Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center

The City of Waco was able to not simply renovate, but reimagine the offerings at the 50-year-old Bledsoe-Miller Community Center when its traditional recreational activities were moved to a nearby facility. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) emerged as an opportunity to provide lifelong, "K-to-Gray" educational programming that would enrich the community and empower residents with skills required in today's workforce. With amenities like a robotics lab, teaching kitchen, podcast and gaming studios, 3D-printer space, and immersion lab, the Center inspires all ages to discover and create through informal education.

Understanding that play is a powerful catalyst for informal learning, City leaders envisioned replacing the original, aging playground with an innovative play space that would complement and expand upon the STEAM Center's offerings while matching its commitment to technological advancement. With climbing challenges for all ages, eye-catching space-themed customizations that propel imaginative play, and the first digital play innovation to be installed in the country, the Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center challenges all visitors to take giant leaps and uncover what they're capable of on its destination playground.

Every element of the playground at Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center was designed to ignite curiosity around the universe and encourage exploration through play. The rocket-themed GIANT XL anchors the site as an eye-catching centerpiece that launches dramatic flare at dusk with integrated lighting. Across the playground, the OrbitPlay™, the first to be installed in the United States, engages children through digital, dynamic game play that sparks social interaction and captivates attention. The BLOQX3 invite children to climb, balance, and engage in active, hands-on play, and the Space Seesaw, Rocket Roller, and Universal Carousel add motion, interaction, and inclusive opportunities for social play.

In the play area for children ages 2-5, the space-themed Mini Dome tailors climbing challenges to young children's developmental needs, and a Mission Control play panel center offers tactile, maneuverable gadgets and dials to help small explorers discover cause and effect. The space capsule play hut was designed as a replica of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft displayed inside the STEAM Center—inviting children to role play their own interstellar journey or take a quiet break from the playground activity. Constellations, moon phases, planets, and the sun are designed into the rubber pour-in-place (PIP) safety surfacing, while stars are embedded within the site's shading—creating a "top-to-bottom" integration of the space theme that ensures an accessible, more comfortable play experience for all. Together, these elements create a cohesive playground environment that supports active play, shared experiences, and the spirit of discovery at the heart of the STEAM Center.