Nestled within the Wellfield Botanic Gardens campus, the Children’s Garden was meticulously crafted to offer a natural playscape seamlessly blending elements of fun, education, and accessibility. Utilizing both passive and active play elements, the space provides an area for children to directly engage with the natural environment. It was created as a one-of-a-kind oasis where imagination knows no bounds and every corner invites adventure.

A whimsical gateway welcomes children and their families into the space, where they are greeted by raised seat walls that invite gathering, and terrazzo flooring inlaid with granite fish silhouettes that emulate the stream flowing beneath. From there, they follow an interpretive pathway to explore a variety of engaging amenities.

These include a meadow crawl tunnel nestled beneath native Indiana tallgrass and wildflowers, and a floating lily pad bridge that encourages playful movement. Beneath the canopies of towering sycamore trees, visitors will also discover a tiki hut outfitted with exploration cabinets and an elevated, accessible walkway that leads to a treehouse.

A garden, where berries and vegetables grow, doubles as a living classroom where children can learn about sustainable agriculture through hands-on experiences. Beyond the garden, children can find quiet moments in a boulder nook designed for reading or enjoy weekly programming and performances at the outdoor amphitheater.

The design of the garden was inspired by water, making it the central element. And among its many attractions, the integration of strategic water controllers stands out.

At the heart of the garden is a flowing stream with three tributaries and a series of waterfalls. Positioned at the top of the stream are three distinct valves. Each valve controls a different flow point, allowing children to explore and manipulate the water. Kids of all ages are encouraged to interact by turning the valves to open and close them, thereby regulating the flow of the waterfalls.

“Guests can view the water from the bottom of the waterfall or access the valves by following the ADA pathway around the Tiki Hut and Treehouse or walking up the stairs to the top of the stream,” said Eric Garton, former Executive Director of Wellfield Botanic Gardens. “The accessibility for anyone — whether ambulatory, in a wheelchair, or a stroller — is terrific.”

Two water cannons are located along a zig-zagging boardwalk. These Water Odyssey Gravity Cannons™ provide twin highly aerated sprays of water with control joints adjustable for a 45-to-360-degree horizontal swing.

Positioned along the edge of the boardwalk, these specific water cannons can swing over 180-degrees and send water more than 15-feet out into the pond, making them the most popular feature of the garden. This interaction helps children develop hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills, provides water sensory play, and can be a visually captivating experience. Additionally, at 40-inches tall, the water cannons are ADA compliant and accessible to those in wheelchairs.

The inspiration for utilizing water controllers was to give children the empowering ability to interact with and influence the flow and direction of the water — providing visitors with a tangible connection to nature. The controllers and equipment were carefully selected to achieve this interaction while also being robust enough to withstand the exterior environment. The challenge, however, lay in integrating them harmoniously with the natural surroundings. Utilizing a design-build approach during construction allowed for real-time adjustments, and much of the layout and detailing was resolved on-site. This ensured that each element contributed to the garden’s cohesive aesthetic and functional goals.

As a closed water system, the stream and waterfall elements require little maintenance. In the fall, netting is installed to catch leaves and twigs, stopping the larger materials from making their way into the waterline.

Goldfish were also introduced to the stream to control algae buildup. The water cannons pull from the pond and recycle back into it, which is then utilized for irrigation throughout the larger botanic garden.

Allowing children to explore water through interactive controllers aligns with the core of the Wellfield Botanic Garden’s mission statement: “to celebrate the inseparable relationship between water and life." It’s a reminder of the history and ongoing purpose of the site — serving as a wellfield protection area for the City of Elkhart’s public water supply.

The Children’s Garden hosts many field trips from local schools, and most of the lessons offered utilize the interactive controllers and water play activities to illustrate the importance of water and the need to preserve it. “Children are naturally drawn to water and discovering what lives in and around it is highlighted when they visit,” said Chrisi Cornell, Education Coordinator. “And the children’s surprise when they learn the water they drink at home comes from Wellfield is obvious.”

Referred to as a “living museum,” the water features that weave throughout the campus mimic nearby Christiana Creek, reinforcing a connection to the local natural environment. Thanks to a generous gift from the Rex and Alice A. Martin Foundation, specializing in donations to fund major projects for children in its NIBCO site locations, the Children’s Garden opened to the public in 2018.

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