Planning Your Play Area
STEP 2 - Assessing Your Needs
Everyone knows what they want, but not everyone knows what they need. During this phase of the planning process, we help determine your needs—for the children using the equipment to your budget and everything in between. This snapshot of your "vision" helps us plan to meet your objectives.
You will be asked to think about the following project details: start date and completion date, age groups of the children using the playground, the number of users, special equipment needed, special requests, budget, fundraising requirements, local codes and ordinances, federal guidelines and standards, safety, materials, aesthetics, new equipment, incorporating existing equipment, location, climate and community input.
Remember, obtaining community feedback at this stage is imperative to your project’s success. Knowing who will be using this playground is as important as knowing who won’t: are there area residents who may be opposed to the project? Ascertain their opinions and be prepared to address their concerns before the project begins.
What Do Your Children Need?
We confess! We’re a bit stubborn, like a good teacher who knows what works. While our competitors are content to sell play structures for children two to 12 years of age, GF Play holds steadfast to what every caregiver knows: You simply can’t expect two year olds to play safely on climbers for six year olds, much less twelve year olds! We believe the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission agrees:
It is recommended that for younger children, playgrounds have separate areas with appropriately sized equipment and materials to serve their developmental levels.
Section 6.3; Age Separation of Euipment, CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety
Given this clear statement, how can other manufacturers advertise to provide play structures for 2-12 year olds, yet also claim to meet all CPSC guidelines? You can trust GF Play to follow not just the letter of the guidelines, but the spirit, too.
