemler notes, “and we focused on bringing in as many of those elements and themes as possible.” This collaborative spirit shaped every decision, from the placement of individual pieces to the layering of interpretive and sensory details that give each pod its distinct character.
Simone Collins Landscape Architecture was responsible for the overall park design to produce a stunning area that beautifully connects the pods and manages stormwater in a way that complements the natural environment. Whitpain Township Public Works, with support from select contractors, completed all site work throughout Mermaid Park.
Pod 1, the Animals & Insects area, immerses younger and older visitors alike in the natural world. The wheelchair-accessible We-Go-Round spinner anchors the space at the highest point and best vista in the park, offering built-in seating and shade so families can linger and take in the surroundings. A dedicated Sprig Area for ages two through five features hand-crafted Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) wolf and fawn sculptures.
The Hedra honeycomb climber, with its multiple entry points, cozy interior spaces, and generous shade both within and below the structure, paired with an “Anatomy of a Bee” interpretive panel, invites extended exploration at a child’s own pace. A Butterfly Trail with educational signage leads to a calm sitting and gathering area — a thoughtful transition point where children and caregivers can pause before re-entering the energy of play. An inclusive double Oodle swing with butterfly accents comfortably seats four to six children at once and includes a transfer point for mobility device users, making shared, side-by-side play genuinely accessible to everyone.
Pod 2 brings the forest canopy to the ground through the Smart Play Tree Tops structure surrounded by nature inspired ground level elements. This structure is an abstract multilevel climber featuring slides, bridges, and an O-Zone climber designed to engage children across a wide age range without the need for a separate, costly toddler unit. A Rain Sound Panel evokes the experience of a forest downpour, exciting the imagination through sound alone. A Forest Animal Scavenger Hunt, using powder-coated aluminum medallions hidden throughout the play area, rewards curiosity and keeps children moving through the space. An Animal Track Panel adds another layer of discovery, making Pod 2 as much a place of learning as of physical play. Adjacent to the play space, a Story Telling Area provides a serene space for sharing and learning amidst the forest.
Pod 3 invites exploration of the earth beneath our feet. Geological learning panels guide visitors through concepts and exploration of rock and soil, while a cave installation complete with fossils and stalactites sparks wonder and encourages socialization. The Cozy Dome universal climber offers peek holes so children and caregivers can maintain easy sightlines with one another; it also serves as a quiet refuge for children who need a moment away from stimulation — a detail that reflects the project’s genuine commitment to inclusive design in its fullest sense. An accessible We-Saw multi-user seesaw rounds out the experience, allowing use by as few as two participants, offering walk-in seating for wheelchair transfer, and naturally encouraging the kind of cooperation and communication that makes play socially meaningful.
The project was largely funded by Whitpain Township through its Open Space Fund. The Township also received funding through a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant, which supported improved parking and the connecting pathways that unify all three pods. The result is a playground that is as educational as it is joyful, a genuine gift to the Whitpain Township community.
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