Boabab Tree
The Kwanzaa Playground is Ohio's first Africentric, arts-inspired playground.
Kwanzaa Playground, also known as the Children’s Africentric Playground, sits on just over half an acre of land in the Old Towne East neighborhood. The park was renovated in 2014 with new play equipment and art restoration as well as a new portal by artist Queen Brooks.
Andrew Scott was one among seven original artists, Bill Agnew, Queen Brooks, Barbara Chavous, Larry Winston Collins, Pheoris West, and LaVerne Brown, who contributed to the Kwanzaa Playground which was developed in 1995 as a joint effort between the community and the City of Columbus. It is designed in the shape of a human figure, which represents the first ancestor and the park focuses on positive African-American images based on the concept that “It takes a whole village to raise a child”. The collection of art in the playground supports the theme of “lessons for living” based on the “Nguzo Saba” or the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. These principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
In many African traditions the "head" is the seat of one’s character. How the head appears, reflects one’s sense of self-worth, self-knowledge and self-esteem. At the head of the playground rests the Baobab Tree, a sacred, serviceable object throughout African cultures - a place where children hear stories to help them grow in harmony with each other and the world. The Baobab Tree sculpture is made of red painted steel and is supposed to emulate the structure of a tree. It also serves as a climbing structure for children.
- Created: 1995
- Current Location: Kwanzaa Playground at English Park (google map)
- Collections: Outdoor, Sculptures