Selecting the Ideal Playground Sets for Your Community Space

By Nic Breedlove

The sounds of laughter and the sight of active kids playing in shared play areas are clear signs of a happy and thriving community. By installing the best children’s playground sets in these local play spaces, parents and community members can be assured that children have a safe and engaging environment to play and develop important life skills close to home. 

Assessing Community Needs: A Guide to Gathering Input for Playground Design

Before choosing the perfect outdoor play equipment and design for the community space, one should address the following needs:

Define Your Community and the Playground Stakeholders

A community playground should not be just another shared space but embody the community's values and identity. Determine the age groups, maximum number of users, and abilities the playground can accommodate. Consult other key stakeholders, such as parents, school administrators, and the local government council, who could provide their insights on the most efficient commercial playground equipment and amenities.

Assess Perceived, Expressed, and Normative Needs

Gather community input and categorize feedback into perceived, expressed, and normative needs to prioritize pressing concerns. Perceived needs may stem from personal preferences or experiences, such as adding more shaded areas or upgrading outdated outdoor play equipment. Expressed needs refer to the previous concerns with attempts to be addressed, like signed petitions for more inclusive playground supplies or fundraisers for additional amenities. Normative needs are based on the standards established by experts and authorities, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and regulations provided by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding children's playground equipment.

Analyze Playground Equipment Options

Once the primary needs and pressing concerns are sorted, the appropriate children's playground sets should be evaluated to meet the community criteria and the following factors:

• Age Appropriateness

• Durability and Safety

• Aesthetic Appeal and Local Community Elements

• Maintenance Level

• Energy and Interest Engagement

• Inclusivity and Accessibility

Evaluate Maintenance, Accessibility, and Safety

The children's playground sets within a community space require a long-term commitment. Ensure the playground observes the accessibility standards and safety guidelines, allowing children to play without worries and boundaries regardless of abilities. Ensure the chosen playground equipment and features require low maintenance and upkeep and can be easily repaired or replaced without straining the community budget.

Space Planning: Maximizing Small and Large Community Areas for Play

Detailed space planning allows efficient selection of children's playground equipment for a well-rounded playground, whether in a small urban area or a large community park.

Assess Available Space

Determine the exact space measurements, shape, and layout. Note the visible obstacles, such as trees, fences, and utility lines. Identify any existing structures, natural features, and drainage systems in the area that could affect the placement of children's playground sets. 

Create Defined Play Zones

Divide the playground into the following themes or sections that could cater to different interests, age groups, and energy levels.

• Active Play Zone: Classic children's play equipment such as swing sets, slides, and climbing structures for physical activity

• Social Play Zone: Playhouses and play systems for social interaction and role-plays

• Creative Play Zone: Sandboxes, water tables, and play panels for imagination and education

• Quiet Play Zone: Reading nooks and quiet corners for breaks from overstimulation 

Optimize Play Equipment Selection for Small Spaces

Smaller spaces do not mean fewer chances to engage in fun play. Utilize vertical spaces through multi-level play structures, climbing walls, rope towers, and overhead equipment. Opt for compact, modular, and multi-functional children's playground sets that can offer several activities while conserving space. Freestanding equipment like swing sets, a balance beam, and rotating play elements can also provide dynamic movement and fun within a small play space.

Maximize Large Community Areas

While large areas offer more flexibility and possibilities, it is still crucial to plan carefully for a cohesive play experience. Incorporate themed playgrounds according to the defined play zones, such as an adventure theme for the active play zone or an outer space theme in the quiet play zone. Allocate open spaces for multi-activities like sports, team building, and community events. Natural elements (e.g., trees and shrubs) and nature-inspired children's play equipment are also perfect additions to large spaces and foster users' appreciation and understanding of nature.

Plan for Safety and Accessibility

Safe play should be prioritized regardless of small and large spaces. The selected children's playground sets should meet ASTM and CPSC safety standards. Make sure they are also accessible to users of all abilities through ramps and wide pathways. Install impact-absorbing surfaces under all types of children's play equipment.

Choosing Durable Materials Suitable for Public Use

Materials play a crucial role in children's playground sets in terms of durability and longevity. Here are some ways to choose the best playground supplies and materials for your play spaces:

Recommended Materials

Here are some common and preferred materials used in shared children's play equipment:

• Metal: Available as galvanized steel or aluminum, it is often used in commercial playground equipment due to its durability, low maintenance, and weather resistance. This material is great for swing sets, slides, and climbers.

• Wood: Pressure-treated wood like pine and cedar are great options for their strength, natural aesthetic, and decay resistance. This material is great for a nature-themed children's play structure, playhouse, and forts.

• Plastic: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and rotationally molded plastic are preferred for their colorful options and resistance to impact, cracking, temperature, and UV rays. This material is great for play panels, tunnels, and smaller playground structures within kids' own backyard.

• Rubber: Recycled rubber and rubber coating can provide shock-absorbing properties, heavy-duty usage, and weather resistance. This material is great for impact-absorbing surfaces, swing set seats, and spring riders.

Assess the Environmental Conditions

Local climate and environmental factors like humidity, temperature extremes, and potential vandalism can greatly affect the durability of children's playground sets. Hot and humid climates require UV-resistant coatings and materials to resist warping, rusting, and fading. Cold and rainy climates should opt for weather-resistant playground supplies and materials to withstand extreme temperatures, rust, and corrosion.

Plan for Long-Term Maintenance

Regardless of the materials used, regular maintenance is key to ensuring the longevity and safety of children's playground sets. Select durable materials that require minimal upkeep to reduce long-term costs. Create a consistent maintenance schedule that includes inspections, cleaning, repairs, and replacement of worn or damaged playground supplies and components. 

Safety and Vandalism-resistance

As safety is paramount in community play space designs, the children's play equipment should meet necessary safety standards and resist vandalism. Additional safety measures, such as rounded edges, non-toxic finishes, and shade equipment, can improve the users' well-being while at play. Anti-graffiti finishes, tamper-proof fasteners, and robust construction can also help maintain the integrity of the children's play sets, ensuring they remain safe and inviting for more years to come.

Inclusive Design: Ensuring Accessibility for All Children

A playground cannot truly serve the community if its children's playground equipment only accommodates certain users. These inclusive design guidelines help make these shared play spaces accessible and welcome to children of all abilities.

Embrace Universal Design Principles

Universal design is an established framework focused on creating environments and products accessible and usable by everyone, regardless of age, size, or ability. When selecting children's playground equipment and supplies, ensure they cater to diverse physical and sensory needs while remaining easy to navigate and use. 

Incorporate ADA-Compliant Equipment and Features

The children's playground sets should meet or exceed the ADA requirements to ensure accessibility and mobility for experiencing different types of play. These playground supplies and features include ramps, wide pathways, and transfer stations. Other inclusive children's playground equipment are wheelchair-accessible swing sets, adaptive seats, and ground-level play elements.

Provide Diverse Play Opportunities

Well-rounded community playgrounds should offer diverse play experiences that meet different interests, energy levels, and developmental needs. Select children's play structure and equipment that encourage sensory play, social interaction, and physical activity. This can include sensory-rich elements, imaginative play structures, and accessible swing sets and slides that allow children of all abilities to engage and explore the playground supplies in meaningful ways.

Community Involvement and Feedback

Engage with the children, parents, and local community members with different backgrounds and abilities to gather genuine feedback and address pressing concerns. This collaborative approach ensures the chosen children's playground sets and equipment truly meet all users' needs and reflect the community's values.

Balancing Budget and Quality in Community Playground Projects

The budget is the final key piece in realizing the community playground project. These budgeting tips can help achieve the maximum community output without sacrificing quality, from children's playground equipment to a wide selection of play add-ons.

Set Clear Project Priorities

Before allocating funds, establish clear priorities for the community playground project. Determine the most important factors, such as age-appropriateness, accessibility, safety, and desired play features. By defining these priorities, the budget allocation for the selection of children's playground equipment and other necessary features can be clearer and more efficient.

Prioritize Safety and Accessibility

Safety and accessibility should never be sacrificed for cost. Invest in high-quality children's play equipment, accessible features, and safety surfacing that meet or exceed safety standards, even if this reduces the quantity of playground equipment. While this may require a larger upfront investment, it will pay off in the long run by minimizing maintenance costs and providing a safe and inclusive environment for children of all abilities to play. 

Develop a Realistic Budget Plan

Create a comprehensive budget that accounts for all aspects of the project, including site preparation, commercial playground equipment, installation, and surfacing. A significant portion of the budget (50 to 60%) should be allocated for children's playground equipment and supplies. Factor in additional expenses for maintenance costs, such as repairs and replacements, and non-play amenities like benches and shade structures.

Explore Financial Assistance

Grants, community fundraising, and sponsorships can help stretch the budget for children's playground sets. Many organizations, including local governments, nonprofits, and corporate sponsors, offer financial support for educational and recreational spaces. With research and networking efforts, community spaces with high-quality children's play equipment can be achieved with more manageable costs.