Eric McMillan
Encyclopedia
Eric McMillan, is a Canadian designer who began his career designing exhibitions. By an extraordinary opportunity in 1972, he started designing play areas and elements that encouraged children to learn through play. The concepts were composed of a great variety of materials. He has been referred to as “The father of soft play”. There isn’t an amusement park, water park or fast food area that doesn’t incorporate some of Eric McMillan’s inventions.
In 1968 he moved from The Canadian Government Exhibition Commission in Ottawa to Toronto to join the design team planning Ontario Place
. When Ontario Place opened in 1971 the section of the exhibition he had designed called “Explosions” was the most successful exhibit in that first season. In consequence of this success he was appointed chief designer for the whole project. The following year (1972) saw the opening of the “Children’s Village” land play area and from that project grew his reputation as a designer of children’s play attractions. The opening of the “Water Play” area in 1973 secured that reputation. His work introduced ideas like the ball crawl (ball pit
), net climb, punch bag forest, birdie glide, roller slide, cave crawl, together toys, foam swamp, water bicycle cannons, balancing buoys, rubber band bounce, and a whole range of interactive play elements.
In 1975 together with partners Rosemarie Duell and Len Rydahl he formed a design partnership and went on to design play attractions around the world. “Captain Kid’s” at SeaWorld
of Ohio was the first project built in the U.S. in 1975. His list of projects include: “Whale of a Time World” San Vallejo, California 1979; "Sesame Place
", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1980; “Parc de la Villette
” Paris, France 1984; “Space Science Park” (United States Space Camp
) Huntsville, Alabama 1984; “Children’s Museum Waterfront Attraction”, Boston, Massachusetts 1987; ‘‘Founders Park’’ Nelson, New Zealand, 1987; “Eureka!” Halifax England, 1988; and many other projects including work at World Expos’ 1967, 1976, 1984, 1986 .
Time magazine once described him as “The next Walt Disney.”
In 1968 he moved from The Canadian Government Exhibition Commission in Ottawa to Toronto to join the design team planning Ontario Place
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
. When Ontario Place opened in 1971 the section of the exhibition he had designed called “Explosions” was the most successful exhibit in that first season. In consequence of this success he was appointed chief designer for the whole project. The following year (1972) saw the opening of the “Children’s Village” land play area and from that project grew his reputation as a designer of children’s play attractions. The opening of the “Water Play” area in 1973 secured that reputation. His work introduced ideas like the ball crawl (ball pit
Ball pit
A ball pit is a pit, usually rectangular and padded, filled with small colorful hollow plastic balls...
), net climb, punch bag forest, birdie glide, roller slide, cave crawl, together toys, foam swamp, water bicycle cannons, balancing buoys, rubber band bounce, and a whole range of interactive play elements.
In 1975 together with partners Rosemarie Duell and Len Rydahl he formed a design partnership and went on to design play attractions around the world. “Captain Kid’s” at SeaWorld
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
of Ohio was the first project built in the U.S. in 1975. His list of projects include: “Whale of a Time World” San Vallejo, California 1979; "Sesame Place
Sesame Place
Sesame Place is an American theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. It derives its theme from the Sesame Street television program and characters like Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Ernie, and Bert. It includes a variety of rides, shows, and water attractions suited to very young children...
", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1980; “Parc de la Villette
Parc de la Villette
The Parc de la Villette is a park in Paris at the outer edge of the 19th arrondissement, bordering the Boulevard Périphérique, which is a ring road around Paris, and the suburban department of Seine-Saint-Denis.-History:...
” Paris, France 1984; “Space Science Park” (United States Space Camp
United States Space Camp
U.S. Space Camp is owned and operated by the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission d.b.a. U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "Space Camp" refers to both the actual camp and a family of related camp programs offered year-round by the facility. The camp provides residential and...
) Huntsville, Alabama 1984; “Children’s Museum Waterfront Attraction”, Boston, Massachusetts 1987; ‘‘Founders Park’’ Nelson, New Zealand, 1987; “Eureka!” Halifax England, 1988; and many other projects including work at World Expos’ 1967, 1976, 1984, 1986 .
Time magazine once described him as “The next Walt Disney.”
Notable projects
- The Children's Village and Water Attraction, Ontario PlaceOntario PlaceOntario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
in Toronto, (1960) - Captain Kid’s at SeaWorldSeaWorldSeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
of Ohio; - Whale of a Time World San Vallejo, California 1979;
- Sesame PlaceSesame PlaceSesame Place is an American theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. It derives its theme from the Sesame Street television program and characters like Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Ernie, and Bert. It includes a variety of rides, shows, and water attractions suited to very young children...
, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1980; - Parc de la VilletteParc de la VilletteThe Parc de la Villette is a park in Paris at the outer edge of the 19th arrondissement, bordering the Boulevard Périphérique, which is a ring road around Paris, and the suburban department of Seine-Saint-Denis.-History:...
Paris, France 1984; - Space Science Park (United States Space CampUnited States Space CampU.S. Space Camp is owned and operated by the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission d.b.a. U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "Space Camp" refers to both the actual camp and a family of related camp programs offered year-round by the facility. The camp provides residential and...
) Huntsville, Alabama 1984; - Children’s Museum Waterfront Attraction, Boston, Massachusetts 1987;
- Founders Park Nelson, New Zealand, 1987;
- Eureka!, Halifax England, 1988;
- Many other projects including work at World Expos’ 1967, 1976, 1984, 1986 .