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Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens
Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens
Midland, MI, United States
Finalist, 2020 A+Awards, Landscape & Planning - Public Park
Project Featured on Jun 04, 2019
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Other Projects by Metcalfe Architecture & Design
Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens
Midland, MI, United States
Finalist, 2020 A+Awards, Landscape & Planning - Public Park
Project Featured on Jun 04, 2019
Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens features 54 acres of woodlands, ponds, apple orchard, meadows and stream. Guests of all ages and abilities are immersed in the forest on the nation's longest canopy walk, 1,400 feet long, soaring up high above the ground. Other features include a playground, apple orchard, Whiting Forest Cafe, restoration of Snake Creek, and two pedestrian bridges. The whole design approach came out of the owner’s childhood experiences of climbing trees and playing in nature and wishing to bring this kind of experience to others.
Designed to be accessible for all ages and abilities and open in every season, the Canopy Walk has three arms, each end at a unique viewing platform, including views of a forest pond from 25 feet up, a large cargo net in a grove of spruce trees at 25 feet high, and an orchard view which includes a viewing platform with a glass floor and railings at 40 feet high.
The nature-play area and playground have lots of water; a waterfall and water area that moves and glistens, like playing with mercury. Rocks are a natural challenge and invite play. The netting and round shapes reflect the amenities found on tree canopy walk.
Climbing hills are set up. Logs and birds reference the natural world. Kids are naturally attracted to explore tunnels. They like to be in small spaces and go into one opening and emerge out another one — into a larger space.
Designed to be accessible for all ages and abilities and open in every season, the Canopy Walk has three arms, each ending at a unique viewing platform, including views of a forest pond from 25 feet up, a large cargo net in a grove of spruce trees at 25 feet high, and an orchard view which includes a viewing platform with a glass floor and railings at 40 feet high.
Owned by the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, it originally opened to the public in 2004, had its grand re-opening in October 2018. Response to the new site has been remarkable. The owner/client is over the moon and annual visitors increased from 20,000 to 30,000!
Credits:
- Fisher Companies - Concrete Slides - Erick Forshee
- Magnum Construction Company - Structural Steel - Jamie Kaufmann
- Servinski Sod & Service - Landscape - Matt Servinski
- Sugar Construction - General Contractor - Scott LaVasseur
- Pat's Gradall Services - Earthwork & Site Utilities - Gordon Wentworth
- Boettcher Masonry - Masonry - Bill Schultz
- Rockworks, LLC - Stone Retaining Walls - Ray Rogers
- Three Rivers Corporation - Construction Manager - Shannon Tait
- Rohrsheib Sons Cassions Inc. - Cassions - Cameron Rohrsheib
- Fisher Contracting Company - Earthwork, Helical Piles, Concrete - John Waskevich
Designed to be accessible for all ages and abilities and open in every season, the Canopy Walk has three arms, each end at a unique viewing platform, including views of a forest pond from 25 feet up, a large cargo net in a grove of spruce trees at 25 feet high, and an orchard view which includes a viewing platform with a glass floor and railings at 40 feet high.
The nature-play area and playground have lots of water; a waterfall and water area that moves and glistens, like playing with mercury. Rocks are a natural challenge and invite play. The netting and round shapes reflect the amenities found on tree canopy walk.
Climbing hills are set up. Logs and birds reference the natural world. Kids are naturally attracted to explore tunnels. They like to be in small spaces and go into one opening and emerge out another one — into a larger space.
Designed to be accessible for all ages and abilities and open in every season, the Canopy Walk has three arms, each ending at a unique viewing platform, including views of a forest pond from 25 feet up, a large cargo net in a grove of spruce trees at 25 feet high, and an orchard view which includes a viewing platform with a glass floor and railings at 40 feet high.
Owned by the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, it originally opened to the public in 2004, had its grand re-opening in October 2018. Response to the new site has been remarkable. The owner/client is over the moon and annual visitors increased from 20,000 to 30,000!
Credits:
- Fisher Companies - Concrete Slides - Erick Forshee
- Magnum Construction Company - Structural Steel - Jamie Kaufmann
- Servinski Sod & Service - Landscape - Matt Servinski
- Sugar Construction - General Contractor - Scott LaVasseur
- Pat's Gradall Services - Earthwork & Site Utilities - Gordon Wentworth
- Boettcher Masonry - Masonry - Bill Schultz
- Rockworks, LLC - Stone Retaining Walls - Ray Rogers
- Three Rivers Corporation - Construction Manager - Shannon Tait
- Rohrsheib Sons Cassions Inc. - Cassions - Cameron Rohrsheib
- Fisher Contracting Company - Earthwork, Helical Piles, Concrete - John Waskevich
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