Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to establish a community playground or a philanthropist who wants to give back to your community, designing a fun-filled community playground can be difficult. There is a lot of brainstorming, planning, and factors that need to be considered to create a safe and friendly playground.
To get you started, we’ve outlined some of the factors below.
1. Manufacturer
Playground equipment is a key factor to consider when designing a community park. According to statistics, over 200,000 children visit the emergency room each year due to playground-related injuries, with some of these injuries caused by playground equipment.
Playground equipment can either be the source of children's excitement or pain. To avoid the latter, ensure you ask yourself these questions before buying any equipment:
What type of equipment am I looking for?
Is the manufacturer reliable?
Is the playground equipment durable and safe? Or are they low-grade equipment with a short lifespan?
What age group will use my playground?
When designing a community playground, your primary focus should be on the equipment. Other arrangements are secondary. After all, it takes quality and sensational commercial playground equipment to make up a lively playpark. Meanwhile, low-quality or hazardous play park equipment increases the chances of a kid getting injured.
2. Age
Playgrounds are beneficial to children. They help build strength and fitness, encourage cognitive development, and increase social skills. However, a play park designed for babies won’t appeal to a 14-year-old as it may be less challenging and fun. Similarly, toddlers wouldn’t enjoy playground equipment intended for 14-year-olds as they lack the strength and mental capacity required for such exercises.
Know what age group of children will use your playground before purchasing any playground sets. Doing so will ensure your playground contains equipment designed for the intended age group.
3. Prioritize safety
Families won't bring their kids to an unsafe community playground. So, if you are eager to design a playground that receives lots of visitors, you must put effort into ensuring it is safe. And how do you do that? There are many ways to make a playground safe. We've talked about purchasing safety equipment.
You can also achieve a safe play area by providing comfortable flooring surfaces and safe slide entry to prevent injuries. In addition, ensure that the purchased equipment meets mandatory safety standards. Most importantly, clear safety signs should be provided that indicate the correct use of equipment, including the age group for which the playground was designed.
Another thing you'll want to consider to keep the play area safe is fencing. Depending on where the playground is located, you'll want some fencing to prevent anyone from running off into a road or pond. Consulting with a fencing company like https://www.myfence.co.nz/ can give you some guidance on which fence best suits your playground and the needs of its users.
4. Encourage different types of play.
A lot of brainstorming goes into setting up a playground. Aside from considering the appropriate equipment to buy, you must also consider the play opportunities available in your play area.
What play opportunities do children fancy? Active play, no doubt, is one of the most common. There is also sensory play, which involves different colors, sights, textures, and sounds. And, of course, we have free play, which may include using imagination to find new ways to play.
Mixing up an array of play opportunities will provide children with a wide array of exciting play opportunities, thus increasing their chances of enjoying themselves in your play area.
Conclusion
Designing a community playground is nothing like making a make-shift background playground for your kids. Since a larger population uses these playgrounds, there is an urgent need to plan appropriately. Remember, children's lives and health are at stake, so don't hesitate to consult professionals if the need arises.