The Warren Gartner Natural Playground
​at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church

What is a natural playground?
Instead of metal and plastic playground structures, we have created a natural play area where kids of all ages can engage in play in a creative, natural environment while also fostering creation care. Natural spaces allow children to be creative: inventing their own games, touching and feeling natural objects, developing balance, coordination, and problem-solving skills.  The Natural Playground provides an opportunity for children of all ages to make connections to creation and our environment.  This connection can develop into a love and care of the outdoors.

The benefits of spending time outdoors, for both children and adults, are well documented, and natural playgrounds provide nearby natural locations where kids (and families) can connect to the outdoors to improve their physical and mental health and reap the rewards of unstructured nature play.

History of the Playground
On April 22,  Earth Day, we dedicated and blessed the Natural Playground that had been taking shape on the northeast corner of our campus during January 2017 and the months that followed. The idea for the Playground came in the spring of 2015 after Warren Gartner taught “The Nature of God,” a class in our Adult Development curriculum. Participants in the class brainstormed about ways that our church could honor God in nature. The idea became a vision for Warren and over the course of three years he held meetings, wrote grants, and garnered interest with his passion for the project. He engaged our congregation in donating time, talent, and treasure to make the Playground a reality. 

In recognition of Warren’s vision, friendship, leadership, commitment, love of nature and joyous teaching, the Vestry named the playground in Warren’s honor. 

You need not be a child to enjoy the Warren Gartner Natural Playground! Today you can visit virtually through pictures taken during construction and during the dedication and blessing.

Interested in knowing more about the Warren Gartner Natural Playground at St. Christopher's?  Please Contact Ann Niednagel  | Email

Photos During Dedication

Photos During Construction