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  • Cove Park Cove Park Cove Park
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  • Cove Park Cove Park Cove Park
  • Cove Park Cove Park Cove Park
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  • Cove Park Cove Park Cove Park
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  • cove park natural wood playground play cove park natural wood playground play cove park natural wood playground play

Cove Park

Client: City of Chestermere
Collaboration: Ground Cubed, Wilco
Location: Chestermere, Alberta
Completion Date: Fall 2019

Chestermere is a dynamic recreational city with a laid-back feel situated just east of Calgary.  The lakeside community is built around picturesque Chestermere Lake which offers year-round recreational opportunities.  At the north end of the lake, a new natural playground at Cove Park was created with a nautical theme.  Earthscape collaborated with local Landscape Architects at Ground Cubed to develop a concept that is unique to this lakeside playground site.

The playground’s central feature is a dynamic custom ship sculpture that affords high challenge climbing opportunities for children and makes anyone who gets the top want to shout “ahoy-me-mateys!”  The ship is slightly sunken and perhaps wrecked on the beach giving it an interesting narrative.  The ship is integrated into the poured-in-place rubber “wave” that adds topographical change to the site.  A hill slide is also incorporated into the rubber wave berm and a nearby playhut gives shelter to rescued sailors.  It provides imaginative play opportunities for younger children or a quiet place to high away.  On the opposite side of the bisecting pathway are swings and a small log sculpture.  A shaded gathering space offers comfortable seating for park visitors.