How to Choose the Right Playground Equipment
Kids love to be outside. That isn’t exactly breaking news, but it is true nonetheless. To keep kids busy during their outside time, a set of playground equipment is a great choice. Both boys and girls love to engage with the obstacles and toys they find on a playground set, and adults love the way it encourages the kids to interact with one another. When done properly, a play area installed in a park or at a school can be a huge plus for the whole community my site.
However, before an order is placed for a new piece of playground equipment, it is important that you do your homework to ensure you end up with exactly what you need. Gear for play spaces can be costly, and while it delivers plenty of value to justify the cost, you should still make sure you are making a smart choice. The tips listed below will help you pick out the playground equipment that is best-suited for your project.
Know the Rules
For your playground to be compliant under the law, it must meet specific local, state, and national requirements. Specifically, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that playgrounds meet with certain criteria in order to make them accessible to all. Before you get started on your project, familiarize yourself with the specific rules that will apply to your situation. Ignoring the rules up front can be a costly mistake later on, so take the time now to make sure you are creating a play area that will be fully compliant.
Have a Clear Picture
How much space to you have to work with for your playground project? How many kids do you expect to be using the playground at one time? Do you have a specific target-age in mind for the play area? All of these questions and more can help you clearly identify the goal of the playground project. Think carefully about what you hope to accomplish with the play space, so you can then pick out equipment that is going to lead you to a successful conclusion. There are many different options for great playground equipment on the market today, but only the gear that is right for your project should remain on your radar after this step.
What’s the Budget?
Just as with any other purchase you make in life, the budget that you have to work with is going to play a large part in the equipment that you purchase. Of course, you are going to have to spend money on more than just the playground gear itself, so don’t blow your whole budget on the equipment in question. Other expenses are likely to include site prep, labor hours for installation, shipping charges, and more. Before starting in on the project, make sure the funds you have available in your budget will be able to cover everything required to complete the project properly.
Compare Options
With all of the other homework finished, it will be time to get down to the business of actually picking out your playground equipment. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options available on the market, so make sure to focus your attention on the ones that are best-suited to your needs (based on size, target age, cost, and more). After spending some time looking at the various options that are in play for your project, it should be relatively easy to come to a conclusion and select the piece (or pieces) of equipment that will be ordered and installed. Now that all of the hard work is done, you can sit back and enjoy the best part – letting the kids have a great time in the brand new playground!
