Wild Expeditions, Indoor Spaces, Parks & Rec
Where Jungle Meets Imagination
October 29, 2024
In 2021, the West Chicago Park District invited Wacky World Studios to revamp the children’s play space in the ARC Center. The facility had an aging indoor play structure that no longer captured the imagination of young visitors. They wanted a fresh experience that would leave a lasting impression.
Challenge accepted!
A New Play Space Adventure
Rather than installing a simple upgrade of the existing structure, something completely unique and memorable was envisioned—a story-driven environment that would engage a broad audience and showcase how parks and recreation departments can collaborate with creative design studios to achieve ambitious goals. The result? Tree Top Escape!
Welcome to the Jungle
The completed indoor play space invites visitors to leave the city behind and step onto a deserted jungle island straight from an adventure film. The experience ignites imaginations, drawing children into a world as wild as the tigers and snakes scaling the play structure. Elaborate hand-painted digital wall coverings bring the scene to life, and a projected waterfall cascades down the wall, merging into a river along the floor that winds through the play area.
This isn’t just an ordinary playground—it’s an imaginative portal that instantly transports children and families into a Swiss Family Robinson-style adventure.
Enter a Storybook World
Stepping into Tree Top Escape feels like entering a storybook. The check-in desk cleverly masquerades as a shipwreck on the beach, while a breathtaking waterfall (so realistic it begs a second look) flows under a bridge leading to the ultimate treehouse—the biggest tree around. The play structure incorporates slides, stairs, musical features, and endless opportunities for climbing, crawling, and exploration, ensuring ample outlets for imaginative play.
Raising the Bar for Play Spaces
Capturing the inspired vision of the West Chicago Park District, Tree Top Escape suspends disbelief and competes with screens that vie for children’s attention, raising the standard for themed play spaces.
The design of this indoor play space aimed to:
- Be inclusive for children and adults of all abilities
- Integrate state-of-the-art technology
- Feature the largest indoor tree crafted by Wacky World Studios
- Employ a wide range of creative disciplines and materials
Key goals were set to:
- Create a legacy project for the long-time park director
- Build a structure that incorporates the latest in structural engineering, height, and excitement
- Refresh an aging play space
- Showcase innovative theming possibilities for Parks & Rec departments
Engineering the Fun
During the planning and research phase, designers engineered equipment tailored to meet these goals. The finalized design included:
- Steel infrastructure
- A sculpted foam outer structure with polyurethane coating, meeting ASTM guidelines
- Five digital projectors creating a lifelike waterfall and river scene
- Plenty of hidden surprises for children to discover
- An immersive story that inspires children to craft their own adventures
Beyond Expectations
Tree Top Escape exceeded every expectation, offering unmatched quality in materials, workmanship, design, and immersive elements. Families line up to visit, often reserving the space weeks in advance for parties and events. Above all, every child who steps into Tree Top Escape shares the same reaction: wide eyes, dropped jaws, and a single word—“wow!”
Mission accomplished!
If you can dream it, we can theme it!
Who Doesn't Love a Good Makeover?
Use the slider to check out this Before & After