Whether you are planning the ultimate community play space, school playground or a public park and recreation area, our guarantee is to provide you with the resources, tools and information to make your playground buying experience as fun, simple and straightforward as possible.
Start you playground planning process with us and we’ll take the stress and hassle out planning and make your project FUN! Here’s where to start!
Build your playground with intention by considering your community before you begin. Identify the primary users of the space such as families, school-children, members of your neighborhood or organization and more.Knowing what age groups your playground will cater to helps keeps kids safe. Our playground structures are designed to provide age-appropriate fun to the following age groups:
Besides considering age group you may also want to consider expected foot traffic. If your playground will be used at a school it will likely get more traffic than a neighborhood park. Be sure to include play events that appeal to all age groups that will be enjoying your play area, including those who may need ADA accessible equipment and surfacing.
How much space do you have? When planning a playground, having exact measurements of your allotted space is extremely important. Do you have a flexible canvas to work with, or is the playground limited to a small area? Will you install multiple play areas for specific age groups of children? These are all important questions to keep in mind. We recommend using Google Maps to take accurate measurements of your proposed project site. Additionally, you will need to consider:
Things Close By: You’ll want to consider proximity to amenities like parking, restrooms and picnic areas to increase traffic to your space. In contrast, also examine how close your play area will be to things like streams, retention ponds or major roads. Keep in mind you may need to factor in the cost of fencing to keep everyone safe.
Above & Below: It’s important to know what’s underground and overhead when selecting a playground site. Consider soil and drainage, underground utilities, overhead power lines and other hazards like low hanging branches, dangerous plants or large trees.
Budget is a major factor in determining the scope of your playground project. The cost of playground varies widely depending on what types of equipment you purchase, and how much site prep is needed. The pie chart shows an example of a typical break-down of playground costs at a budget of $15,000. Use this handy calculator to get a better idea of the cost and scope of your project.
Looking for ways to fund your project? We offer financing options and have also compiled a Funding Guide that offers suggestions on how to raise and secure funds for a project.
Now for the fun part: picking your equipment! Play Structures are the largest pieces of equipment with multiple play elements such as slides, climbers, ladders and activity panels all included in one piece. Most playgrounds are made up of one or more main structures, with independent play items like swing sets, spinners, climbers or spring bouncers rounding out the space. Several things you may want to consider when selecting play equipment.
• Age Groups: If children from multiple age groups will be utilizing your play area you may want to design two separate areas with age-appropriate equipment in each. equipment:
• Accessibility: Consider making your recreation area ADA accessible with special equipment like ADA swings, spinners, and ground level play events like musical instruments. You can also opt for Poured-in-Place rubber surfacing to ensure that your equipment is accessible to all.
• Themed Equipment: Ignite the imaginations of children in your community by selecting equipment from themes like outer space, medieval castles, pirates and more.
• Site Amenities: Put the finishing touches on your commercial play area with high-quality, affordable, site amenities such as picnic tables, benches, shade structures, and more. We also carry a full line of maintenance related amenities such as trash receptacles and liners, dog waste stations, park signage and more!
Our dedicated team of playground professionals is here to help you choose the equipment, surfacing and installation options that are right for you!
