Introduction
Playgrounds serve as essential spaces for children to engage in physical activity, social interaction, and imaginative play. However, over time, playgrounds can become worn out, outdated, or in need of enhancements to meet evolving safety standards and community needs. In this guide, we'll explore the importance of revitalizing playgrounds and provide practical tips for successful playground improvements.
Revitalizing playgrounds offers numerous benefits for communities and children alike. Firstly, it promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyles by providing inviting spaces for children to play and exercise. While well-maintained playgrounds can have a lifespan of up to 20 years (further details on maintenance can be found in our blog titled “The Importance of Playground Maintenance”), frequent visitors may find the playground losing its “sparkle” and “newness” over time. The once vibrant space can become mundane, diminishing the excitement and enthusiasm for your playspace.
Additionally, updated playgrounds can enhance safety standards, ensuring a secure environment for children to explore and have fun. Safety should always be a top priority when revitalizing playgrounds. Ensure that all improvements comply with relevant safety standards and guidelines, including ASTM and CPSC regulations. Investing in high-quality, durable materials and equipment can ensure long-term safety and functionality.
Furthermore, playground improvements contribute to community engagement and pride, fostering a sense of belonging and unity among residents. Does your playground offer equipment and accessibility for children of all ages and abilities? Does it offer opportunities for multi-generational play? Does it provide shade and amenities for children and parents or caregivers? Your playground improvements can address issues like these that may be keeping visitors away.
Tearing down old play structures and installing all new equipment may be unnecessary and expensive. It may be more cost-effective to update the existing playground. Your playground improvements will take planning and funding. Engage community members, stakeholders, and local organizations in the revitalization process to garner support and input. Collaborate with local businesses, schools, and government agencies to secure funding, resources, and volunteers for the project. By involving the community in the decision-making process, you can create a sense of ownership and pride in the revitalized playground.
So, what are some possible cost-effective playground improvements you could be making?
Small Changes, Big Impact
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Playground Improvements through the addition of Freestanding Equipment
Introducing new freestanding equipment can elevate the play experience for frequent playground visitors, address issues of inclusivity, and gaps in age-appropriate equipment. With a multitude of options available, these additions diversify play opportunities and breathe new life into your playspace. Here are some examples:
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Expanding Sensory Possibilities
If you feel as though your playground lacks diverse ways for kids to explore their sensory needs, it might be necessary to add sensory freestanding pieces. Some equipment options for sensory stimulation include a Sensory Play Station with built-in tactile element, Rhapsody Freestanding Outdoor Musical Instruments, and Roller Tables, provide avenues for rich sensory stimulation. Additionally, enclosed spaces like the Cozy Dome or Crawl Tunnel offer retreats for overstimulated children. With these sensory freestanding pieces, numerous customization options are available to tailor the equipment to meet the needs of your anticipated playground visitors.
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Injecting Excitement
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Sometimes, a playground doesn’t have enough thrilling elements for visitors. There are several ways to increase the thrill on your playscape; one of which is through the addition of more swings or even a ZipKrooz. Ziplines are an excellent way to enhance an existing space, offering various lengths and configurations. They can also be customized to be inclusive, catering to a diverse range of users. Incorporating ziplines into playground improvements can greatly enhance the overall experience for visitors.
If your playground lacks inclusive features, consider incorporating a We-Go-Swing, a multi-user swing accessible to wheelchair users. Or, Friendship Swings and Oodle Swings are other examples of multi-user swings that could be easily added to an existing playscape. These swings also promote playground socialization as they are designed to have multiple users at once.
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Increased Motion
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Empowering children with control over their play experiences involves incorporating elements that encourage cause-and-effect learning and increased motion. For example, spinners are excellent additions for this purpose, with larger, multi-user options like Global Motions, OmniSpin Spinner, and We-Go-Rounds facilitating social interactions. There are also smaller, multi-user options, such as the TopsyTurny Spinner and the ReviWheel Spinner. There are also excellent solo play spinners that allow children to play independently, such as the Stand-Up Spinner, Saddle Spinner, and Chill Spinner.
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Outdoor Furnishing
Integrating outdoor furnishings, such as benches and picnic tables, can take a lackluster playscape into a vibrant communal hub rather than merely a spot for children's play. By incorporating comfortable seating areas, you not only enhance the ambiance but also cater to parents or guardians who bring their children to the playground. This simple playground improvement is cost-effective yet significantly elevates the overall visitor experience.
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Surfacing Upgrades
One often overlooked aspect of playgrounds that can contribute to them feeling outdated and worn is the surfacing. Over time, the surfacing can wear down or deteriorate due to exposure to the elements. If your playground currently utilizes engineered wood fiber (EWF) for its surfacing, it might be beneficial to explore alternative options that can provide a much-needed update and longevity.
As highlighted in our blog post “Exploring Safety Surfacing: Advantages and Drawbacks,” turf and poured-in-place rubber (PIP) are popular choices for playground surfacing due to their inclusive qualities and low maintenance requirements. Additionally, poor EWF surfacing can contribute to injuries if standards for fall heights are not maintained. While PIP surfacing is a larger investment vs. EWF, the resulting transformation will be well worth the expense.
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Refreshing the Color Palette
Extended exposure to sunlight, rain, and other natural elements can cause the colors of a playground to fade, resulting in a dull appearance rather than vibrant and bright. Replacing worn-down material and exploring a new color palette will revitalize the playground and make it look like a brand-new space with significant playground improvements.
Furthermore, if your playground currently features a shade structure, its fabric can also lose its vibrancy over time due to exposure to the elements. It may become necessary to replace the shade fabric if it shows visible damage and appears dull. Changing the shade fabric for a new color palette or even a custom pattern for the shade fabric can greatly enhance the overall aesthetic and appearance of the playground.
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Add Shade
Adding shade to an existing playground is essential for protecting children from sun exposure, ensuring their comfort and safety, extending the usability of the playground year-round, promoting inclusivity, and preserving the integrity of playground equipment. By investing in shade structures, communities can create healthier, safer, and more enjoyable outdoor play environments for all visitors.
If your playground currently does not include shade for your play equipment large fabric shade structures can be added to block up to 97 percent of the sun’s UV rays while making temperatures underneath the shade up to 30 degrees cooler. Additionally, shade structures can add gathering places or cover for seating to make your playground even more inviting.
Drab to Fab: Success Stories
At Whirlix Design, we’ve had the opportunity to refresh several of surrounding communities’ cherished playgrounds, turning them from boring and dull to vibrant and bold. Let’s look at the differences it made!
Ernie Roberts Park in DeSoto, TX
We were privileged to rejuvenate Ernie Roberts Park, a cherished community space, and instill fresh excitement for playground adventures. Our first step was to remediate the original playground while retaining the original shade structure to optimize costs for the upcoming playground improvements. During the installation process, we electrostatically painted the existing shade posts from a dull yellow to a sharp black. Furthermore, we replaced the swamp green shade fabric in exchange for a vibrant blue fabric that matches the new playground color palette.
By keeping the original shade posts, the City of DeSoto was able to allocate more funds towards replacing the outdated and old equipment, keeping overall project costs relatively low and manageable. For more details about Ernie Roberts and the impact of playground improvements, delve into our blog titled “Whirlix Design Success Stories: Transforming Communities Through Inclusive Playgrounds.”
Bethany Lakes Park in Allen, TX
Bethany Lakes Park in Allen, TX, was an existing park, that underwent a transformation driven by the City of Allen vision for increased inclusivity. In the process, our team introduced a series of add-ons designed to enhance inclusivity within the park. This endeavor focused on incorporating a range of inclusive freestanding equipment, such as the Rhapsody Outdoor Musical Instruments, Sensory Play Center, Roller Table, and We-Go-Round.
Additionally, we upgraded the existing swing set, replacing it with new swings, two of which were molded bucket seat swings aimed at promoting accessibility. Complementing these equipment upgrades, we installed poured-in-place rubber beneath the new additions, effectively crafting a fully inclusive environment within the playground.
These enhancements represent a cost-effective alternative to demolishing the existing playground and installing entirely new equipment. Despite being a fraction of the projected cost, they significantly elevated the playground's inclusivity, paving the way for a more diverse range of visitors to enjoy the space. These playground improvements serve as a testament to our commitment to fostering inclusivity and accessibility within community spaces.
Rosemeade Park in Carrollton, TX
After being originally installed in February of 2004, the playground at Rosemeade Park was in need of a little TLC. The main play structure remained the exact same as it was when it was originally installed, but by giving it a new coat of paint and replacing the old built-in shade fabric, the playground looks more inviting. We replaced the EWF surfacing with turf, creating a more comfortable play environment for children to run and play on. Other additions include freestanding components like Rhapsody Outdoor Musical Instruments, Friendship Swing, and We-Go-Round. They also added the Smart Play Loft to allow children between the ages of 2-5 the opportunity to play. The Smart Play Loft is a great playground addition as in one compact structure, there are 20 different interactive activities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the revitalization of playgrounds is not just about making superficial changes; it's about transforming these spaces into vibrant, inclusive, and safe environments where children can thrive and communities can come together.
By prioritizing playground improvements, communities can promote physical activity, foster creativity, and enhance social interaction among children of all ages and abilities. Through careful planning, community engagement, and strategic investments, existing playgrounds can be revitalized to meet the evolving needs and expectations of today's children and families.
As demonstrated by success stories like Ernie Roberts Park in DeSoto, Bethany Lakes Park in Allen, and Rosemeade Park in Carrollton, the impact of playground improvements goes beyond aesthetics; it creates meaningful and lasting positive experiences for generations to come. Let's continue to revitalize play and create playgrounds that inspire and delight children for years to come.