Aerial view of a playground
Building a playground is serious work that requires thorough preparations, good organization, and careful execution. Neglecting some important details or making some mistakes that could be avoided can slow down the whole construction, cost additional money or maybe jeopardize the safety of the playground.
Hence, to avoid all the negative consequences, discover some useful tips for a successful community-build playground and become aware of all small details that can stand you on your way.
1. Determine the playground location
For starters, find a playground location that is safe for children. Also, given that safety is the main priority, make sure there is a CPSI certified installer on-site who will supervise and manage the whole process. That way, the playground will be installed correctly and securely.
2. Prepare the place
To ensure that the installation process goes smoothly, make all the necessary preparations before that day comes. This means that you should remove all concrete, asphalt, and debris from the site. Additionally, try to level the ground as much as possible.
3. Check inventory
Before you start building the playground, don't forget to inventory all of the parts when they are delivered from the playground equipment vendor. The number of shipped items should be equal to the number of boxes delivered by the carrier’s truck. After checking everything and making sure that it's all there, you can open the boxes.
4. Organize all the pieces
Once you have inventoried all the shipping items, you can proceed and open the boxes. Just keep in mind that this should be a carefully organized process. Ask for advice from the playground vendor on the best way to tackle the opening.
Likewise, it would be a good idea to put one person in charge of managing inventory and distributing all the pieces to team members who are responsible for building a certain component of the playground. That way, you'll avoid all the confusion and mess that happens when too many people are responsible for the same thing.
5. Start building the playground
Good organization isn't only necessary for the inventory; it is also needed for the construction process. In other words, install the playground construction from the inside out. Start with placing a single post in the middle of the construction and take it from there. Also, you can rely on the instructions that come with playground equipment.
6. It takes a village to build a playground
According to Annie Johanson, an HR professional from superior dissertations, it's crucial to organize all the volunteers on site to ensure everything goes smoothly and efficiently:
"You'll need a supervisor who will divide all the volunteers into the teams and organize all the work. Plus, don't forget to include breaks when you build a playground. They are a perfect occasion to rest and develop team spirit. Consider asking local bars or restaurants to donate coffee and food on the build day".
Last but not least, don't forget to secure the work site and make it safe until the installation is completed. Cover up the open holes and rope off the remaining materials.