Community Spirit

Required Pictures

View from Rear

Cost of Building
The park cost the community §97,546 to build. The builders succeeded in keeping the total cost under §100K, though it may creep higher in future if more things are added. The park aims to provide plenty of things for Sims of all ages to do both by day and by night.

Foundation View
I have used "garden soil" ground cover under all the lattice-fronted decking, as I really don't think much grass would grow there. It also helps you to see how the brick foundations relate to the structures above. They provide stronger support where it is most needed. Under the toilet block, the brick foundation provides protection for the main plumbing supplies to the building, including drainage. Only one sink and one urinal are not directly above the foundation. In the restaurant, the main kitchen building rests directly on the foundation. The rest of the decking supports only open air seating and tables. And the little square foundation provides a solid support for the centre of the bandstand. You can see the batbox and the Sim Manipulator inside this foundation. CC is allowed in this round, and this lot is exactly as it is being used in my game. If I ever shared this lot. I'd miss them out; I think everyone should have the batbox, but the Sim Manipulator is very much a matter of personal preference. I know many players prefer the SimBlender or Insimenator.

View showing Roofs
This maybe isn't really a required shot, but many entries have included it as one, and in this rather complicated lot, I think it helps to show how things fit together. Across the top (from left to right) are the toddler playpark, the toilet block, and the swimming pool. In front of the swimming pool is the open air dance floor, and in front of that is the bandstand. The large structure towards the front left is of course the restaurant, and the overhead walkways built with Phaenoh's playground set cover much of the park.

Floor-plan of the Toilet Block
If you define a building as a structure enclosed by walls and covered with a roof, then this is the only true building on the whole lot; the others are all open to the weather (or they would be if I had Seasons!

) The part of the floor above the foundation which surrounds the main plumbing connection to the building is distinguished by a different colour of tiling. all the toilets (apart from one urinal) rest on this. The male and female toilets are pretty well how I always make them, except for the special male and female floor tiles, which I think must have come with University, because I haven't consciously seen them before. The extra urinal in the male toilets isn't because I think men need more facilities than women; it's just because there was room for it. Sometimes I make the female toilets bigger than the male ones, but here I've gone for symmetry. As for some other players though, the parenting room is a new idea to me. I think the nearest I've seen is a fold-down baby-changing mat in a toilet. I've seen signs to a Baby Changing Room, but I've never had cause to go into one. (I did once get my little niece worried at the zoo, by suggesting that we would go to the Baby Changing Room and change her for a chimpanzee!) Anyway this parenting room is a 4x4 room at the end of the toilet block. It has a linoleum floor with a paw-print pattern, except under the toilet and the potty, which is tiled. It has a one-tile changing table (by rebecah), and an old fashioned pram which serves as a crib. (II can't remember where I got the pram -- I've had it for years now.) Above the pram is a rather attractive "Star Trek" mobile which slowly spins round. In the corner is that toy that allows toddlers to build logic skill by trying to bash round pegs into square holes. On top of the counter beside the sink is a formula fridge by msBarrows. Unfortunately it has not proved possible to get feeding bottles out of it, and I've tried other fridges too with no more success. I have now added a little University mini-fridge under the counter, which allows Sims to get cold food out of it. In the future I may remove the non-functioning formula fridge, so Sims can use the counter top there to prepare food for their toddlers. At the moment the nearest functioning counter is in the restaurant kitchen, and I really don't like Sims preparing their own food there. I suspect the restaurateurs don't like it much either!

The Swimming Pool and Outdoor Dance Floor
I'm not sure if this really counts as a building that needs its own floor-plan, but it probably helps to show it at a larger scale. Note the drains for the showers in the floor to the left hand side of the pool. These were added seen after the park opened, so Sims wouldn't have to go home to shower.

Floor-plan - Bandstand
It is equipped with am electric guitar, and a drum kit. At some point I may add a karaoke machine. Or a piano.

Floor-plan of Restaurant
The supports for the extended roof are the posts from Phaenoh's "It's all wood" playground set. These have the advantage of being at the corner of the tile instead of the middle like all the Maxis pillars and posts that I've got.. All the tables and nearly all the seating is completely outdoors. I suppose some of the tables could be moved under the roof should it ever start to rain -- highly unlikely seeing I don't have Seasons! If I ever do get Seasons, I might add some sort of awning over some of the tables.

Floor-plan of Overhead Playground and Walkways
Another floor-plan that may not be strictly "required", but again I think it helps to show how the structure is built. In fact it could be argued that it's not even a proper floor-plan, since the two higher levels are also included. However I think this helps to show how the tower is constructed, and the only thing that is partly hidden is a green park bench just under the tower. This picture is taken from a different orientation from the floor-plans: This one is viewed from the right hand side of the lot as I think that gives a better overview of the structure. Note the chess tables, the swings, and the slide (on the right hand side of this picture next to the toilets. Access to this level is by a ladder near the main park entrance and a wooden "rock wall" near the toddler play-park.

Optional Pictures

I think I'll show these in chronological order as various groups of Sims visited the park.

Toilet Block with Trevor Elliott
The first to visit the new park were Joe Elliott and his boy, Trevor. Here is Trevor outside the toilets. After relieving himself, he is heading for the swimming pool.

Swimming Pool with Trevor Elliott and Alice Kraemer
When they arrived Trevor met his school-friend Alice Kraemer, and the two friends went to the pool to swim together. Trevor is on the left, treading water. I hadn't realised till I saw this picture just how deep the Sims swimming pools are. They really are very deep for little children.

Swimming Pool with Trevor Elliott using new shower
Their first visit had to be cut short because Joe needed a shower, much to the disappointment of Trevor who was having a great tome playing with Alice. So, at their request, I added two poolside showers before their next visit. Here Trevor is using one of them, As you can see, you keep your swimwear on in these CC showers. The boy you can see in the background at the bottom of the slide is a townie child who delights on the name Erastus Landau.

The Elliotts go Home on their Bike
It was quite late when Joe and Trevor got on their bike to go home. I think this picture gives some idea of the atmosphere in the park at night. All the bright coloured lights just make it look a place to have fun. The red-headed girl looking on as they leave is Ally Baker, a townie teen.

Parenting Room - Dean Walters potty-training Phillip
Next to go to the park was Dean Walters with his young son Phillip. For reasons I've described elsewhere, Phillip wasn't selectable, but that didn't stop him getting dome potty training in the parenting room. Since this picture was taken, the top turtle was replaced by that Maxis toddler toy for bashing pegs into holes, and a University mini-fridge has been added underneath the formula fridge.

Parenting Room - Pat Lambert tending Thomas
There then followed several visits by members of the Lambert family, all of them bringing Thomas Lambert, the older toddler with them. (The reason why it was always Thomas who went, rather than his younger brother Martin, is that, since they were of course both created in CAS at the same time, Thomas was actually behind Martin in learning the toddler skills, and I discovered the extra attention he could get on the community lot without his brother, would give him ample opportunity to catch up.) First to take him was his big sister Pat, the Goth girl. Actually Pat first went on a fun outing with Phillip Freedman the paper boy, and Thomas was only summoned with the teleporter after they had finished dining. I think Pat and Phillip have decided to be "just good friends". Anyway this picture shows Pat in the parenting room, attending to Thomas in the old pram which serves as a crib.

Pat places Thomas in the Toddler Swing
Here she is placing him in the swing in the little toddler play-park, which is conveniently situated next door to the parenting room.

Next Thomas visited the park with his dad, but unfortunately i haven't got any pictures of that because I forgot to turn FRAPS on.

Shannon and Pat Lambert Playing on Bandstand
On their next visit, and the last to date, Thomas was accompanied by his mum, by Pat, and his older brothers Harry and Corey. After a shower and a short Thomas's mum Shannon and started playing on the bandstand, while Harry and Corey explored the park. The "girls" didn't make any money. In fact no one has made money playing there yet, no matter how good they are. I think there are just too many attractions for them to compete with.

Harry Lambert at the Top of the Tower
While Corey went to play on the slide, Harry climbed up to the very top of the tower, which gives an excellent view of the park.

Parenting Room - Strange Boy offers Help
I too had the problem of other Sims using the toilet in the parenting room. In fact Shannon, who was feeling hungry, left Thomas alone there in the company of this townie boy, rejoicing in the name of Weston Murgatroyd, who had just come in to use the toilet. So Thomas asked the boy for attention. Weston did try to help him but couldn't really work out what little Thomas wanted. I don't think he's much experience of dealing with toddlers!

The Lamberts dine in the Restaurant
I persuaded Shannon not to make her own meal, but to dine in the restaurant with the older members of the party. Left to right they are Shannon, Corey, Harry and Pat. The Sim standing on the right is William Brewster, a new arrival in the village. He is the father of Rick, a boy with whom Pat is trying to make friends.

Children Playing in Toddler Play-park
Except for the swings, older children can use the toddler play-park too. Here Corey is playing in the sandpit, while Harry is walking round to use the slide. Both boys have obviously been in the pool. In the background Shannon is teaching Thomas to walk.

Harry and Corey have a Pillow Fight
Now the boys are having a pillow fight. Thomas is still learning to walk in the background.

High Level Swings
Before they went home, they had some fun in the high level playground. While Corey swings on the left hand swing, his mum pushes townie Kieran Marley on the other one. Harry, who is a bit more studious than his brother, is practicing chess at one of the three chess tables on this level.

Stefan and Lucinda Rodney buying Energy Drinks from Vending Machine
The most recent visit to the park was by the Rodneys. This CC vending machines is one of the first things you come to on arrival, and is one of the sources of food in the park. The §25 energy drinks that Stefan and Lucinda are buying will give them the energy to play and dance all night. (It is also the proof that you don't need to have Apartment Life to have a working vending machine,)

The Flirty Spot - The Rodneys make out
With so many other attractions in the park, not many Sims make it to the swimming pool. So, if you want some intimate time with that special Sim, this is the place to head for. Since it is a swimming pool, you have the excuse to take [most of] your clothes off. And there's even a bench at the poolside for some really intimate fun. No rules about "No Petting" here!

Contest Requirements

I think all requirements have been met. The toilet facilities are more than adequate, and food is available from the restaurant, the vending machine, the barbecue grill (though this seems to only be usable autonomously) and the fridge in the parenting room.

The parenting room contains everything specified, and is, I think, better than anything I've seen in Real Life (though a bolt on the inside of the door to keep other people from coming in to use the toilet would be useful!).

Educational/Skill Building
Chess, swimming, and that toddler toy

Flirty/Romantic
The swimming pool, the dance floor, and of course the park benches

Fun
Just about everything! Chess, Swimming, Swings, Slides, Toys, etc.!

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