Whether you’re already a playground designer, work in a school, manage a park or you’re involved in public planning, it’s never been a better time to start thinking about how you can encourage active play in your area. Here are 10 tips to get you started on innovative and inclusive playground design!
1. Design a safe playground
The foremost concern in any playground design is safety. Before the equipment, aesthetics or layout, you need to make sure you’re following guidelines like BS EN 1176, which covers safe playground equipment and safety surfacing. Make sure that the space you’re building on is appropriately stable, and choose the right playground surfacing to suit your safety needs and desired aesthetic.
2. Create inclusive experiences
The second thing to consider is inclusivity. It’s important to design playgrounds that cater to children of all abilities, to give everybody the opportunity to develop their health and wellbeing at a critical stage in their lives. This goes beyond making your playground wheelchair accessible – inclusive play equipment accommodates children with physical, sensory or cognitive impairments, while sensory play equipment (such as our Inclusive Sensory Boardwalk) encourages a broader range of interactions for all children. It’s important to do your research – make sure you are providing equipment and play spaces that meet the need of the communities they are serving.
3. Consider ongoing maintenance
The final consideration before you begin planning your playground is the question of ongoing maintenance. You should consider the ongoing budget of playground management available, and design your playground around your capabilities. Regular upkeep and inspection are crucial to ensuring a long-lasting, safe space for children. Some of our recommended best practices can be found in our Guide to Inspection and Maintenance document, and we offer routine playground inspection services to help you keep your playground in top condition.
4. Zone for spacing and ease of use
Now that you’ve thought about safety, accessibility and ongoing maintenance, it’s time to start thinking properly about the shape of your play area. One of the best ways to organise your playground is to consider creating zones that cater to different age groups or types of play, making sure your layout is easy to understand and easy to use. The ‘flow’ of your playground is vital to creating an interesting and engaging experience, and some zones you could consider include a playground area for toddlers and younger children versus an area with more complex multiplay equipment for older children.
5. Ensure a variety of equipment
This brings us smoothly to our next important tip – ensuring a variety of equipment in your play area to maximise engagement and fun. Diverse play experiences help to cater to children’s varying interests and developmental needs. Different equipment means children can exercise their abilities in different ways, so a combination of climbing activities and musical equipment really means a mix of physical and mental activities.
6. Build around your environment
Considering the land that you’re building on and its natural features can also help to encourage variety and innovation in your playground. Placing equipment in interesting places can beautify your play area, making it an exciting place for your customers. Some equipment from Wicksteed, such as our embankment slides, are even specifically designed to integrate with natural slopes and features. Thinking about your surroundings can be a great way to start using space more efficiently and creating a truly special experience!
7. Consider theming your playground
Creating an immersive and engaging play experience is incredibly important in ensuring the sustainability of your playground, encouraging families to come back again and again. Theming your playground can be an excellent way of inspiring creativity and providing a consistent aesthetic, allowing children to get lost in the immersive world you have created. Some of our multiplay units, such as our Mystical World range or our Forest range, offer a variety of themes to get your creative juices flowing.
8. Inspire curiosity
By this point, your variety of spaces and equipment, as well as your playground’s visual appeal, should be inspiring excitement and curiosity for any child who would visit it. You can enhance this by focusing on exploration, encouraging children to interact, learn, and engage in sensory stimulation to engage them and encourage discovery. That’s why it’s also a good idea to include secrets or surprises that children can discover as they spend time in your playground, even if they are relatively small extras like play panels or our colourful magic toadstools.
9. Trust the creativity of children
Although there are lots to consider when designing your playground, it's also important not to overthink or overdesign your space. Always remember that children engage in imaginative play and are often able to make their own fun. Just being within a space dedicated to play can excite and engage a child, and play equipment will probably be used in creative and unexpected ways! In addition, consider equipment that encourages open-ended play, like our Talking Flowers to inspire social interaction or ball games for larger spaces.
10. Consult with local residents
Finally, one of the best things you can do to help you design a play area is to consult with your local community to gather input and get them involved in the design process. The benefits to this are enormous; you’ll not only gain insight from the people who will be regularly using your playground, but you’ll also spread word of mouth and give locals a great reason to visit your area. You can even get local children involved, asking them to create drawings or get involved in art projects to truly personalise your playground and make it totally unique.
Although there are lots of different elements to consider when designing your playground, safety, fun and accessibility should be at the forefront of your mind throughout the process. Making sure your community will have full access to the play area and designing it around their needs is crucial to encouraging an engaging social experience for both children and families. If you’re in need of additional information about any of our products and services, or if you’re looking for a quote, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with Wicksteed by email, by telephone, or through our enquiry form here.