River Hook, Upper Nyack’s newest public recreation space, now includes a a “natural” playground. On the last weekend of April, in celebration of Arbor Day, friends, volunteers, and other stakeholders unveiled a new play space made up of fallen, inter-connected trees that form a jungle gym in a sea of wood chips. It is surrounded by benches, a small play (“Ice House”) house and a canopied area for shade that includes a sitting edge.

After a short dedication ceremony for the new play area backdropped by climbing Cub Scouts and a memorial tree planting for Jannene Cason, there was a program in front of the carriage house featuring a poetry reading by Anupama Amaran, a cello performance by Jody Redhage Ferber, and a reinstallation of Lisa Levart’s “Still Here: Women of the Ramapough Lenape Nation.”

Fortunately, our photographer and unabashed tree hugger Andrea Swenson was on hand to take in all the natural splendor and fun for this week’s Photo Shoot. Scroll down for photos and details, as well as a comprehensive slideshow at the end.

See more of Andrea’s recent Photo Shoots here and find even more of her outstanding work on Instagram.