as a part of the Pathfinder funding, two Liminal spaces have been created in Mile end Park. these spaces are in areas of the park that have not been used for play, or for anything in particular in the past. they are both in areas of woodland scrub, very small spaces, but wild and wonderful. One of them is located in a space where the park meets the canal and a neighbouring comedy club, the other runs along a strip where the park and railway tracks meet. The concept of a liminal space is to create a play offer that is not obvious, a space that you can discover and play in for yourself. a series of artifacts, created to our specifications by a local company of artisans called ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ are based on fairy tale artifacts… (Brothers Grimm rather than Disney). The artifacts draw the child into the space and create and interest in the woodlands which then becomes the play equipment for the playing child. Children Intower Hamlets do not have the chance to experience natural play and nature is most often perceived as a threat rather than a possibility. so a curling organic shaped arch calls you to walk along a wood chip marked desire line. As you explore the arch, which seems to go nowhere, your eye is drawn to a sign post that lies farther along the path… and on and on into the woodland. the objects marking out a trail of possibilities like a trail of breadcrumbs, irresistable, but far enough apart to allow you to explore the chance to build a den or climb a tree or hide and seek before you are drawn by the next…
about twenty children came and made dens and homes and did some play fighting and exploring and roaming. not a huge number of kids, especially considering that about 1500 children were playing in the children’s park at the same time, but it is 20 children more than have played there in all the time we have been watching this space. About two years ago, Michael Rowan and I began to consider this possibility. it is here that the roots of the Arcadia Project took hold.
The story of the project is a long and fascinating one….
