For immediate release

Kids Can Really Dig It for Free this March Break

The Green Playground by the Ontario Toyota Dealers will let kids and parents experience the latest garden trend – an innovative play-space designed just for children

February 2008 – Toronto, ON – With free admission for children under 12, parents and kids can immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and smells of spring and check out the latest garden trend for kids at Canada Blooms this March Break. The Green Playground by the Ontario Toyota Dealers will engage kids in the wonders of nature as they experience this innovative garden play-space designed just for children by Gardens for Living.

Staffed by the experts from the Toronto Botanical Garden, kids can let their imaginations guide them as they weave their way through the willow forest and under the sky-high tree house. In the Green Playground, children will be encouraged to express themselves by experimenting with outdoor instruments and talking tubes, adding their mark to a group wall mural, creating free-formed sand sculptures, and planting living things. They will also learn how to decorate garden pots, plant seeds and care for plants at home and follow the worms as they make soil.

“You won’t find any traditional play structure in this playground,” says Adam Bienenstock, principal designer and founder, Gardens for Living. “Every corner of this garden has a purpose, yet nothing is prescribed. In the Green Playground children will be encouraged to interact with art and be inspired by nature on their own level.”

The movement from traditional playground structures to natural outdoor environments has been gaining momentum over the past ten years. Spurred on by the high initial costs and subsequent replacement costs of pre-built structures, there is renewed interest in how and where children play outdoors. With a growing focus on environment, childhood obesity, bullying and participation rates, these play-spaces offer an inclusive alternative to traditional playgrounds.

“Each year, with more children being raised in urban settings, Botanical Gardens and garden play-spaces fill an essential role in educating and inspiring children about the value and beauty of the natural world.” says Liz Hood, Children’s Program Supervisor at Toronto Botanical Garden. “From revealing the magic of planting a garden and watching it grow to exploring the connections between people, plants and wildlife in engaging and exciting ways, these programs help parents and their children create a healthy, life-long relationship with the natural world.”

In addition to the exciting elements found inside the Green Playground, the Ontario Toyota Dealers will also support other activities and exhibits at Canada Blooms. Highlights include:

• Families can enjoy watching Canada’s internationally acclaimed artist Karen Fralich create sand-sculptures featuring “children at play” each day just outside of the Green Playground
• Kids can become part of a mural painted around the Green Playground by the Ontario Toyota Dealers throughout the show by artist Debbe Shannon
• Visitors can see the “Return to Earth” sculpture located near the Niagara Wine Garden and check out some of Toyota’s hybrid line-up located throughout the show

The Green Playground by the Ontario Toyota Dealers will be open daily at Canada Blooms from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stroller parking available. Parent supervision required. This year, Canada Blooms takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building from March 12 to 16. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.canadablooms.com or any Sobeys Ontario Store.

About Canada Blooms
Now in its twelfth year, Canada Blooms Festival was originally founded by Landscape Ontario and The Garden Club of Toronto to bring together the very best of the garden industry and community. Each year it is supported by a committed group of partners, sponsors and volunteers. Canada Blooms is a not-for-profit organization that gives back to the community throughout the year by funding community garden projects around Ontario. 2008 proceeds will support the new Woodland Walk Garden at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Canada Blooms is also dedicated to providing the community with horticulture expertise, education and resources on an ongoing basis.

About Ontario Toyota Dealers
As a part of their ongoing commitment to families and the environment, the Ontario Toyota Dealers are proud to sponsor the Green Playground at Canada Blooms. With 78 convenient locations throughout the province, the Ontario Toyota Dealers offer an impressive line-up of cars, trucks and SUVs. Visit Ontario Toyota Dealers online at www.realpeoplesellinggreatcars.ca and take a video tour of your favourite Toyota, find out about current promotions or locate a local dealer.

About Toronto Botanical Garden
Toronto Botanical Garden is a volunteer-based, charitable organization whose purpose is to inspire passion, respect and understanding of gardening, horticulture, the natural landscape and a healthy environment. The award-winning themed gardens and LEED® Silver Certified building are designed to educate and inspire urban dwellers, while demonstrating eco-friendly gardening practices. The botanical garden offers gardening and earth-friendly programs and events for all ages, year-round. For more information about programs for children at the Toronto Botanical Garden, call 416-397-1341 or visit www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca

About Gardens for Living
Gardens for Living Inc. is a Landscape Design/Build firm which specializes in natural landscapes and playscapes for children. The Gardens for Living team designs every play-space not only to entertain children and parents, but in hopes that they will inspire people to rethink their own space. All of the gardens meld functional art with the changing topography, trees, and plants of our natural landscapes. Past projects include a wide range of institutional, corporate, and private natural playgrounds in Canada and abroad. For more information about Natural Playgrounds, call 1-800-306-3319 or visit www.gardensforliving.ca.

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