Four multi-storey climbing towers, a spacious water play area with a mill house, a unique labyrinth for the senses and a 27-metre-long swing are among the main attractions of the 7.5-hectare adventure playground in the Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. True to the concept "A Park for Everyone, Built by Everyone", the playground was implemented by Richter Spielgeräte GmbH in collaboration with our long-standing American partner APE Studio and officially opened in June 2025. 

The newly designed park has an eventful, sometimes dark history: for 150 years, the property was part of Spring Hill Plantation, in which enslaved African Americans were forced into labour. For the ensuing 160 years, it was home to North Carolina's first psychiatric hospital. The park's name giver, nurse and social reformer Dorothea Dix, founded a mental hospital on the site where mentally ill people were examined and observed. The methods used in those "examinations" at that time have left a bitter aftertaste that lingers to this day. The Gipson Play Plaza, named after the sponsoring family, is an impressive playground with various play areas full of exciting challenges for families. In the future, the focus will be on cheerful shouts and loud children's laughter – thus breaking with the once dark history of the place.

The centrepiece of the adventure playground consists of three large climbing towers interconnected by a large two-storey suspension bridge. The lower level can be reached via two ramps, making it accessible to people in wheelchairs or with walking aids, as well as families with prams. The play elements on the lower level are particularly suitable for younger children who do not yet dare to climb to the top. Exploring the upper levels of the tower via ladders, climbing nets and net tunnels is much more challenging and requires more courage and a good sense of balance. This is more appealing to older children and teenagers. From the various platforms, visitors can whizz back down again via several straight and winding tunnel slides. The climbing combination features various wind mills and a rotating double helix. In addition to the visual aspects, the installation of several wind turbines as a group makes various air flow conditions visible. They thus add to the experience of the element of air and allow the power of the wind to be recognised.

Located at the top of the adventure playground is Watermill Mountain, a spacious water play paradise with various channel and dam elements as well as Archimedes screws, inviting children of all ages to play with water. The mill house, modelled to resemble the historic Yates Mill in Raleigh, can be operated by children using belt drives, mill wheels, pumps, dams and lock gates. Here they can learn about the power of water in a playful way. Another highlight is the "Mill Race", a 25-metre-long watercourse along the footpath. From the pump at the source of the channel, small boats created by the children from leaves and branches can sail to the mud area, for example.

Below the Watermill Mountain watercourse, water and sand meet. Here, for example, children can bake small "sand cakes" or re-enact the activities of a construction site. Between massive stones from the region lies "Boulder Town", a village-like collection of small wooden playhouses that tower above the water and sand play area. These are also ideal for little adventures and a wide variety of role-playing games.

Nestled in the garden landscape, the "Sensory Maze" hedge labyrinth offers interactive components that appeal to all senses with various mirror installations and sound elements for playing, trying out and experiencing. A special experience within the labyrinth is the large walk-in kaleidoscope, which allows you to see yourself from all angles in multiple mirrors. The sound arch, a water vortex, the dance chimes integrated into the floor and the stroking stones provide additional exciting experiences. The barrier-free sensory maze (ADA-compliant, Americans with Disabilities Act) is designed for people of all ages and abilities. Here, they can try things out, play tag or hide and seek, and simply rediscover the maze again and again.

The "Swing Terrace" features an impressive 27-metre-long swing with various swing types, including a large rope swing that can be shared by up to three children at a time, as well as nest swings for young and old to relax in. 

All in all, a spacious, fascinating and challenging play world has been created here, enabling inclusive play and bringing together all age groups.

Everything a child's heart desires

The AKI Family Resort, a 5-star family hotel that belongs to the renowned Adler Group and opened in November 2024, is idyllically situated in the South Tyrolean mountains at almost 1,000 metres at the foot of the Plose. Even in the lobby, it is clear that children's dreams come true here - a large vertical floor net with a crawl tunnel to climb up and an integrated tunnel slide to swing down is located right next to reception, so that little guests can play while their parents are still checking in.

The play areas designed by Richter Spielgeräte can be found both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, the play barn, modelled on a typical hay barn in the area, is a particular source of excitement. In the outdoor area, it is particularly noticeable that the equipment is free-standing, such as the tractor and the ‘grazing’ wobbly sheep on an alpine meadow. In addition, a small mill house with roof shingles that are typical of the region invites imaginative role play. A specially created stream that flows into a lake and can be crossed on a wooden ferry also makes children's hearts beat faster. A specially created stream that flows into a lake and can be crossed on a wooden ferry also makes children's hearts beat faster. A craft room, a spacious infinity pool and daily childcare with a varied programme complete the picture of relaxation and recreation for families with young and older children.

Sustainability and regionality are also very important here. Numerous natural materials such as wood and stone were used. The project was realised in collaboration with regional craftsmen - with one exception: the play equipment was supplied by Richter Spielgeräte from Frasdorf in Upper Bavaria. They were installed entirely without concrete foundations.

The recently opened children's playground in The Vineyard in the heart of the north-western Australian metropolis of Sydney was designed for families and at the same time pays homage to the rural spirit that has shaped this community. A spacious play area, whose towers, visible from afar, are connected by bridges, crawl tunnels and rope constructions, invite you to climb and role-play. You can get back down one of the slides at any time. The castle complex is complemented by equipment that also attracts the little ones. For example, the big tractor with trailer, whose friendly appearance alone invites children to play. And of course, the typical wooden wine barrels are also a must. The lower level of one of the towers is also equipped with a kitchen where you can play out the adult world to your heart's content. Of course, shady canopies and a cool, dark tunnel slide for hot summer days are a must. And while the adults take a break, the little ones are already whizzing off again to discover the “Memory”...

The redesigned play park with equipment from Richter Spielgeräte opened in November 2023 in collaboration with long-standing partner APE.

At the center of the play world is a large play pyramid on which children and young people can climb to their heart's content. Here they can climb to new heights and enjoy a breathtaking view of San Diego harbor from the top. The tunnel slide takes you back down again with momentum and a cheerful laugh. Right next to the play pyramid is a climbing structure with a horizontal net that not only invites you to climb, but also to linger and chill out. The little ones can gain their first experience of spinning and centrifugal force with the spinning top, and even the smallest children can enjoy gentle up and down movements on the seesaw.

The Metropolitan Park in Tres Cantos, in the Spanish metropolis of Madrid, was designed by Porras Guadiana Arquitectos and is an exemplary model for leisure and community living.

 

Nicknamed the “City of Children”, this leisure facility was designed with the aim of promoting social relationships and strengthening the community fabric. The renowned company Richter Spielgeräte GmbH from Frasdorf in Upper Bavaria was commissioned to design the playground. It is characterized by its iconic 12-metre-high stainless steel tower, which can be seen from afar, and its three tunnel slides with heights of 8, 6 and 3 metres. These slides are very attractive for children. An excited “tingling sensation” and butterflies in the stomach arise when you slide down the dark tube with a swing. Exiting in broad daylight triggers a feeling of relief, often accompanied by laughter and screams. The play levels at different heights, which can be used to access the individual slides, are connected to each other inside the tower by climbing nets. The different levels invite children and teenagers to venture further and further up and gradually try out the increasingly longer and steeper tunnel slides. The really brave ones climb straight up to the top level, from where they can get back down again via the 8-metre-long slide from lofty heights. The transparency of the tower ensures the safety of children and parents alike. This allows the climbing children to maintain eye contact with their parents on the ground.

 

The tower was created with inclusion in mind and offers play and leisure opportunities for all ages and abilities.

Unique experience on 280 concrete piles

Little Island at Pier 55 is a public park in the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. It is a part of Hudson River Park and connected to it by two pedestrian bridges. Little Island covers an area of 0.97 hectares. 280 concrete piles were driven into the Hudson riverbed, on which 132 pot-shaped structures sit. The pots reach a height of 4.6 to 18.9 meters above the water surface. The park features several lawns, pathways and plantings designed by landscape architect Signe Nielsen, MNLA. In addition, Little Island has a small stage and two food kiosks, as well as a 687-seat amphitheater. A unique experience are the sensory stations from Richter Spielgeräte, which are located throughout the park - at the Instrument, the Rotating Discs as well as the Dance Chimes not only children, but also young people and adults like to pause. And not only as a sensory experience, but also technically, these devices are something special: for example, to protect the instrument from vandalism, every evening it is moved on roll some of them to storage under the park.

Playground in the local recreation area

On the northern outskirts of Luxembourg lies a wooded area of around 655 hectares, which has been used as a local recreation area since the early 20th century. In 1968, the first children's playground was built, which enjoyed great popularity and was maintained with great dedication by the Service Forêts. The special charm of the place lay above all in its naturalness, due to its location in the forest and the use of wooden play equipment. Great care was therefore required when renovating the playground in 2023 in order to preserve this unique character.

The concept by Schwarze und Partner Landschaftsarchitekten envisaged a playful interpretation of Luxembourg's city history. Key elements of the cityscape, such as the "Three Acorns" fort, the "Hollow Tooth" and the River Alzette, were to be incorporated. The close collaboration between the landscape architects and Richter Spielgeräte resulted in an authentic playground that is a feel-good place for visitors of all ages thanks to its natural materials, the continuous flow of play, the careful adaptation of the topography and, above all, its embedding in the forest. The cooperation with the company KaGo & Hammerschmidt Kunstfelsen opened up new possibilities to give the play area a grown and historical appearance.

The history of Luxembourg City in a forest playground

At the entrance to the playground, the statue of Melusina awaits the children next to the gnome village with its playhouses and sand play facilities. According to legend, she was a mermaid who was in a relationship with Count Siegfried of Luxembourg until she disappeared into the Alzette one day. Above the Melusina, at the beginning of the watercourse with its many dams and water sources, rises majestically the "Drei Eicheln" fort, a large playable castle complex. The "Hohle Zahn" is located on an elevation whose rocky edge is reminiscent of the town's historic Bockfelsen. A castle ruin, which is part of the original fortifications of Luxembourg, offers children an impressive view from lofty heights and an exciting ride down the tunnel slide. The "Three Towers" can be reached via the castle bridge, which is equipped with a wheelchair rocker as a bridge deck. The mystical-looking basement made of artificial rock supports the wooden structure, which contains a pretzel bakery and a guard room.

The diverse play functions in the historicizing elements are supplemented by free-standing play equipment for turning, seesawing, jumping, swinging and much more. Of the existing play equipment, the popular animal carousel and cable car have been retained.
The entire playground is highly inclusive. It offers exciting experiences for everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, and involves people with a wide range of physical and mental abilities.

Historical buildings in the town recreated as play buildings

The British village of Poundbury near Dorchester in the county of Dorset is a model town that has been under construction since 1993 to implement the principles of sustainable development and design. King Charles played a key role in its conception and implementation, together with the Luxembourg urban planner and architectural theorist Léon Krier. The estate was built on land leased from the Duchy of Cornwall. The overall architectural concept is based on classicist and traditional architecture. The concept includes mixing social housing and private houses in a small-town structure, integrating green spaces and blending the estate harmoniously into the landscape.

On the playground, which Richter Spielgeräte designed together with its British partner Timberplay, historical buildings in the town were recreated as play structures in accordance with the customer's wishes. Specifically, these three buildings were involved: Buttermarket, Whistling Whitch and Brownsword. There are two areas in the playground, one for the little ones and one for older children, which is also interesting for teenagers. The playground was officially opened by King Charles in May 2022.

Plaza de España is the first project in Madrid's history to be selected by a broad-based vote with the direct participation of more than 200,000 citizens.

In Plaza de España, we have created a space where all children can play together and learn from each other. Children experience their differences from other people more directly, more openly and more self-confidently than adults. This is why three fundamental aspects were taken into account during the design phase of the play areas: Inclusivity, materials and play value.

The exciting focal point of the playground, visible from afar, is a very special tower. This structure consists of two interlocking pyramid towers, giving them their distinctive “hourglass” shape. The cladding with narrow boards and colorful accents make the tower translucent and friendly despite its imposing height of nine meters.

Richter builds America's largest playground in Tulsa, Oklahoma

On September 8, the largest playground in the USA to date was opened to the public in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a gigantic, emotional opening ceremony.
Over the previous months, several hundred pieces of playground equipment from Richter had been installed on the 27-hectare park site. These include six gigantic towers connected by eight bridges - one of which spans an incredible 18 meters at a height of six meters.
The designer Günter Beltzig, who has been working closely with us for over 30 years, designed a ship, an elephant and the Rondell, a seating circle made of concrete elements with a very special atmosphere and acoustics, for Tulsa.
The "Tulsa Towers", which were specially designed for the project, are 14 meters high and offer a unique view of the surrounding area from their top platform at a height of ten meters.
They have already caused a stir in their place of origin and production, Frasdorf in Upper Bavaria, where the "Tulsa Towers" were erected on our company premises as a trial in June 2016 after completion and only then, after dismantling, were they shipped to the USA in a total of 32 sea containers together with the other equipment intended for the major project.
Two similarly sized Richter towers are already in place at another prestigious large-scale playground in the USA - Maggie Daley Park in Chicago.
Other special features that will delight the millions of local, national and international visitors of all ages expected to visit Tulsa each year include Richter's first vertical water playground, an eight-metre-high tunnel slide and a wooden elephant almost nine meters tall, which is twice the size of a real African bull elephant.
The monumental dimensions of the installed equipment already point to a unique project that the team believes will change playground construction in the USA for the better in the long term.