5 Tips to Help Get Affordable Playground Equipment
Back in the day, playgrounds looked like really clean junkyards. Swings were sanded wood bolted to rusty chains. A teeter-totter was merely a beam centered on a makeshift fulcrum. Children played, nursed their wounds and came back for more.
For many schools today, safety standards have required that these playgrounds be removed and for good reason. The problem is that budget cuts don’t allow for new playgrounds to be built. To us at School Daz, Inc., that’s a travesty. Here are a few ways school boards and parent teacher associations can get fun, affordable playground equipment.
1. Start Saving
As former educators, we know that’s easier said than done. But if your school can spare a dollar per student per day, a school of 200 students could afford a complete playground in one school year. While it may be difficult to decide where pinch pennies, remember that a playground serves the entire student body.
2. Get the Facts
Do some homework to get an idea of how much a playground will cost. Better yet, contact the dealer. We can’t speak for everyone, but School Daz, Inc. offers a free consultation. Let the representative look at your space and talk with you about what you would like to ideally see in your playground space. It never hurts to get a proposal and find out what your dream playground will cost. The numbers may surprise you. Who knows, you might be closer to a price point than you think .
3. Plead Your Case to the School Board
Playgrounds contribute to the promotion of physical heath in developing children. A playground is one of the best allies in the fight against obesity. But there are even more benefits to implementing a playground and recess into an elementary curriculum. A search on the benefits of recess should provide more than enough information, but there are a few articles to help get you started on building your case.
The Many Benefits of Recess” by Barbara Pytel
“The 3 R’s? A Fourth Is Crucial, Too: Recess” published in the New York Times
“ADHD: Medication or More Recess” by Barbara Pytel
4. Ask for Assistance
There are also philanthropist organizations or government programs that may have money to donate to your cause. A little research and time spent asking can go a long way to making your playground aspirations happen.
5. Work with a Designer
A good playground designer understands three things.
- What it takes to make a fun playground
- How to maximize space with minimal equipment
- What slight variations will keep the playground fun and safe but shave costs.
For example, transitioning from a 450 degree whirl slide to a 270 degree whirl slide can save money. The 180 degrees not only reduces the cost of the physical slide, but also lowers the height of the deck the slide would mount to. A lower deck and smaller slide requires less materials and cost less to produce. This is just one of the many tricks that a good designer can use to keep the play experience intact while chipping away at cost.
The most important thing when trying to find affordable playground equipment is to keep at it and work with someone who knows the industry – both the playground industry and the school system. Don’t give up. It can happen.
