*****PLEASE VOTE FOR US*****

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We have launched a grant campaign through the Chase Mission Main Street Project. Please vote for us and help us achieve our dreams.

mission main streetHere is our plan:
Learning Landscapes Design LLC is passionate about providing natural play spaces for ALL children, not just those that can pay our fees. With this grant we will engage with three communities who might not otherwise be able to afford our services to design and build the natural playground of their dreams; one international project through our partner Playground Ideas, one in New York City, and one in Portland Oregon. We will offer play spaces that root young people in their communities.

Tell us about your business. What inspired you to start your business? How is your business successful? What makes it unique? 

Throughout my career as a landscape architect, I have been interested in children’s spaces. I have gradually become more concerned by their repetition and lack of creativity often called KFC (kit, fence, carpet). Children’s lives are increasingly scheduled, stressful, and digital leaving them disconnected from their neighborhoods and nature. I started Learning Landscapes because I want to inspire young people to unplug, unwind and reconnect to nature and their neighborhoods through play.

How is your business involved with the community you serve? 

Community is our client. Agencies, businesses, and schools hire us to bring their dreams of nature playgrounds to reality. Our process includes community workshops and volunteer construction. We act as the medium bringing the community’s visions to concrete plans by listening to what they want –whether it’s educating about the life cycle of salmon, or offering tactile experiences with sand. We succeed in creating inspiring spaces because we really listen to the community’s needs and storiess.

What challenges can you identify for your business, and how do you plan to overcome them? 

We must engage whole communities including local steward organizations, which we have identified as project partners (Playground Ideas and The City Parks Foundation). They will help us identify a specific project focusing on low income and play deficient communities.  Their engagement ensures use, maintenance and long term success of the natural playground projects. Learning Landscapes’ technical expertise will make certain projects are safe, maintainable and feasibly sound.

Describe the talent and skill of your employees, and how they contribute to a successful business.

Michelle Mathis is the principal designer at Learning Landscapes. She has 10+ years of experience in landscape architecture, a masters degree in education, and has overseen the design and construction of nature-based playgrounds in Oregon, Washington and Ohio. Michelle balances passion with a technical knowledge in construction documents, permitting and a certification as a playground safety inspector. Michelle is a mindful parent. Her clients say she is a gem: competent and talented.

Thanks for your vote!

https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/business/detail/15310