Play Puddle Meudon

In the summer of 2024, Meudonstraat in Neder-Over-Heembeek was transformed into a lively play area with water as a central element. Herbronnen.resources devised a new use for the Meudon spring as part of Playcation, funded by the VGC.

At the corner of two streets, in the middle of a slope, a natural spring springs up. Normally, the water flows unused over the cobblestones and disappears into a sewer cover just before the canal. But with the Speelbroek Meudon project, this lost stream was given a new life as a sparkling play river. Herbronnen.ressources vzw collaborated on this with Plant and Houtgoed, Meow Collective and the City of Brussels. Thanks to the support of the Playcation grants of the Flemish Community Commission (VGC), a riverbed made of clay and reclaimed stones was constructed, leading the spring water over the pavement. The play river flowed through a playful network of canals, sluices and pools. A large bag of clay and a pile of stones were waiting at the site. Children immediately set to work with it: they continuously built, shaped and reshaped the landscape. Throughout the summer, the play river continued to grow and change, driven by their imagination and play. Thus, Meudon Street became a place where nature, play and cooperation came together.

On the opening day, Meow collective organised workshops to help children build this new water infrastructure, and encourage parents to take a dip in the new ponds themselves: a playful way to reveal the incredible potential hidden under our feet!