• must rely on natural elements
• no plastic playground equipment
• kid-friendly, but nature-oriented play activities

My playground will be called "The Camphorwood Playground", as the Camphor is the type of tree that Totoro is found lounging under by the youngest of the two sisters in the movie. I want there to be plenty of lush greenery and for the area to be moderately wooded, thus I have decided that it should be located in the Japanese countryside (most likely somewhere in Hokkaido) just like the setting of the film. The name of the playground will also be a direct reflection of the area's focal point which will be a large camphor laurel with a stone sculpture of a large slumbering Totoro nestled close to the base of his favorite evergreen. Children that come along will be able to climb on top of him, much like Mei does when she finds him hidden away in the forest. There will also be plenty of rope swings throughout the playground, tied to trees here and there, and a splash area where jets of water will shoot up from the ground in random order for those hot spring or summer days. Throughout the park there will be more stone statues of all the important characters in the style of the Totoro that resides in the center of the park.

For the playground I want to also be able to touch on environmental issues with children, while still managing to keep things lighthearted. There will be play leaders that will helm various activities for children that help them understand their surroundings and pieces of nature a little bit better. The leaders will touch bases on topics such as insects, different types of vegetation, and how they (along with their family) can help the environment. They will also have a small office that is sturdy tree fort made completely out of wood and straw, and placed in one of the larger trees in the forest. Kids will also be able to come into the park with their own seeds, and the play leaders will help teach them plant and tend to whatever it is that they decide that they want to grow.

Overall, I want a more earthy feel, unlike most play places that just have a bunch of plastic and metal equipment for kids to entertain themselves with. I want children and parents to be able to approach the area, and at first glance not be able to tell where the playground and the nature around it actually start and end. It will be a forest hideaway for children and their families, with well-trained guides at hand to make sure the players are attended to in the way of safety issues and general concerns.