Marl quarry: Five senses education park

The sensory park consists of three spatial elements: a promenade, a forest and five sensory polygons that are thematically arranged to encourage the sensory integration of individual senses: hearing, touch, taste, sight, smell. The promenade is also designed as a trim track that, with exercise equipment to enable sports and recreational use of the space. Sensory integration, physical activity and education through the installed info panels (on sensory integration of taste, vision, smell, and touch, about Diocletian’s aqueduct, Emil Stock, the marl quarry in Majdan, and the cement factory “10. kolovoz” (10th August) together form a system of integral development in nature that significantly contributes to the valorisation, improvement and sustainable use of the once neglected marl quarry in Majdan, and thus the entire area along the Jadro.

The second walkway passes through the forest and connects the polygons, starting with the hearing polygon, which is positioned in the north, at the very entrance to the former marl quarry. Passing through a tall reed that sways in the wind activates the sensory integration of hearing. The path further leads to the polygon of touch designed to arouse haptic stimuli, from which it continues to the polygon of taste located in the central part of the sensory park and represents a picnic zone for rest and relaxation. In the southwest of the park, there is a vision polygon – a fenced playground with a surface in different colours that activates the sensory integration of vision. The sensory journey ends with the olfactory polygon located in the outdoor classroom space. For a more intensive stimulation of the sensory integration of visually impaired visitors to the park, indigenous plants have been planted along the educational trail, which additionally simulate the sensory integration of smell and touch.