No matter how fun they are, public playgrounds always face some challenges when it comes to their design and construction. Whether it’s making sure the build is compliant to NZS5828:2015 or finding new ways to keep kids entertained, there are always hurdles to jump over in order to successfully build an awesome public playground. But there are also plenty of solutions to these problems, so don’t let the challenges of designing and building public playgrounds deter you from making your city that much more awesome!

 

Click here to download the latest Creo Project Portfolio

 

Ensure playgrounds are up to standard

Playgrounds need to be both safe and fun for children. The fun part is pretty easy: designers can focus on providing a variety of physical activities, such as swings, climbing structures, and so on. But safety is a more complicated concern because the New Zealand playground equipment and surfacing standards are not well-known in the wider construction industry. Our advice is to check with your contractors to make sure they, and their staff, are aware of the New Zealand standards.

 

Select different equipment for different parks to keep play interesting

One big challenge for Councils is making sure that new playgrounds aren’t just copies of other nearby playgrounds. Offering a diverse range of play options across playgrounds is a great way provide more choice and keep children interested. One of the best ways to ensure that your design remains unique, and captivating is by looking at what’s popular in playgrounds in other cities and overseas. We recommend doing an audit of your playgrounds and the equipment in them to discover where you are lacking certain types of play. This will give you a good idea of what you need to add to your next playground.

Achieve more for less – working to a budget

Designing and installing new, high-quality play facilities costs time, expertise, equipment, materials—and money. Sometimes there isn’t a lot of money available for investment in new play opportunities. Fortunately, there are ways to optimize smaller budgets to get maximum play value. Working with a playground designer who has a good handle on play equipment, surfacing, and building costs is the best way to get a playground design that can work within your budget. Most people are too afraid to share their budget with their playground designer because they are worried they might look naïve if their expectations are way off. But in reality, if you are working with a good designer, you shouldn’t worry about putting the budget on the table at the outset. It will help your designer create a playground that’s right for you and will save everyone a lot of time and money in the long-term.

 

Click here to download the latest Creo Project Portfolio

 

Upgrade playgrounds for better accessibility

One way to ensure that everyone can enjoy your playgrounds is by making sure they’re accessible. An accessible park can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their level of mobility. If your council’s playgrounds are not accessible, it’s time for an upgrade. There are so many different options you can add for increased accessibility, including easy access entry and exit points, wheelchair suitable surfacing, large basket swings, and accessible carousels. Choosing what features are best for your space depends on how you will use it, but no matter what type of upgrades you make it is important they be easy to navigate.

About Creo.

Creo is a playspace design + build company that creates exceptional playspaces across New Zealand. As your playground designer, Creo will work with you every step of the way. You tell us what your goals are for your playspace, and we’ll come up with a design and a plan that matches those goals while staying within your budget. After you’ve decided on something concrete, our team gets to work building! While planning is important, it’s just as important that everything stays on schedule once construction has begun.

If you would like to explore working with Creo, we’d love to hear from you. Call us on 0800 000 334 today to see if Creo is a good fit for your next project.