Upgrade school play time Orewa Primary School – Image courtesy of Park Supplies
By Heather Barker Vermeer Industry Reporter
by evaluating features and additions they’d like to include.
Revamping your school playground has many benefits beyond aesthetic.
However, a good place to start is getting an independent playground audit. These audits are carried out by a level 3 inspector who identifies and reports hazards in any play area.
We all know the wellbeing wonders that come from outdoor play experiences and what better focus than the school playground for injecting more wellbeing-improving goodness to your environment.
Not sure where to begin? Getting your students involved in playground upgrades – or an entirely new design when the time is right – must be one of the most fun projects that extends beyond the classroom! Let their imaginations run wild
The report provides verification and assurance that all hazards and non-compliance’s are identified to the NZS5828:2015 standards. Once you have this report, you can break down what hazards need to be replaced, repaired, or upgraded. Here are some additions you could consider, to give your playground an upgrade…
Game markings An easy and affordable way to breathe new life into your playground is to add floor
Orewa Primary School – Image courtesy of Park Supplies
markings. You could go old school with this one, by adding hopscotch or snakes and ladders, to tempt kids to get moving. Or create sports court markings for some football or basketball fun. Exercise suggestions like ‘squat’ or ‘hop’ or observational ideas, such as ‘How many birds can you see?’ can add a new dimension to play time, in an age-appropriate context.
Surface upgrades Tarmac and asphalt are no longer the go-to material for playground surfacing--a hard landing for any fall, these surfaces are unattractive as well as expensive to maintain and can create slip and trip hazards as they wear over time. Orewa Primary School – Image courtesy of Park Supplies
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More modern options that can give your playground a PROPERTY
new look, a new level of safety and a better play experience. Wood mulch and organic mulch is a popular soft-landing option that also adds an aesthetic lift to a play space—some mulch surfacing is made from recycled materials too, which is particularly popular with sustainability focussed schools. Wheelchair-friendly and quick-draining, specialist woodchip mulch for schools can also be treated so that it's splinter-free and wind-proof. Another modern option is wet pour surfacing that can come in many customised colours and patterns. Artificial turf can add a different textural dimension, often used in specific high traffic areas of your playground. Term 1, 2022 | schoolnews.co.nz
