This week we are visiting family in Frederick County, Maryland. We decided to visit a memorial playground called Sophie and Madigan's Playground. It is a fanciful array of playground equipment, designs, and installations with one section based on Fairy Tales and another based on the book Alice in Wonderland. The design elements reminded me a lot of the Wizard of Oz playground we visited a couple months ago.
We were greeted by a people-powered carousel that spins around when people stand inside it and spin the metal cranks. We then entered the Card Soldier Maze that allows for cute photos since the cards all have head cut-outs for kids to peep their head through. There's a musical flower garden where flowers look just like the ones from the Disney Alice in Wonderland movie. Kids can bop the petals to create various chimes. The Queen of Hearts Croquet Slide is supported by a giant flamingo that stands out among all of the equipment. We felt like we were at Disney World when we sat in the fully-accessible teacup spinner to spin ourselves around. A Cheshire Cat spiral made of rubber foam surrounds the spinner, creating an even more dizzying experience. One of my favorite designs was the clock surrounding the White Rabbit Climbing Web.
We went toward the large Fairy Castle in the Fantasy Land section of the playground. Parked outside is a pumpkin carriage that kids can climb inside. Rapunzal's hair comes down one side of the castle and piles upon itself to form a ladder for kids to climb. The other side of the castle has a mermaid tail splashing out of the water creating waves that the kids can climb.
We spent a lot of time here enjoying all of the fun details among the play area. Check out all of my photos below to see this artistic and well-crafted playground.
