Essential Insights on Transforming Your Playground Budgeting Approach

Budget carefully

When planning a new playground for a school or public area, it’s crucial to allocate your budget thoughtfully. The price of a well-designed playground starts at approximately $20,000 and can exceed $150,000, making it a substantial investment that demands careful planning.

One of the primary factors affecting playground budgets is the anticipated number of users. It’s important to remember that expenses extend beyond just the playground equipment. Additional budgeting considerations include site preparation, playground undersurfacing, shade, and landscaping.

We have gathered a variety of factors to consider when budgeting and determining whether they should be included in the playground cost estimate.

Playground Size

How many children are you anticipating will use the playground? Consider the catchment area of your park or the size of your school, as this will influence the size and type of equipment required. If space is limited, such as within school grounds, you may need to think creatively about maximizing play opportunities within a smaller play structure.

Keep in mind that to meet Australian playground standards, there must be adequate space around the equipment, known as a fall zone or impact area. Regardless of whether the playground is in Melbourne or Perth, safety and regulatory standards require that playground equipment has enough surrounding space to ensure children can safely pass through if they fall from an elevated area. Adequate impact areas not only ensure compliance but also minimize safety risks for children.

Impact areas should be free of obstacles and have an impact-absorbing surface like mulch or rubber. This is an important consideration when designing and budgeting for a new playground.

Playground Style And Features

Unique features can influence the expense of a playground. Custom additions like ramps, bridges to existing landscapes, or specialized panels and materials may incur extra costs. However, these features can enhance inclusivity and support children’s activities, social skill development, and enjoyment. Incorporating these elements results in a more visually appealing playground, offering a more comprehensive appearance.

If you’re constructing a community playground, also think about site amenities. These might include bike racks, grills, benches, tables, and other features that transform the playground into a welcoming gathering spot for everyone.

Playground Users

Take into account the abilities and ages of the playground users. If your goal is to design an inclusive playground that caters to all children, you may need to incorporate additional or specialised features into the design. Elements like ramps might require a larger investment than standard access components, but they are crucial for allowing children with disabilities to engage in play. Inclusive play can be achieved through thoughtful design and careful product selection without necessarily increasing costs.

Children engage in play differently and develop various skills at different stages. Whether it’s a climbing structure or a tower with a slide, each piece of equipment can be utilized to varying extents based on the user’s abilities. Naturally, more challenging equipment is better suited for older children who possess more advanced skills compared to very young children.

Site Preparation

If the suggested site for your playground isn’t level or needs clearing, this might entail some excavation to bring it to a state that is suitable for a playground installation. Consider, also, if you need to demolish any existing structures.

For revamping older playgrounds, make sure to evaluate your options. Do you want to keep or update equipment elements? Or do you prefer to revamp the entire space and start from scratch? Either way, site preparation must be a factor when you run the numbers for your playground project.

Playground Undersurfacing

Following playground equipment, the cost of playground undersurfacing is typically the next highest expense in creating a play area. When selecting the material for undersurfacing, consider both the initial expense and the ongoing maintenance needs. For instance, rubber surfaces demand a higher initial investment but require less maintenance over time, while mulch needs to be replenished and spread out regularly. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of various playground undersurfacing options.

Shade

In today’s world, prioritising sun safety in play areas is essential, leading many schools and public playgrounds to integrate some form of shade, which must be considered in the budget. Collaborate with our consultants or a shade specialist to seamlessly incorporate shade into your playground while maintaining your vision for the area. These experts will assist you in choosing suitable shade structures and other elements to include in your project cost estimate.

Landscaping

We suggest, at the very least, incorporating a border around your playground to maintain its tidiness and containment. Landscaping for school and community playgrounds varies. For example, public play areas might require considerations such as fencing, plantings, benches, tables, bicycle racks, drinking fountains, dog bowls, and waste bins to enhance the space and make it inviting for all.

Typical Playground Budget

Below, we have included a table of indicative budgets for a playground, with the percentage of what is commonly spent on different elements within a play space. Of course, this will differ from project to project, but it may help in your planning process.

How adventure+ Helps

At adventure+, our consultants are ready to assist you in planning your playground project and designing equipment tailored to your requirements. Beyond playground equipment, we offer a comprehensive play space package that includes under-surfacing, borders, and minor landscaping.

Our goal is to develop playgrounds that deliver the greatest value for children, schools, local councils, and developers.