An artist's playground: here are sculptures kids can climb.

When Niki de Saint Phalle was little, she liked to pick up bits of wood and rock. She arranged them in shapes on a flat surface. She often included small mirrors and other shiny objects. This was her first art form.

Niki was born in France in 1930. She lived there for three years with her grandparents. Then she lived with her parents in the United States. Niki's family moved often when she was young. Niki saw European paintings and statues. She also looked at American comic books and modern art. She tried out many kinds of art, but she liked sculpting best.

Niki always wanted to create a "garden of joy." So one of the last things she did before she died in 2002 was design a sculpture garden. It was her gift to children everywhere. She put the garden in a quiet part of Kit Carson Park in Escondido, California.

Niki's sculpture garden is called Queen Califia's Magic Circle. In Spanish legends, Queen Califia was a warrior queen. Some historians say that California was named after Queen Califia.

Mosaic decorations glitter on many walls and statues at the park. Mosaics are patterns made with pieces of colored material. As a child, Niki liked making patterns with bits of wood and rock. As an adult, she made mosaics with ceramic and glass.

All of the sculptures are strong enough to be sat upon, climbed, or scrambled under. There are no "Do Not Touch" signs in the park.

By Charlotte Mortimer