Encouraging Play Through Playground Design

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES INC. Play allows children to use their imaginations and develop a range of important skills.

By Lynn Pinoniemi

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. One thing we are sure of is that kids, teens and adults need outdoor activity to keep themselves healthy — both physically and mentally.

Making time for free, unstructured play is tricky in our 24/7 world, but research tells us that carving out time and space for outdoor play and activity is worth it. For children, playtime allows them to be in control and use their imaginations, all while developing a range of important skills. There are benefits for teens and adults as well. Not only does exercising outdoors lead to better physical health, but also it may contribute to increased energy and reduced anger, tension and depression.

As summer of 2021 kicks off and people spend more time outside of their homes, it’s important to provide play and recreation solutions that help individuals of all ages stay active and healthy.

Destinations for Communities

Creating thoughtfully designed play spaces helps bring children, families and entire communities together. Today’s playgrounds offer modern design aesthetics and can be complemented with vibrant color palettes to make truly unique destinations. Incorporating geometric designs and playful pods that form an interconnected matrix of fun and challenge can encourage kids to invent and reinvent routes, games and imaginary environments.

Additionally, preconfigured playground designs are available to give park and recreation departments innovative and iconic choices at affordable price points. Many of these designs incorporate subtle themes that encourage imaginative play while building physical and mental strength as children navigate through bridges, climbers, tunnels, slides and more.

If more traditional playground designs are a better fit for your environment, there are a plethora of options, such as time-honored post-and-deck structures, towers, climbers, overhead events, slides and play panels. By incorporating a modern color palette, traditional designs can feel fresh and unique.

Including freestanding play components in a playground design is a great way to expand existing play spaces and freshen up the play experience. Placing a selection of outdoor musical instruments together can create a fun music zone for smaller groups of visitors. A playground design that includes nature-inspired climbers or balance beams can encourage sensory nature play. In addition, playgrounds may offer a thrill zone filled with individual spinners, playground ziplines or a variety of swings.

Customized playground components can help to craft a one-of-a-kind play experience for kids. For instance, Lowcountry Celebration Park in Hilton Head, South Carolina, features a 1,400-square-foot ship-themed playground structure that mimics The Adventure, the ship of Captain William Hilton for whom Hilton Head is named. Playground climbers inside and outside of the ship deliver challenges and fun for users. This completely custom playground design celebrates the heritage of the local community, but this concept also can be accomplished on a smaller scale by incorporating logos, native flora and fauna, or by personalizing various playground components.

Experiencing Play in Different Ways

While children safely resume outdoor play during the COVID-19 pandemic, each child will experience the playground in their own way. It’s important for park and recreation professionals to remember that for kids with special needs, regulating their bodies and emotions through play and socialization may be even more critical. In order to create a play environ-

Lowcountry Celebration Park features a 1,400-square-foot ship-themed playground structure that mimics The Adventure, the ship of Captain William Hilton.

Geometric designs and playful pods that form an interconnected matrix can encourage kids to invent and reinvent routes, games and imaginary environments.

ment that increases access, safety, comfort and social participation for users of all abilities, playgrounds must be designed with inclusion in mind. The right play equipment can make all the difference. Thoughtfully designed playgrounds with components like no-transfer swings and spinners, sensory-friendly play panels, ramped play structures and other inclusive components have evolved into places that foster inclusive experiences for every child.

Inclusive playgrounds like the one located at the Miracle League of Monticello (Arkansas) welcomes players and their families to interact with their peers. A ramped play structure, inclusive spinners and playground ziplines, and various sensory-rich play activities make this design an accessible and inclusive play space that welcomes the entire community.

Staying Active in the Great Outdoors

Families are always looking for new ways to stay active, and this was made even more clear throughout 2020. Thanks to current television shows like “American Ninja Warrior,” extreme fitness has gained popularity and has piqued the interest of not only kids, but also teens and adults. Communities can deliver exciting fitness challenges in community parks by choosing from predesigned obstacle courses or by creating a customized course. Whichever option, an outdoor fitness course is sure to invite friendly competition and challenge upper- and lower-body strength, coordination and problem-solving skills.

In addition to these extreme fitness environments, traditional outdoor fitness equipment also remains popular. When positioned near playgrounds, traditional outdoor fitness equipment provides caregivers with opportunities to build muscle strength, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance balance and flexibility while kids play nearby.

Keeping Communities Protected

There are many physical and emotional benefits to getting outdoors. However, being outside also can present some risks. Adding shade structures to playground designs and other outdoor spaces can help to prevent issues like sunburn or heatstroke and can allow for hours of safe and enjoyable activity for visitors of all ages. In addition, incorporating large-capacity hand sanitizer stations throughout playground and recreation spaces can help prevent the spread of germs and put visitors’ sanitation concerns at ease.

As more communities create their new normal in 2021, it’s important to remember the value of play and recreation in the health and well-being of all community members.

Lynn Pinoniemi is Vice President of Marketing at Landscape Structures Inc. (lynnpinoniemi@playlsi.com).