The Outdoor Play Oasis
A joyful space for children to play and explore outdoors.
Located behind the Hyannis Public Library at 401 Main Street in downtown Hyannis (next to the JFK Museum), the Outdoor Play Oasis is a free, nature-based playscape for children up to age 12. This natural playscape was designed to spark curiosity, imagination, and connection through:
A log tunnel, labyrinth path, and play kitchen
Sustainably built musical instruments like a whale drum, chime wall, and amadinda (African xylophone)
The Graham Family Play Stage for music, dance, storytelling, and performance
Programs at the Outdoor Play Oasis have included bilingual story-play times, child development play sessions, and family play days—offered as weather and funding allowed.
NOTICE: The Outdoor Play Oasis is closed for Hyannis Public Library’s new building construction and will reopen in Summer 2027. We’re proud of the Outdoor Play Oasis’s community impact and look forward to welcoming families back when construction is complete. For updates, visit our Events page and follow us on Facebook.
Origins & Vision
The Outdoor Play Oasis was born during the 2019–2020 COVID pandemic as a way to reconnect families and revitalize the local economy. Supported by a Mass Development “Resurgent Places” grant, it became both a refuge for families and a nature-based public play zone designed with recycled and sustainable materials:
A reclaimed 200-year-old maple log tunnel
Black locust wood (harvested from Heritage Museum & Gardens) for benches, fences, and the stage
Repurposed propane tanks transformed into musical drums
Native plants and pollinator-friendly landscaping
The project brought together architects, landscape designers, builders, and the Cape Cod Toy Library team, with generous community and in-kind support.
Lasting Impact
Even while closed, the Outdoor Play Oasis remains a symbol of community creativity, environmental stewardship, and the joyful power of play—core to our mission of promoting children’s healthy development. When the Hyannis Public Library new building construction is complete - the Outdoor Play Oasis will reopen in 2027. Updates and program schedules will be posted online.
