In 1994, Callander Associates began the first of a three phase project to provide public access to a forty-four acre wetland in the city of Santa Cruz. The cornerstone of this project is the play area. With the distillation of the Santa Cruz watershed as the driving concept, the play area was designed as a sequence of spaces beginning with the mountains, flowing into the lagoon, and finally reaching the ocean. Whether it is the redwood/fern grove, the boardwalk-type play structure, or the striking wave wall, materials were used in such a way to enhance this concept. Working closely with local artists, animal footprints were stamped into the concrete flatwork in conjunction with interpretive panels to heighten the educational experience of users.