While designing a brand-new playground can be fun, many make some mistakes while doing so. This is especially so if you do not have adequate experience with commercial playground equipment.
When building a playground, you will need to be meticulous and thorough in your planning process to ensure that your playground is safe for kids.
If you are thinking of building a new playground, here are five mistakes you should take note of and how to avoid them.
A Wrong Sized Playground
When designing a playground, you must design one that fits the number of children who will use it. Designing a playground for a neighborhood will be different from designing one for a school.
Some factors to consider when building the playground include:
An estimation of how many children will likely use the playground at the same time
Each child should have an average of 75 square feet of play space
When installing playground equipment, use zones to prevent overcrowding
Playground equipment should be separated at least 6 feet apart from each other
Having Insufficient Budget
When building a playground, you must have a sufficient budget for your project.
The budget for building a playground varies based on different factors, including:
Size of your playground
Number of children using the playground at one time
Playground equipment
When creating a budget for your playground, note how many children will play on the playground at one time. You should budget around $1,000 per child.
Playground equipment should account for the majority (up to 60%) of your budget, while the installation process should account for the rest of your budget.
Not Accounting for Kids of Various Ages
Remember to take into consideration the age range of kids who will be playing on the playground. If you are building a playground for a neighborhood, you should ensure that your playground has equipment that challenges kids of all ages.
This means taking into account playground equipment suitable for kids of different ages, including 4-23 months, 2-5 years, and 5-12 years. You can also include other amenities in the playground for adults.
When building the playground, you can also include labels to help guardians identify appropriate play areas for their children.
Not Meeting Safety Guidelines
Different countries have their respective guidelines to help reduce hazards and reduce injuries on a playground.
If you are building a playground in the United States, ensure that your playground meets the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines.
This means working with a manufacturer that follows these guidelines strictly and planning regular inspections to ensure that your playground is appropriate for play.
Doing Everything Yourself
Building a playground takes time, from the designing and planning process to the funding and installing process. It is a big project, and it is vital to ask for help whenever necessary.
If you find that you are having difficulty building a playground yourself, seek experienced play and recreation experts. These experts will be able to guide you to help your playground succeed.
Final Thoughts
While planning and building a playground is exciting, it is essential to avoid these mistakes to help your playground succeed. Your playground must be of the right size and suitable for all ages. Above all, ensure that your playground meets the safety guidelines of your city.
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