Wild and Free is not your average play space – the business is equipped with a wide-range of upcycled materials and offers plenty of open space for kids to play, use their imaginations, and meet new friends. Inspired by nature, Wild and Free wanted to bring a space to the community where families could gather to play, no matter the weather. “It was important for me to have a nature theme, this way the kids have the chance to use their imaginations and play freely, just like you would in the forest or in your backyard,” said owner, Michelle Flickinger.  

From a mud kitchen made from upcycled pallets to balancing logs sourced from a local home, Wild and Free is taking sustainability to the next level. “It was important to me to be thoughtful about what we put in our space so that it would last for a long time,” said Michelle. And waste reduction isn’t their only area of focus. In 2020, Wild and Free upgraded all their indoor lighting to LEDs resulting in energy savings, emission reductions, and indoor lighting quality.

Project Details

Efficiency improvement: LED lighting
Annual savings: $461
Lifetime CO2 savings: 34 tons
Resource Wise rebate: $400

When we looked at the annual savings by changing to efficient bulbs, it made perfect sense to complete the project. Not only would my lighting be immensely better, but the project would pay for itself before the end of my lease. – Michelle Flickinger, Owner Wild & Free