Imagination Playground News

"A playground where children's creativity can run wild."
The New York Times
"In a world of endless standardized tests and regimented schedules, Rockwell's playground is meant to encourage creative thinking, teamwork and risk taking."
The New York Times
"...the most innovative playground design since child psychologists started fiddling with jungle gyms in the 1960s."
CNN

FOX 11 Los Angeles, December 9, 2024
Holiday gift ideas for the whole family

InPark Magazine, September 10, 2024
Imagination Playground: Building dreams for 15 years

The Rhode Show, August 29, 2024
Unlock your imagination with Big Blue Blocks

Advancement Courses, September 30, 2022
An Interview with Imagination Playground
Community Rec Magazine, March 4, 2022
Gleaning the Benefits of Creative Learning

Fortune, April 1, 2017
Family Matters
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Mental Floss, June 1, 2015
16 of the Coolest Playgrounds in the World
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New York Times, December 18, 2013
In a Brooklyn Park Design, Movable Parts at Play
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NPR, June 18, 2013
From Classic Toys To New Twists, Kids Go Back To Blocks
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Wall Street Journal, June 16, 2013
New York City’s Playgrounds Swing Toward New Design Models
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Metropolis, April 2013
Digital Blocks
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Slate, January 28, 2013
Tear Down the Swing Sets
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The Washington Post, December 12, 2012
‘Play Work Build’ Puts Creativity On Exhibit at The National Building Museum 
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DC Curbed, November 21, 2012
David Rockwell Discusses PLAY WORK BUILD At The Building Museum
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USA TODAY, November 17, 2012
Exhibit on Blocks Makes for Creative Playtime
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Wallpaper, July 6, 2012
London Festival of Architecture 2012
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DETAIL , May 10, 2012
Playspaces – Imaginative und Immersive Environments
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TimeOut New York Kids, April 26, 2012 
25 Best Playgrounds in New York City
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Junior Magazine, February, 2012
Helen McKay-Ferguson, “Blocks, knocks and play that rocks”
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Icon, August 2011 
George Pendle, “Object Lesson”
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The Wall Street Journal, September 30 – October 2, 2011 
Wearing a Philanthropic Heart on Their Designs
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New York Times In Transit Blog, September 23, 2011 
Amy Rose Dobson, “A Portable Playground Moves to London”
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The Aspen Idea, Winter 2010/2011 
Features
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Time Out New York Kids, November, 2010 
“Best Non-Beach Spot to Get Sand in your Shoes”
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Icon, October, 2010
Johanna Agerman Ross, “A Playground”
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The New York Times, September 26, 2010
David Rockwell, “Op-Chart: Unpacking Imagination”
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CNN, September 2, 2010
Jessica Yellin, “Build-It-Yourself Playground Helps Kids Imagine”
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Interior Design, September, 2010
Nicholas Tamarin, “Centerfold”
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Time, August 9, 2010
Harriet Barovick, “Building a Better Playground”
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Time Out New York Kids, August 2010 
Tom Roston, “David Rockwell’s Innovative Play Spot Opens to New York Families”
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Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2010 
Ralph Gardner, “Making Work of Child’s Play”
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NPR, July 27, 2010 
Robert Smith, “All Things Considered: The New Economics of Fancy Playgrounds”
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NPR, July 27, 2010 
Robert Smith, “All Things Considered: The New Economics of Fancy Playgrounds”
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The New Yorker, July 5, 2010 
Rebecca Mead, “State of Play: How Tot Lots Became Places to Build Children’s Brains”
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Parents, July, 2010 
Susan Gregory Thomas, “Let them Play!”
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The New York Observer (Playground supplement), June, 2010 
Wendy Straker Hauser, “The Future is Now”
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New York Magazine, May 31, 2010 
The Best Bet
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I.D., September/October 2009 
Alissa Walker, “Recess, Rethought” / Jessie Ashlock, “Play as it Lays”
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Fast Company, March, 2009 
Tim McKeough, “David Rockwell’s Imagination Playground”
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Time, January 28th, 2009 
Kathleen Kingsbury, “The New Playground: Bye, Jungle Gym”
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Wall Street Journal, August 5th, 2008 
Dan Ackman, “The Architect-Designer Focuses on Child’s Play”
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Daily News, July 15th, 2008 
Ayala Falk, “Imagination Playground Opens in Brownsville to Delight of Local Children”
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New York Times, July 14th, 2008 
Javier C. Hernandez, “A Playground Where Creativity Can Run Wild”
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New York Times, May 4th, 2008 
Diane Cardwell, “An Invitation to Child’s Play: Big Blocks and Wheelbarrows”
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Boston Globe, April 15th, 2007 
Drake Bennett, “Back To The Playground”
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The New Yorker, January 29th, 2007 
Daniel Radosh, “Comeback: Sand Men”
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New York Times, January 11th, 2007 
Andy Newman, “New York City’s Future Playground Gets a Nod From Present-Day Players”
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New York Times, January 10th, 2007 
Diane Cardwell, “New York Tries to Think Outside the Sandbox”
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Press Releases

November 27, 2024
Providence Children’s Museum Unveils New “Big Block Party” Exhibit

May 15, 2024
Imagination Playground Receives International Playground Design Award 

November 16, 2020
IMAGINATION PLAYGROUND Partners With NÜDEL KART To Offer The Most Complete Loose Part Play Options Available

July 13, 2017
Imagination Playground’s Submit To Win Program Ends with a Bang

June 22, 2017
Imagination Playground Announces Big Block Winners from Submit To Win Program

June 13, 2017
Imagination Playground Introduces Salute To Schools Gift Program

June 7, 2017
Eastern Pennsylvania Girl Scouts Camp Named Latest Winner in Imagination Playground’s Submit To Win Contest

June 1, 2017
Community Center is Latest Victor in Imagination Playground’s Submit To Win Contest

May 25, 2017
Screven Elementary Winner of Imagination Playground Vote for Play Award

May 18, 2017
Imagination Playground Announces Launch of Build-A-Thon Contest

May 16, 2017
Imagination Playground’s Submit To Win Contest Going Strong on Back Half

May 12, 2017
Imagination Playground Joins Kid Zones on Family-Friendly PGA Tour

May 10, 2017
Imagination Playground Announces 2017 Build-A-Thon Contest Winners

May 2, 2017
Imagination Playground’s Submit To Win Continues to Generate Excitement as It Reaches Second Half

April 20, 2017
Imagination Playground Nears Half Way Point in Unparalleled Submit To Win Program

April 13, 2017
Imagination Playground Announces Sixth Winner of Unprecedented Submit To Win Program

April, 6 2017
Imagination Playground Announces Fifth Winner of Generous Submit To Win Program 

March 30, 2017
Imagination Playground Submit To Win Program Picks Up Steam with Fourth Winner Announcement

March 15, 2017
Imagination Playground’s Submit To Win Program Going Strong With Third Winner Announcement

March 8, 2017
Imagination Playground Announces Second Winner of Submit To Win: Rita Miller Elementary School

February 28, 2017
Learn & Play Tour Invites Educators and Parents to Observe the Creative Power of Big Block Play

February 21, 2017
City of Middletown Recreation Department Named First Winner in Imagination Playground’s Submit To Win Contest

February 14, 2017
Imagination Playground Announces Submit To Win! Giveaway – Over 5000 Prizes to be Awarded

February 9, 2017
Imagination Playground Launches New & Improved Mix Block Set!

December 28, 2016
Imagination Playground Extends Build-A-Thon Contest Deadline

December 27, 2016
Imagination Playground Extends Gift of Play Deadline as Schools Request More Time

December 20, 2016
Goal Achieved by Imagination Playground – 3 Million More Kids Playing

December 13, 2016
Imagination Playground on the Verge of Victory in 2016 Mission Drive

December 6, 2016
Imagination Playground Says Only 115 More Schools Needed to Reach 2016 Play Goals 

November 22, 2016
Gift of Play Breaks Record for Number of Schools Helped

November 15, 2016
Gift of Play Momentum Increases as Number of Schools Helped Reaches 411

November 8, 2016
Imagination Playground Reports Surge in Schools Responding to Gift of Play Offer

November 1, 2016
Imagination Playground Closes in on 2016 Mission Goal

October 25, 2016
28 More Schools Say “Yes” to Imagination Playground’s Gift of Play

October 17, 2016
Imagination Playground On Track to Achieve 2016 Mission—3 Million More Kids Playing

October 11, 2016
Imagination Playground Reports 255 Schools Helped by Gift of Play So Far in 2016

October 5, 2016
Kokomo-Howard County Public Library Awarded Imagination Playground

September 26, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces Return of Gift of Play

September 6, 2016
206 Schools Helped by Imagination Playground’s Gift of Play So Far in 2016

September 1, 2016
Learn & Play Tour Invites Educators and Parents to Witness the Power of Creative Block Play

August 8, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces New “Vote for Play” Giveaway

August 5, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces Free 3 Ways Giveaway in Partnership with Parents Magazine

June 25, 2016
Imagination Playground Invites Teachers to Relax and Play with Mini-Playground Giveaway

June 20, 2016
Imagination Playground 3D Builder App Surpasses 100K Downloads, Boasts New Features

June 9, 2016
Seven-Year-Old Wins Imagination Playground Build-A-Thon, Donates Prize to His School

May 27, 2016
Duval Charter School at Mandarin Celebrates Play with Imagination Playground Donated at THE PLAYERS Championship

May 25, 2016
Finn Academy of Elmira, NY Awarded Imagination Playground

May 23, 2016
Imagination Playground Launches Community Fundraising Guide

May 11, 2016
104 Schools Helped by Imagination Playground’s Gift of Play So Far in 2016

May 6, 2016
Imagination Playground Offers Support to Camps and Family Centers on Summer Build-A-Thon Events

April 30, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces We Are Teachers Giveaway Winners

April 23, 2016
Build-A-Thon Contest Entries Grow in Numbers as More Kids Submit Their Creative Builds

April 16, 2016
Imagination Playground President and CEO David Krishock to Address Columbia University Educators on the State of Play and the Modern Classroom

March 30, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces Giveaway in Partnership with “WeAreTeachers”

March 18, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces New Product Launch—Connectors Set

March 10, 2016
Marshalltown Christian School Receives Imagination Playground Donated by ‘Submit it to Win it’ Winner Ashley Lewis

March 02, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces Learn and Play National Tour

February 06, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces Build-A-Thon Contest

January 20, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces New “Vote for Play” Give-away

January 16, 2016
Imagination Playground Offering Reward to Teachers and Educators for Play Referrals

January 7, 2016
Imagination Playground Announces Mission Achievement—2 Million More Kids Playing

December 17, 2015
Imagination Playground Extending Gift Offer—Schools Request More Time

December 7, 2015
Imagination Playground Gift Offer Accepted by Over 100 Schools So Far

September 22, 2015
Auburn Early Education Center Latest Recipient of an Imagination Playground

September 4, 2015
Imagination Playground Announces Extension to Build-A-Thon

August 26, 2015
Please Touch Museum and Imagination Playground Partner For World Meeting of Families

July 22, 2015
Downing Street Playgroup Celebrates Play with a New Imagination Playground

July 9, 2015
Build-A-Thon Events Growing in Schools, Children’s Museums, Camps, and Overseas

May 23, 2015

Expanding Our Kids World Celebrates Play with a New Imagination Playground

May 14, 2015

The PLAYERS Championship and Imagination Playground Announce Donation to PVPV Rawlings Elementary School

May 7, 2015

Imagination Playground Announces Build-A-Thon Contest!

March 26, 2015

Imagination Playground Announces New “Vote for Play” Giveaway

March 15, 2015

Imagination Playground Announces Launch of 3D Builder App

April 23, 2013
NYC Parks & Rockwell Group Unveil Design for New Imagination Playground at Brooklyn’s Betsy Head Park

February 2, 2013
Louisiana Children’s Museum and Imagination Playground Donate Play Set during Super Service Saturday

January 31, 2013
Louisiana Children’s Museum Announces 

January 30, 2013
UNICEF Launches Play Initiative 

October 10, 2012
Rockwell Group Launches Imagination Playground 2.0

September 20, 2012
PLAY WORK BUILD: New Exhibition Features Hands-on, Interactive Presentation of Block Play

August 24, 2012
Imagination Playground Goes to Venice

June 4, 2012
Imagination Playground Designed By Renowned U.S. Architect David Rockwell Launches Across Europe

August 10, 2011
Architect David Rockwell Launches Mobile Version of the Acclaimed Imagination Playground in London

August 18, 2010
Mayor Bloomberg and Architect David Rockwell Open Imagination Playground at Burling Slip 

June 15, 2010
Imagination Playground Tour of NYC Parks

August 12, 2009
10 Imagination Playgrounds in a Box in NYC Parks

May 7, 2009
Imagination Playground Burling Slip Groundbreaking

July 9, 2008

Imagination Playground in a Box Launch in Brownsville, NY

February 20, 2007
Announcement of Imagination Playground at Burling Slip