To a child, it might feel like stepping into a secret forest: the trees towering overhead, the air rich with the scent of leaves and soil, and every winding path promising a new adventure. There are no bright plastic towers or metal slides. Instead, there are natural trails, climbing structures nestled beneath branches, and pockets of greenery that invite exploration. This is the Kendall Indian Hammocks Park Forest Playground, a nature-based playscape that transforms recreation into an immersive, ecological experience.
Ebru Özer, Professor and Chair of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design (LAEUD), received the Award of Excellence, the highest honor in the ASLA Florida Professional Design Awards, at the Annual Design Awards Gala on May 9. She was recognized for her work on the Kendall Indian Hammocks Park Forest Playground, a collaborative project with Douglas Thompson of LandscapeDE.
Part of Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s Nature-Based Playground Design Initiative, the award-winning project reimagines the traditional play space. Selected through a blind jury process, the design stood out for its ecological sensitivity and innovative use of the site’s natural assets.
Rather than clearing land or importing artificial structures, the playground was designed to preserve and enhance the site’s existing forest ecosystem. All existing trees were retained, and native Florida hammock species and understory plantings were added. The result is a space that blends seamlessly into its environment, inviting children to explore, imagine, and develop a deeper connection to nature through play.
By integrating sustainable materials, organic forms, and a landscape-first approach, the Kendall Indian Hammocks Park Forest Playground sets a new benchmark for public play environments. It is a place where recreation and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
Congratulations to Professor Özer on this well-deserved recognition. Her work exemplifies the power of landscape architecture to inspire, educate, and connect communities to the natural world through thoughtful design.
