![Jason at outside chalkboard](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/afa7c656524d530d62a59f8bfd24f305b4b157f7-3072x1270.jpg?w=1536&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![Garden box and play prompt](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/dd564f3d0d9381ba96b3533d7e817db6bb8c9f22-750x1268.jpg?w=768&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
Corinthian Gardens Playscape & Signage
Did you know that right next to Philadelphia's historic Eastern State Penitentiary there is a beautiful community garden that is open to the public? Oh, You didn't know? Neither did I!
For a number of reasons, this magical zone felt off limits to the average passerby and even families in the neighboring communities. The members of the cooperatively-run garden wanted to change that and they especially wanted to make the place more engaging for children. Jenna Robb and I worked closely with them to imagine ways to make the space more inviting for families and to get kids interested in more of the garden than just the sandbox.
- Client
Corinthian Gardens
- Collaborators
- Location
- Philadelphia
- Disciplines
- Playful Learning
- Community
- Wayfinding
- Fabrication
- Three Dimensional Design
- Year
- 2021
![Eastern State view](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/cf1af41afb7d99d61c04056d62228ca48c1c15e2-1416x982.jpg?w=710&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![Garden Sign and City Skyline](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/c04366e504214df26d8284166352bf2f86e60c8e-1416x982.jpg?w=710&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![Sign Illustrations](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/5e69a4002214b5d2f2bacfbca6750de7222016ea-2916x1925.jpg?w=1536&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![Explorer Area](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/535e315af18e0b294c8e1fe16e6d62233431780a-2916x1956.jpg?w=1536&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![Bird Sanctuary](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/d1d124869f15153db405df15a61e5f554f43fcd8-2916x1956.jpg?w=1536&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![Demo Beds](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/43450e8bf614a5fd8298fca1abd692eaa94b3cb7-2916x1956.jpg?w=1536&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![box](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/ddefab0d0715b9f2b12cb53337df01869862e072-918x1223.jpg?w=460&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![play prompts front](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/6c329f79d70d75ee82de604ce5635ea02629b556-918x1223.gif?w=460&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![Play Prompts Back](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/73b990cf6b77f653ec3117213cb79aad6c60785a-918x1223.gif?w=460&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
We designed, built, painted and installed 8 boxes in total. Each one representing a special area of the garden and filled with a stack of cards that prompt that we created with the help of playful learning expert Anna Forrester. The cards help kids to notice things, explore, or learn new ideas in fun and sometimes silly ways. Kids can take the prompts home or return them to the box when they are finished.
![Compost sign](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/34178bbf16ccf7c60db0e9a2f1816d50ea4d2807-1416x1053.jpg?w=710&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![Compost Sign Detail](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/62fd3cc032f63b77bbc0372c7ddcc1f35fc710ab-1416x1053.jpg?w=710&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)
![Sign](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fob5aicq/production/05517dc2466e1f1c77062c8448e74d2f20019f85-2916x1956.jpg?w=1536&fit=max&auto=format&dpr=2)