Outdoor time is important for young, developing minds. Those who don’t have backyards often utilize local resources to have fun. Still, cleanliness is a top priority for parents bringing their kids back to the park or to public playgrounds. Find out how to keep your parks and playgrounds clean so you can guarantee worried parents that it’s safe to visit.
Provide Plenty of Garbage Bins
To encourage people to take care of their own waste, place trash cans throughout your park or playground. Visitors are likely to arrive with snacks or other items that come with wrappers. To stop people from throwing those items onto the ground or losing them in their pockets, you should provide waste disposal. Your only job is to clear the trash.
Pro Tip: Build a more sustainable playground when you add recycling bins as well. Use pictures to tell people which items belong in which receptacle.
Install Smart Surfaces
Traditional ground material for playgrounds—such as stone, wood chips, and dirt—are inexpensive and easy to clean. One disadvantage of using these resources is that harmful materials like metal and glass can hide in them. Use synthetic materials made from recycled rubber or other resources to give your surface a more consistent appearance. It will be easier to wash, and parents will find it easier to see objects that could harm their child.
Clean Areas That Are Touched the Most
If your playground receives a lot of traffic throughout the day, hire someone to come through and regularly wipe surfaces. Places where people likely touch equipment, benches, and other objects should receive the most cleaning.
Knowing how to keep your parks and playgrounds clean may encourage more people to visit. Provide signage that lets people know how often and when you clean your playground. Further, you can provide a sustainable space with recycling bins and equipment made from recycled items.