Running the length of our Market Street walkway, the NMPL Flat Playground is an accessible play space for the entire community! We’re big fans of physical activity, games, and intergenerational play. The 6 features of the Playground make it easy to participate in all of these things.
Open 24/7 to the community, we encourage families, friends and groups to enjoy this space (and maybe bring a picnic to enjoy on our spacious lawn!). The non-slip surfacing makes it safe for all ages and mobility levels. Users are welcome to bring their own balls, spinners, etc. or borrow some from us at the Children’s desk (no library card required).
The North Manchester Public Library thanks the Bev Westendorf Memorial Fund, the JoAnn Martin Memorial Fund, Friends of the Library, the Tammy Seifert Memorial Fund, EduMarking USA, and the NMPL Fun Run for making the Flat Playground possible!
Activity Track
This 8-piece track encourages physical activity and helps build gross motor skills. Quick step from side to side, jump like a star, and tiptoe between the sharks! OR, ride your wheelchair from side to side, pop a wheelie and zoom right over those sharks! Set challenges for yourself or friends with the timer on your phone. Now try it all over again - but backwards! There are so many ways to stretch yourself on this fun course.
Four Square
A rubber ball (your own or one of ours) and a few friends are all you need to enjoy a rousing round or two of this fast paced game (it’s been a playground favorite since the 1950s!). A perfect choice whether you have just a few minutes to fill or want to enjoy an afternoon-long tournament!
Long Jump
A great choice whether you are by yourself or hanging out with the whole family. See how far you can jump for fun. Count to 3 and jump side by side with a friend. Take turns with your parents and siblings. Try out different techniques (does a running start hurt or help your distance?). Have fun - and exercise those leg muscles while you’re at it!
Darts
Grab a handful of beanbags from the Children’s desk and start tossing! Can you get a bull’s eye? Can you land on every section of the board? Aim for all odd numbers, or all even. Try to hit only green segments. This game is equally fun by yourself or with a friend. There are so many ways to mix it up and keep it fresh and challenging!
Twister
Right hand red, left foot blue, left foot green, left hand yello- oh no! Try again! Can you land your marks or will you get all twisted up and tumble? A classic since it was first published in 1966, Twister always generates lots of laughs. Thanks to the gritty surface of the dots on the Flat Playground, players with blindness or low vision will easily be able to discern the circles from the “mat.” Add in some verbal cues for colors, borrow the spinner from the Children’s desk, and you have the ingredients of a great playtime!
Snakes & Ladders
Brightly colored snakes cavort over the surface of this colorful game board. They may be cute and friendly looking but watch out! They want to send you slipping and sliding back down the board. The ladders on the other hand will help you climb your way to the top. No skill involved here - it’s all luck as you roll the dice. Grab your playing pieces from the Children’s desk and have fun!
