Public playgrounds are an essential part of a community. Without them, there would be few places to socialize and watch kids run and play together. Not only do playgrounds support good mental and physical health, but also they’re where lifelong friendships are built.
As wonderful as community playgrounds are, they require a lot of thought and planning. Whether your project involves a splash pad, dog park, outdoor fitness equipment or multi-use playground, there are a number of factors that will influence your overall design architecture.
Choose Your Location Wisely
The first step is to identify a location for your playground. You may even have a few spaces picked out already. Here are a few things we recommend looking at:
- Pick a location that is safe for families and young children. Crime rates in the area should be low.
- Ideally, the park should be wheelchair accessible and easy to get to by car, bike or public transportation.
- You can attract more than park-goers by choosing a spot that has other things available such as picnicking spots, trails, open fields and fishing ponds.
Know the Community
Always know who you are building the playground for. This will help you make the best choices for your park site amenities. For example, is the community filled with lots of young couples with children? Or older adults who will be inviting their grandchildren over? If there aren’t a lot of children in the area, consider fleshing out the park design with green spaces, park benches and a fenced-in dog park.
Involve the Residents in the Design
Playground design projects are more likely to be successful when the residents are involved in the process. Send out a questionnaire or create an online group that allows people in the community to share their thoughts and ideas. This ensures your budget goes to the amenities that residents are actually going to use.
Account for Landscaping
An important part of your playground design architecture is the landscaping. Consider the natural terrain you’ll be working with. Are there lots of trees for shade? If not, you’ll need to include shade structures in your design. Are there existing slopes, banks and flat spaces? If so, work with them, not against them. Also account for sun patterns and privacy.
Provide a Number of Options
Parks are most valuable when they offer a wide range of amenities for all ages and lifestyles. Will your park have an open field for sports? A pavilion with grills? Restrooms on site? The more you can offer, the more attractive your playground will be. Here are some options to consider for your open park:
- Playground structures
- Outdoor fitness equipment
- Shade structures
- Dog parks
- Water features
- Site amenities like benches, grills and picnic tables
Choose Inclusive Playground Equipment
Lastly, be sure to account for all age groups and abilities. Children play differently, but you want your space to welcome everyone. Inclusive playground equipment is the best way to achieve this. Some of the most popular interactive playground equipment are play panels, crawl tubes, slides and climbers.
Start Planning Your Custom Playground Today
CR Studio Design creates custom signature playgrounds for communities of all shapes and sizes. Let us help you turn an ordinary space into something brilliant and extraordinary! Not only will your community look better, but also it will bring people together for a shared and cohesive living experience.