Edgerley Family Horizons Center Rooftop Playscape
Built atop an urban parking garage, the playscapes bring nature, sensory exploration, and active play together to support children's growth and well-being.The new Edgerley Family Horizons Center enables Horizons for Homeless Children to fulfill its mission to provide high-quality early education and child care with comprehensive support services for families experiencing homelessness. The Early Education Center includes outdoor play spaces for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Built on top of the parking garage, the two playgrounds provide safe, protected outdoor learning environments in the heart of an urban neighborhood, with several classrooms offering direct access to the outdoors.
Client
Horizons for Homeless Children
Location
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Services
Landscape Architecture and Planting Design
Size
10,000 sq ft
North PlaygroundThe 8,000 SF north playground provides toddlers and preschoolers with a balance of active play and spaces for quieter interaction. Climbing elements support gross motor development, while sand and water play, trike tracks, and open turfed areas encourage movement and exploration.
A cozy nook with an artist-painted mural provides a smaller-scale setting for storytelling and gathering. Oversized pillows offer comfortable seating for educators alongside children, while soft grass plantings introduce additional sensory experiences.
The 2,000 SF south playground provides infants with a bright, sunny environment designed for sensory exploration and play. A play hill with an embankment slide encourages movement, while musical instruments set among flowering vines and natural grasses create opportunities to engage with sound, texture, and the surrounding landscape.
Across both playgrounds, trauma-informed design strategies support children’s sensory and emotional regulation while also considering the comfort and well-being of the educators who care for them.
South Playground
