As previously featured in the Library of Virginia’s UncommonWealth Public Library Spotlight, this project highlights how Virginia’s public libraries continue to evolve in response to community needs—finding innovative ways to support learning beyond traditional spaces. In Williamsburg, that evolution has taken root outdoors, where imagination and nature meet, and where a simple idea has grown into a lasting community asset.
The opening of the Library Natural Playground at Williamsburg Regional Library’s (WRL) James City County Library this spring marked the culmination of years of vision, collaboration, and support. Sparked by a moment of inspiration and brought to life through a shared effort, the playground reflects a growing understanding of what libraries can be: places not only for reading, but for discovery, creativity, and connection.
The story begins, fittingly, somewhere above the ground.
Nearly eight years ago, Former WRL Director Betsy Fowler stumbled across an article in an in-flight magazine about a natural playground design. The concept was both simple and profound, creating natural play environments where children could explore freely, using their imaginations and engaging with the world around them.
For Fowler, the idea struck a chord. It called to mind a kind of childhood that feels increasingly rare: unstructured time outdoors, building, climbing, inventing, and discovering. Just as importantly, she saw how that philosophy could connect to another project percolating at WRL.
Credit to the Williamsburg Regional Library
The Kiwanis Kids Idea Studio, which celebrated its grand opening in 2021, integrates James City County Library’s children’s collection with museum-style interactive elements, becoming a beloved space for hands-on creativity and early learning. What if that spirit didn’t have to stop at the door?
What if the library could extend that same sense of wonder outside?
That question took hold—and over time, it grew.
Credit to the Williamsburg Regional Library
Transforming that spark of inspiration into a physical space required patience, persistence, and the support of many. Library staff worked alongside community organizations and dedicated advocates to move the idea forward. Friends of Williamsburg Regional Library Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the library; James City County; local Kiwanis clubs; individual donors; and community partners like the Scouts and the Master Naturalists each contributed in meaningful ways, helping shape the project into something the entire community could take pride in.
“This playground represents years of collaboration and community support,” said WRL Director Sandy Towers. “We’re excited to offer families a place where children of all ages and abilities can learn, explore, and grow through outdoor play.”
That sense of shared purpose is woven into every corner of the playground. Planned by nationally renowned playground designer Ron King of the Natural Playgrounds Company, the space feels both intentional and inviting. It’s a place where children can follow their curiosity: climbing into play caves, digging in the sand, experimenting with musical elements, or wandering along a story trail that encourages imagination to take the lead.
The playground is also fully accessible, ensuring that children of all abilities can participate in the experience. That inclusivity reflects WRL’s ongoing commitment to creating spaces where everyone feels welcome.
As an extension of the Kiwanis Kids Idea Studio, the outdoor environment builds naturally on the library’s focus on early literacy and development. Play becomes a pathway to learning: new words emerge through storytelling, fine motor skills develop through hands-on exploration, and confidence grows with every small discovery. Surrounded by natural elements, children are also forming a deeper connection to the world beyond the page.
And yet, for all its thoughtful design, what stands out most about the Library Natural Playground is how it came to be. This is not just a library project. It is a community story.
Credit to the Williamsburg Regional Library
What began as a quiet moment of inspiration on an airplane became something much larger, shaped and supported by people who believed in the idea and worked together to make it real.
Today, the playground stands as both a tribute to Betsy Fowler’s original vision and a reflection of that shared effort. It expands what the library offers, not by replacing tradition, but by building on it, creating new ways for families to gather, learn, and grow.
-Sandy Towers, Director, Williamsburg Regional Library
