Encouraging children to interact with nature is a beautiful thing. Of course, only a few generations ago, this wasn’t exactly something you had to do intentionally – it just happened. Day to day life and spending time in nature were one and the same. However, as our modern lifestyles have been industrialized and moved indoors, the idea of getting back out into nature is seen as a novel one. It’s important for people of all ages, but that is particularly true for children.
We would like to highlight some of the key concepts at play when trying to create a natural playscape. Moving beyond a simple playground with manufactured equipment, a natural playscape integrates the playground design into the surrounding environment. This can be a challenging task, but it is capable of creating an amazing space when done correctly. Of course, while the idea of ‘getting back to nature’ is appealing, this is still a project that needs to fit in with the realities of the modern world. So, in the end, the task here is to balance all of the competing interests and requirements to come away with something that children can love for years to come.
The General Concept
So, what do we mean by a ‘natural playscape’? Well, it’s pretty much exactly as it sounds – a play area which is designed to be as natural as possible. Of course, nature itself doesn’t typically present play areas that cater to the needs of kids – and the security expectations of adults – so it is necessary to create this kind of area using careful planning and forethought.
While we are all in favor of helping kids enjoy nature, we also understand that simply placing the kids in a field of grass isn’t going to occupy their attention for very long. Ultimately, it is the integration of nature and modern play equipment which will likely be a winning formula.
Picking Your Space
Perhaps the single most difficult part of this entire project will be picking the space that is going to be used for the natural playscape. If you have a significant amount of property to work with, there may be a few sites that you can consider. To narrow down your choices, think first about the amount of work that will be required to turn a given site into a playscape. Locations which are going to require moving a lot of dirt and clearing brush in order to prepare them for the play area will not be ideal. Some prep work is inevitable but picking a site that requires too much work is going to take a big chunk out of your budget. With any luck, you will be able to find a spot within the available property that is well-suited to a playscape and won’t require significant landscaping to prepare.
Surface Considerations
The surface of any playground is an important piece of the overall design puzzle. When trying to craft a natural playscape that integrates nature with playground equipment, you’ll need to carefully think about how each area should be surfaced, both for function and for safety. For starters, you will want playground surfacing material under your playground equipment which provides cushioning and injury protection in the case of a fall. There are a variety of materials available on the market today which can be placed under play equipment to offer the necessary cushioning.
Away from the playground equipment, you’ll probably want to think more about durability and keeping maintenance to a minimum. For instance, if there are paths that wind through your playscape, try to use materials that aren’t going to wear down quickly under consistent foot traffic. Also, materials that won’t need to be cared for regularly are great, as that kind of ongoing maintenance can be a big budget drain.
The Equipment
Even when nature is beautifully integrated with the playscape, it’s certain that the playground equipment you choose to use will be the focus of attention for many children. Let’s take a quick look at some of the common playground equipment pieces to be included in this kind of project.
• Swings. It’s hard to picture a playground without a swing set. This is simply a standard piece of equipment at playgrounds across the country, and kids are going to expect to find some swings as soon as they start to explore your space. Of course, there are safety concerns to keep in mind with a swing set, as kids will be swinging back and forth and could contact others who aren’t on the swings. With that in mind, make sure there is plenty of clearance both in front and behind the swings, and don’t design the play space in a way that natural funnels traffic into the wrong spots.
• Slides. A slide or two goes right along with swings in terms of equipment that kids expect to see on a playground. One of the things to consider with slides is the age range of kids that you will be serving. If there are going to be very young children playing along with older grade-school kids, it’s smart to have at least a couple of slide options. A very low, gradual slide is great for little ones, while older kids can handle a taller, faster slide. Buying quality playground equipment is important so you can count on it to perform over the years rather than needing to replace it shortly after installation.
Other Equipment Pieces
• Balance toys. Learning to balance is a great developmental step, and one which can be a lot of fun on the playground. There are plenty of playground balance toys available, and you should be sure to pick out a selection that will serve the various ages of those visiting your play area.
• A playhouse. This isn’t necessarily a traditional piece of ‘playground equipment’, but it just may become one of the most popular areas in the entire playscape. A small playhouse where kids can make up different scenes and act out adventures with one another could help to forge friendships that will last for years.
• Water and sand area. If you want to allow the kids to get a little dirty, a dedicated sand play space – with perhaps a source of water nearby so they can build sand structures – is sure to be a hit. The challenge with including this kind of play area is keeping the sand clean and protecting the various toys (buckets, shovels) that you may include to help the kids build.
There are plenty of other equipment options that you may wish to consider along the way, but this list is a good start. Think about the space you have available, and the kids you will be serving, before making your final choices.
The Functional Side
The fun part of designing a playscape is thinking about the various equipment pieces you can add, and the way you can shape the area to encourage kids to have a great time. However, beyond the fun and games, you’ll also need to think about the practical design of the property. Where are parents going to park when bringing kids to play? Where will you install bathrooms? What about benches for parents or grandparents to sit on while the kids play, and maybe picnic tables for lunch? There are a lot of things to consider before the whole design is going to come together as a cohesive unit.
Take Your Time
Ideally, you will be able to take your time with this playground design, working through the various possibilities until you come up with something that meets all of the project’s needs. You might only take on this kind of project one time in your entire career, so take your time to consider various possibilities and keep an open mind at the start. As you work through the process, certain ideas will stand out as the right way to go. Thank you for taking the time to review our article, and good luck!
