A new kind of playground in west Raleigh

A new play area has opened in Raleigh, giving children a chance to experience the outdoors.

The play space at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation provides a place for families to enjoy the natural world together. Prairie Ridge is a 45-acre wilderness in west Raleigh that is part of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Elizabeth Croom’s 2½-year-old son, Harrison, loves to visit the new natural area.

“It’s not a traditional playground,” Croom said. “It teaches [children] how to use nature as a play space.”

“It’s very open-ended play. We basically just provide an array of natural materials,” Charles Yelton of Prairie Ridge Ecostation said.embed href="video-1"}}

In addition to open space to roam and play, Prairie Ridge also offers workshops for parents, families and educators.

The natural play area is a simple concept, but in a world of subdivisions and apartment complexes, the space is more than just a fun getaway for families. Parents like Croom said they hope this natural play time gives their children a new perspective on the world.

Prairie Ridge is open weekdays and weekends and admission is free.