What are the most common mistakes made when building and designing garden playgrounds, and how can they be avoided?

The construction of a public playground is subject to a number of standards and regulations stemming from building code. However, these same regulations do not apply to the construction of a garden playground. Is this a good thing? On the one hand, it’s undoubtedly possible – the ability to plan more freely is definitely a convenience. On the other hand, however, the lack of compliance with standards also leads to many design errors, which later impact the comfort and safety of playground users. Today, we’ll discuss the most common mistakes made when planning and building a private playground. How can we avoid them? Read on!

Private playground vs. public playground

As mentioned in the introduction, the construction of a public playground is subject to a number of regulations. Therefore, it’s important to understand when we’re talking about a public playground and when a private one. A public playground is one located in publicly accessible areas—for example:

• a preschool playground,
• a school playground,
• a playground in a park or other green space owned by a local government.

Okay, but what about private developments? Is a playground in a restaurant, for example, a public facility? Yes, just like a playground in a hotel or any other public place, such a facility is considered public and subject to building code requirements. A private playground is only a facility located on private property, with access restricted to residents. It’s worth noting that there are exceptions to this rule – for example, a playground located in a common area of a housing estate is already a public facility. Okay, so what are some common mistakes when planning a garden playground? Let’s start with the plan!

How to plan a garden playground properly?

The construction of any playground should be preceded by a proper design. This design should include the construction of all the equipment and the safety zones between them. The terrain and any obstacles, such as trees, plantings, and garden infrastructure, should also be considered. The best location for such a playground is a flat, open space. Analyze how much space you have in your garden and choose the play equipment accordingly.

What are safety zones?

A safety zone is also known as a fall zone. This zone must be free of any obstacles that could cause a collision during play. For moving equipment, such as swings, the entire swinging area should be included. It’s recommended to maintain a distance of at least 50 centimeters between individual zones for even greater safety. Drawing safety zones on a scaled garden plan will allow you to better assess how much equipment you can install in your garden.

Substrates for a garden playground

Another consideration is a surface that will provide good shock absorption. Natural surfaces are best for a garden playground – they’re usually cheaper and look better in a garden setting. Such surfaces include:

• bark,
• grass,
• sand.

In the case of the last of these, one unpleasant and difficult to control aspect should be taken into account, which we mention below.

Sandpit ptotection

Unfortunately, sand has always attracted cats, and these uninvited guests like to leave unpleasant surprises in the form of feces. Humanity hasn’t yet discovered a treatment that will stop cats from treating a sandbox like a giant litter box – so we suggest choosing bark or grass as a play surface. As for the sandpit, we suggest protecting it with a tarp.

Anchoring playground equipment

Anchoring refers to the act of anchoring equipment to the ground using anchors. Anchors are elements somewhat resembling expansion rods – a set is usually included with the equipment. Sometimes it’s necessary to concrete the ground before installing the anchors. The stability of playground equipment depends on the quality of the anchoring. Stability, in turn, translates into safety – therefore, all playground equipment must be firmly attached to the ground and prevent it from wobbling during play!

Selection of inexperienced installers

An inexperienced installation crew can botch any job. A playground is meant to be a safe place for play, so when looking for an installation team, it’s worth choosing professionals. At Małpiszon, we’ve been planning and installing public and private playgrounds and outdoor gyms for years. Please contact our experienced staff – we’ll be happy to advise you on the right equipment and solutions, so you too can soon enjoy your own private garden playground!