Ocean Edge Playground
A playground shaped by wind, water, and wonder.
Overview
Ocean Edge Playground is a permanent, architecturally crafted play environment inspired by the rhythms of the Pacific coast. Nestled between The Ocean Learning & Action Lab and The Living Edge, this dynamic space translates California’s coastal ecosystems into a multi-sensory experience for children and families. Designed with natural textures, sculptural forms, and interpretive features, it combines physical challenge, open-ended exploration, and environmental storytelling.
Why This Matters
Ocean Edge Playground invites children to move, climb, crawl, and discover—using their whole bodies to connect with the natural world. Through joyful, immersive play, it nurtures curiosity, confidence, and a lasting sense of care for the coast and our changing climate.
What You’ll Experience
The Kelp Climber: A tall, central rope structure woven with undulating “kelp” netting and spiraling poles, designed to mimic the swaying movement of underwater forests. Kids can climb, dangle, and sway like sea creatures in motion
Driftwood Balance Trail: Durable beams, smooth boulders, and weathered-looking planks form a safe but challenging balance course for kids of all ages—reminiscent of beachcombing along the shoreline
Wind & Wave Sculptures: Functional art pieces (spinning shells, kinetic sails, and chimes) activated by coastal breezes, adding movement and sound to the landscape
Sound Pods: Weatherproof listening domes built into boulders and tunnels, where kids can hear whale songs, harbor seal calls, crashing waves, and kid-narrated ocean facts
Sandy Builders’ Cove: A dig-and-build zone with soft engineered sand and built-in shell and stone features for free play, tactile exploration, and nature-based creativity
The Coastal Crawl Cave: A sculpted sandstone tunnel feature where children can crawl, hide, and imagine life inside a sea cave—complete with seaweed textures and soft LED “tide light” glows
Low-Tide Story Circle: A shaded amphitheater-style nook with carved stone seating and a central “driftwood fire” sculpture—perfect for ranger-led storytelling, ocean ecology workshops, or impromptu performances
Be part of reimagining how SF cares for the wild.
Support the transformation of the San Francisco Zoo into a living EcoPark — a place rooted in care, creativity, and coexistence.
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Change starts here — in our city, for our planet.