Design Guide for Barefoot Parks
Sensation paths -- wood and stones
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| Wood and stones form most solid surfaces in nature and can be arranged to provide a variety of sensations to the soles and to appeal to the eye as well. |
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| Walk over logs | It is fun to walk across logs of 8-12 cm (3-5 inch) diameter which are installed without gaps. |   |
 Natural logs with bark give a good sensation. Be aware to avoid gaps which could jam the toes! For a change, the logs can also be installed lengthwise. |
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| Wooden pavement | Wood pavement can be created in a
variety of design, is easy to maintain and looks good.
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| Boards | Let people walk over a section of a tree trunk with either a flat or a rough wooden surface! |  |
| Dead wood | Walking on the inner side of a hollow tree is not an everyday experience. But if such a material is available, use it despite its limited durability! |  |
| Cobblestones | An irregular cobblestone pavement is an appealing material for a sensory station. Placement in a cohesive sand bed avoids sealing the ground. |  |
| The stones can be laid at distance. Later on, this may cause some maintenance effort to keep the surrounding vegetation short. |   |
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| Regional native rock | If possible, include materials characteristic of the landscape, e.g. basalt stacks or sandstone. If desired, this can be advanced into a geology trail. |   |
| Exciting variety |
Various wooden and stony materials can be placed in sequence without any problem of dispersing under the feet of the visitors. |
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| Stone pavement | Pavement is found everywhere in the cities, but obviously most people do not like to go barefoot on it. It is not the first choice to make a nature trail interesting to the visitors! |   |
| For foot sensation zones in urban areas, pavement in various colors can be a very decorative accessory. |   |
