The Unity Center Play Garden is part of Unity of Marin, a Spanish mission style church located in Novato, California. As a part of architectural improvements and additions, Carducci & Associates
renovated the church landscape. Landscape improvements include: plantings that respect and hallmark the church's architectural quality, an entry plaza flanked
with California fan palms, a paved courtyard containing a fountain and garden plantings, an improved and expanded parking lot and drop-off area, and a Play Garden.
The Play Garden is a space designed to provide both activiy and respite for people of all ages. Its central feature is a mounded play
lawn encircled by granite boulders for sitting or climbing. A semi-circle of redwood stumps at varied heights creates a naturalistic play structure. Near the two existing
palms in the Play Garden is a stone bowl fountain and two benches which create a place for reflection and meditation. A planting palette of grasess and colorful
flowering shrubs was chosen to be visually and texturally engaging. Gravel paving and cobblestone bands artfully connect the space. The Play Garden is contained
by a bougainvillea covered trellage that is integrated into the existing architectural arcade.
Recreation 
