Youngsters can make the most of basic playground equipment and experience loads of fun. Every child has fond memories of days spent in public park or playground redevelopment gardens with a couple of swings and a merry-go-round. It does not matter if they have to wait their turn.
The world becomes a more exciting place when they are careening down a slide or hanging suspended on chin-up bars. Can you imagine the joy you’d be able to spread around if you can offer children in your community a place to play and explore that is well thought-out and designed especially for them?
Essential questions
Some playgrounds are built to cater to various ages and abilities of children. Others are centred on a specific theme or visual aesthetic. Modern playgrounds are leaning towards the idea of promoting physical fitness early in life. Some places provide many opportunities to commune with nature.
Let us focus on the necessities of a simple school playground you want to build. A playground equipment specialist would be able to advise you on trapeze rings, sandboxes and mazes. But, before you even make a list of recreational equipment, there are two questions you must answer first.
“What is the ideal base or surface material?” That is the first question we can help you with. The second question is, “What design elements should be incorporated?”
Base material
Safety is a foremost concern in playground settings. You want to allow kids to be kids – to explore the limits of their abilities and discover the physical world they live in using the means available to them. Yet, you also want the playground to be a safe place.
Even though playground injuries happen all the time, it is necessary to create an environment that lowers the risk of injuries. The choice of base or surfacing material is critical since it determines how much protection the area offers the children using it.
A straightforward list of potential surfacing materials includes artificial grass, solid rubber, and engineered wood fibre. The American Society for Testing and Materials website should give you ideas on which materials are approved and compliant to national safety standards.
Some playgrounds take their chances with loose-fill materials, but you can choose this only if proper maintenance ensures the surface remains stable and safe. The combination of loose-fill and rubber mats to cushion landings and blows seem to be effective.
Still, it requires resources to maintain. Tile surfaces, rubber matting, and synthetic grass do not require much care and monitoring. These are the ideal choices if maintaining the surface would be an issue.
Design and concept
It’s not necessarily adequate to order equipment and place them where they fit. A playground that fulfils its purpose well follows clear design principles. The equipment offers mental and physical challenges, but the time a child spends in the area is better utilised if it piques curiosity and encourages discovery of self and the world.
As such, it makes sense to work with a team that is aware how good design could influence the purpose of a space. The new playground can be an expression of the school motto or a manifestation of the values you teach students.
