Like many suburban cities, the neighbourhoods of Naperville, Illinois are hyper-reliant on cars, limiting walkability in spread-out single-family neighborhoods. Those most affected are early adolescents who seek independence during this crucial time of their social development but are too young to drive.

This thesis aims to design a new type of park infrastructure as a ‘third space’ for this demographic. Akin to a treehouse and adaptable to many configurations and sites throughout the city, this infrastructure will be built across selected suburban parks in Naperville that are walkable from within various neighborhoods.