Playground Equipment

How to get safe, imaginative and fun playground equipment for your business needs

By Kelly Shetsky, Anchor/Reporter

Playground equipment isn't just swing sets and slides anymore. Playgrounds have evolved into engineering marvels that promote children's development and imagination.

You can add child play furniture to your business' waiting room for $100 or you can add a play system outside for thousands of dollars. The opportunities and choices are endless.

When choosing playground equipment, make sure to:

1. Pick park equipment that fits into your business' space and ideals.
2. Put safety above all other concerns.
3. Have the playground equipment professionally installed.

Outline your business' needs for playground equipment

Before you get bogged down with looking through hundreds of examples of commercial playground equipment, figure out the scope of your project. There are many companies with playground equipment for sale. You must decide if you want a simple play area or a complex play system. For younger children, for instance, consider child play furniture like plastic houses and picnic tables. They are a perfect addition to a daycare's residential playground equipment. You can also add some fun inside with indoor playground equipment like climbing walls, plastic furniture and mats.
Try: BYO Playground supplies playgrounds to churches, parks and schools. Use All Playground Equipment.com as a directory of outdoor playground equipment suppliers.

Talk to a child play furniture expert about what you're trying to accomplish

It can get overwhelming when you're faced with hundreds or even thousands of options when it comes to outdoor playground equipment. Talking to someone can help you make the right decision for your business, home or school. Representatives from various suppliers are on hand to help you plan your purchase. Some child play furniture manufacturers even let you design your own equipment.
Try: Kidstruction will work with you to determine exactly what you need. Call or email a representative and they will go through the entire process with you. Check out Outdoor Fun Store's design center. It allows you to design your own swing set. Add in bridges, towers, ladders, beams and rock walls, too.

Consider only park equipment that meets strict commercial playground equipment standards

More than 200,000 kids are treated in the emergency room every year because of injuries they sustain on playgrounds. It's a fact of life: kids will get hurt. But, getting hurt because of shoddy playground equipment is unacceptable. Buy durable equipment that resists vandalism and wear and tear from hard use by children over time. For swing sets, make sure the chains are coated in vinyl to protect little fingers from getting pinched. Choose outdoor playground equipment made with galvanized bolts instead of nails.
Try: Outdoor Fun Store uses high-quality lumber to make child playground equipment like swing sets. Wow Playgrounds has a management and owner team with more than 110 combined years in the industry.

Mix it up between fun and learning

Park equipment should provide children with fun, imaginative playtime. It should also challenge them mentally and physically. A playground must have a good mix of traditional park playground equipment and equipment that promotes balance, sports and fitness. For instance, buy swing sets and slides in addition to tether ball sets and a children ball pits.
Try: Game Time uses a research-based approach. Their playground equipment is developed for different stages of growth and helps children develop their skill sets early. Sun Country Systems considers safety, fun and imagination very important. Detailed Play Pro has a plethora of choices with it comes to park equipment.

Arrange for the child playground equipment supplier to install and inspect everything

Safe child play furniture coated with soft rubber isn't going to do much good if it's not assembled properly. Retailers know this and they provide installation professionals to get the job done right.
Try: Sun Country Systems is a licensed contractor. They'll inspect the equipment when it's installed and work with you on regular inspections. Noah's Park & Playgrounds will provide you with an experienced professional to install your commercial playground equipment. If you want to make installation a community event, they'll send someone out to supervise it.

Pevent playground injuries by making sure you have regular inspections done on your commercial playground equipment.