Understanding Your Playground Project
Every great playground starts with a clear purpose. Before considering equipment or pricing, it helps to know who you are building for and what kind of play you want to encourage.
A toddler area looks different from a school courtyard. And a church yard requires something different from a busy city park. Understanding these details early on in your project will help keep it on track and avoid stalls in your timeline.
Start by identifying:
- Age groups that will use the space
- How many children will play at once
- Site dimensions and traffic flow
- Types of activities you want to allow for, such as climbing, sliding, balancing, and imaginative play
If you serve a specific community, you can browse our Markets We Serve page to explore our popular setups for schools, churches, daycares, and parks.
Planning and Budgeting for Your Playground
Playground costs vary widely based on size, equipment, and surfacing. Understanding the major cost factors helps you plan realistically and avoid surprises.
Our detailed quote usually includes a combination of the following components:
- Play structures and freestanding equipment
- Safety surfacing
- Installation and licensed/insured labor
- Site prep, grading, and drainage
- Borders, pathways, and accessible routes
- Shade structures or shelters
Most commercial playgrounds fall somewhere between $10,000 and $100,000, depending on how large the space is and which surfacing you choose.
- Small playgrounds: $10,000–$30,000
- Medium playgrounds: $30,000–$75,000
- Large playgrounds: $75,000–$100,000+
Poured rubber and turf cost more upfront but are less expensive to maintain over time. Mulch is more affordable from the get-go, but requires periodic refreshing.
If you'd like a custom quote, our team is here to help!Contact us for a complimentary site consultation or quote, and we'll walk you through the options that best fit your goals and budget.
Safety and accessibility guide every step of our playground installation process. We support inclusive play with accessible routes, proper surfacing slopes, transfer stations, and ramps that welcome every child.
All of our projects follow ASTM F1487 standards for public playground equipment, ADA standards for play areas, and the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook recommendations. These rules keep your playground safe, compliant, and ready for all children.
Choosing the Right Playground Equipment
Once you have determined your budget and the age range of children for whom you’re designing your playground project, you're ready to begin exploring equipment styles that support your vision. Modular play structures offer the most flexibility, as you can mix and match slides, bridges, climbers, decks, tunnels, and interactive panels. Freestanding equipment such as spinners, seesaws, balance beams, and swings also adds motion and various fun ways to play.
Additionally, sensory panels provide tactile, visual, and auditory experiences that encourage early learning in younger children and support their developmental needs.
Then there's also your choice of materials:
- Steel offers strength and a long lifespan
- Rotomolded plastic is smooth, colorful, and comfortable for young children
- Wood can create a natural look, but requires more upkeep in certain climates
As a testament to our confidence in the quality of our products and services, we offer a 100-year warranty on many of the components we sell.
Explore our full range of equipment on our Collections page to see our offerings for bringing your playground vision to life.
The Playground Buyer’s Journey: From Vision to Installation
Our turnkey playground design and installation process keeps you involved and informed from start to finish.
- Consultation:
We'll visit your site, review the measurements, and discuss your goals, as well as the challenges we notice. - Design & Quote:
Our team will prepare a custom layout and provide a precise cost breakdown, so you know exactly what to expect. - Approval & Permits:
If your project requires permits or site preparation, we'll guide you through this process and help coordinate all details. - Installation:
Our licensed and insured installation crew will arrive with all of your equipment to complete the installation, paying careful attention to safety and quality. - Final Inspection:Our installers will perform a final safety and ADA inspection before clearing it for use.