Designing an inspiring playground involves much more than simply providing a space for fun. It requires careful attention to safety, affordability, and the age of the users for the design. In this article, we will cover how to make a beautiful playground while keeping the surface costs within budget.
Choose the surface that suits your play purpose
The journey to an affordable playground often starts with choosing a cost-effective surface. For instance, woodchip surfacing is popular due to its initial price, but it comes with regular upkeep. However, if you desire the benefits of wet-pour rubber – with its sleek modern look and superior safety features – they cost more upfront but last longer, requiring minimal maintenance. There are ways to incorporate this into your playground without breaking the bank.
Blending Surfacing Materials
A clever approach to achieving an attractive, modern playground while keeping costs manageable is blending different types of surfaces. This strategy involves harmonising wet-pour rubber with more cost-effective materials such as artificial turf or woodchips. Incorporating it into your playground design can create a unique feel to it.
Blending allows you to balance costs, introduce varying textures into the playground, and offer a canvas for creative design. Using wet-pour rubber in high-traffic and fall-risk areas creates safe and visually striking spaces. For other less critical areas, cost-efficient alternatives like bark or artificial turf can be utilised, balancing cost and aesthetic appeal.
Equipment choice
Another factor that can significantly influence your playground’s cost and safety is the play equipment’s height. Reducing equipment height not only saves on the cost of surfacing material required but also increases safety.
The takeaway
Creating a cost-effective, safe, and delightful playground revolves around careful planning and smart surface selection. The key is to prioritise safety and creatively mix surfacing materials for aesthetic appeal and design, keeping in mind the needs of all age groups. A well-designed playground, therefore, is not just a space for play but a carefully crafted environment that encourages exploration and fosters growth while ensuring the safety and affordability of the area.
