The project is for the creation of a unique nature-themed playground at the Tacoma Nature Center. The Tacoma Nature Center serves a regional audience with over 65,000 visitors each year primarily from Pierce, South King, and North Thurston counties. This project was the highest priority of the 2008 master plan update for the 70- acre Tacoma Nature Center property. A steering committee of local residents, city staff and local environmental organizations have met for the past year to plan for the expansion of recreation, nature programming, wetland development work, expanded nature trails and lake management. This process included public and neighborhood council meetings, a citizen steering committee, recreation staff and Park Board review. The playground, being called the Children's Nature Exploration Area, will serve children ages 2 - 12. It will provide a wide variety of play elements, all designed to mimic the natural environment. Elements will include a water feature/stream, Tree House, Boulder Scramble, Drumlin Slide, Snag Climb, Bridges and Log Crossing. The playground will not only serve the children from the surrounding neighborhood where we have a deficiency of playgrounds but will also give Nature Center visitors an opportunity to burn off some extra energy playing, before settling down to participate in the Centers many environmental education programs. The playground will also be a unique play resource that should become a popular destination for Tacoma area families.