Music is the theme, and Alberta Jones, a civil rights activist, is given tribute through the naming of a new park in the California neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky.
Community feedback guided the park’s development on Maple Street, championed by the Parks Alliance of Louisville. Together with Earthscape, a celebration of music is evident in the custom play structures that reflect the musical theme. Oversized musical note sculptures create a stunningly beautiful climbing adventure. Beside the tower, sheet music appears to unfold, creating lower-level climbing and hiding nooks. Talk tubes throughout the playground tower enable children at ground level to whisper to friends up high in the tower.
Alberta O. Jones was a pioneering attorney and civil rights champion whose law office was located just blocks from the park. She became one of the first Black women to pass the Kentucky bar exam and was the first woman named city attorney in Jefferson County.
The Alberta O. Jones Park playground is designed to encourage natural and non-prescriptive play that engages children of all ages and abilities.
“As requested by the community, the playground celebrates music-making with giant musical notes and a scale built into a soaring climbing tower, sound-making devices, as well as swings, slides, and connecting bridges. There will be opportunities for kids to play together, as well as places for quiet, individual activity.” (Parks Alliance of Louisville)
The playground tower appears as an unfolding sheet of music; with staff and notes coming off the page, it becomes larger, more abstract, and joyful. The sculptures are inspired by music and improvisation, taking music notes off the page and jumbling them together to create hangout and climbing spaces.
The junior play area features natural play pieces. Musical note wobble boards are fun for dancing, jumping, and rocking to the beat, or simply for sitting and resting! A giant rope swing allows kids to move together.
Alberta O. Jones Park is Earthscape’s first project in Kentucky. Ella Fitzgerald Park in Detroit, MI is also a music-themed playground by Earthscape!