Do you want a nature playground at your site, but don’t know how to go about getting one designed and built? This post is for you! You may have seen photos of natural playscape features that you think would fit your site perfectly. If there were a ‘magically make it appear’ button you would have pushed it in a flash, but there is not! In this article I am going to talk about three ways to get a natural playground structure or nature playscape elements designed, sourced, and built.

My name is Michelle, I have been designing nature playgrounds for over 20 years! I own Learning Landscapes Design, a landscape architecture firm that specializes in helping our clients achieve the natural play and learning spaces that they dream of. Let’s start with some basics. There are three main ways that you can get a new natural playground.

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Learning Landscapes Design

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1) Hire a Nature Playground Designer

You can have a natural playground design company design for natural playscape and manage your construction. This is what learning Landscapes Design does. We will visit your site and hear your vision. We will show you a bunch of different options of custom design components and some playground manufactured pieces that we have tested and like. Custom Designs like this can also include things like planting, grading, sensory play, any specific curriculum or learning goals you have. You choose the components that you want, and we will create a custom design for your location. First we’ve arrived at a design that fits your site, your budget, and your vision. Then our design team will help you get permits if needed and find a local contractor and get the components installed correctly.

This is a good option for you if:

You are busy and need someone to manage all aspects of the project for you.
You like images on Google and Pinterest, but there are no links to purchase the elements you like.
The spaces you like are similar to the images above.

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2) Purchase a Commercial Structure

You can buy a nature themed commercial playground structure and find a local contractor to install it. There are lots of playground equipment manufacturers. If you find a piece of playground equipment from a manufacturer that you like you can order it and it will be shipped commercially to your site. It will probably arrive in pallets, and you might need a forklift or a loading dock to receive it. Most of these structures need a contractor for installation. They would do ground prep, install footings, install soft fall surface around your climbing components, and build the structure. Sometimes the playground manufacturer can recommend a local contractor. Often you will need to find someone to do the installation work.

This is a good option for you if:

You are looking for something like the images above.
You are a public entity and need to buy equipment from a purchasing contract.
You like the look and feel of a more traditional playground structure.

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3) Set Out Nature Play Components

You can utilize small natural play components that you think are exciting and purchase them online. Often this means that you are building and constructing accent type nature playground elements and hand placing them throughout your playground. You can hire a landscape contractor do it installation if components need footings. In my mind that bumps them into the category above. This is a good choice if you have a good existing playground and landscape and just want to accentuate with some more exciting play. Pieces might include a wood water table, a foot bridge through a planted area, outdoor blocks, or a chalkboard wall. This is not the best choice if you want to offer new physical play like log or Boulder climbing, swinging, or sliding.

This is a good choice for you if

The components you like at are musical, imaginative, or sensory (played with by young people whose feet are on the ground).
You have a short timeline or small budget.
You have limited ability to move soil, dig footings, or have a hard time even accessing your site.

All three options can help you offer an exciting new nature playground to the young kids in your care. Each takes a different approach, budget, and timeline. One of our designers would be happy to talk over these options with you if you need more input on how to get started. Just click on ‘let’s talk’ above. Happy Building!

We'd love to hear from you!

1) Hire a Nature Playground Designer

This is a good option for you if:

2) Purchase a Commercial Structure

This is a good option for you if:

3) Set Out Nature Play Components

This is a good choice for you if

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We'd love to hear from you!

1) Hire a Nature Playground Designer

This is a good option for you if:

2) Purchase a Commercial Structure

This is a good option for you if:

3) Set Out Nature Play Components

This is a good choice for you if

Let’s Talk

Ready to Learn More?

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Phone / Email

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