Boardwalks: Bridging Nature and Access in the Landscape

Boardwalks transform murky, sandy, or shifting soils into safe, beautiful walkways. A recent discovery in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's Wildwood Park revealed miles of boardwalks curving through otherwise inaccessible marshland, offering intimate wildlife encounters.

Inspiration

Wildwood's boardwalks follow natural land lines, jetting into marshes at intervals for close wildlife viewing. If you have an inaccessible yard area, a boardwalk could transform it into a welcoming retreat.

Amy Renea

Sceltas Build + Consult

Garden Design for Boardwalks

For tall, lifted boardwalks, integrate plantings that brush the walk—too short feels unanchored; too tall feels claustrophobic. Low boardwalks expand plant choices; just avoid impeding foot traffic with aggressive horizontal growers. Ferns and woodland plants suit boardwalks perfectly.

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

Arterra Landscape Architects

Design around existing plantings when possible—trees provide outlines and canopy.

Ron Herman Landscape Architect

Boardwalk Styles

A wide deck-like boardwalk frames home and garden, grounding the house to its site. Intersecting boardwalks introduce diagonals into circular or straight spaces, creating movement and water garden opportunities. Whether weathered pine, redwood, stained, or natural, boardwalks give spaces new vibe and purpose—practical access, aesthetic appeal, or wildlife proximity.

Christopher Yates Landscape Architecture

Noel Cross+Architects