Having a clear budget for your playground project is the first step in making your dream play space a reality.
If you want to build a playground that’s suitable for all ages and abilities, you can break your budget down into four main categories:
- Design
- Equipment
- Surfacing
- Site Preparation
In this blog post, we will be covering the first category: design. We’ll answer your questions about how to plan your design budget, what to budget for, and how to allocate your budget so you still have room for the other 3 categories you also have to consider.
Click here to download the Creo “How to Build a Playground” Guide
How to plan your design budget?
In our experience, design is critical to creating a successful playground. Without it, playground equipment, surfacing, and landscaping do not work well together, and the overall feel of the playground suffers.
When it comes to allocating a budget towards the design of your playground, there are a few things to consider:
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Will you include a consultation process to gather ideas from the community?
Engaging local families and children is a great way to ensure your playground meets the needs of the people who will be using it, but it also takes more time and adds to the cost of your project.
Opening the brainstorming process to the public or the student at your school is a great way to get community buy-in and support for your playground project, and often times they will pick up on details that might otherwise be overlooked.
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Do you want your designer to create multiple different concept designs to choose from or just one design that fits your brief?
Creating a design concept takes time, and obviously, adding more designs will cost you more.
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Will you bring any cultural or local themes into the design?
The more complex a design the higher the cost will be.
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Will you work with a company that handles the design and construction of your playground?
Working with separate companies can add to the cost of your project. Working with one company that provides both design services and the ability to build your playground reduces overhead costs, which can make your project less costly.
If you’d like to talk to someone about a future project or would like a concept designed for your space, give us a call at 0800 000 334, or book a 15-minute ideas session with one of our consultants.
