From design to installation, you can trust Kaplan with every aspect of the playground building process. Your Kaplan representative will work with you one-on-one to brainstorm, design, and build the playground of your dreams.
Kaplan offers custom playground design and layout, site evaluation, outdoor classroom consultation, and full installation service. Feel free to contact us about any questions you may have, to schedule a meeting with your Kaplan representative, or to place an order. The ASTM/CPSC Playground Audit Guide is also a valuable resource for meeting playground safety regulations.
In addition to planning for playground equipment expenses, you will also need to consider other associated costs to avoid budget surprises:
Kaplan offers two budgeting options to help reduce the cost of making your playground dreams come true without breaking the piggy bank:
Purchase the playground equipment you want over time without sacrificing quality, safety, or value. Buying a playground in phases allows you to design an integrated play space and install one segment of your playground at a time, paying for each phase as it is built. Keep in mind that each phase must be in compliance with safety guidelines and the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
To extend your equipment financing options, we have partnered with Direct Capital Corporation, a third party finance/lease provider.
Using your available local resources is another way to reduce the cost of a new playground:
You need to select a site for the playground that offers ample space for equipment and accounts for use zones, which is the amount of space legally required to be left open around playground equipment. Your local Kaplan representative will help you assess the lay of the land to maximize your site's full potential.
By choosing a site that has adequate drainage and is relatively flat, you will save on site preparation costs. Make sure your site is large enough to accommodate both quiet and active play areas. Be sure to identify and mark existing utilities since many of these either cause problems or can be taken advantage of during site evaluation and preparation.
Another item to consider when you are evaluating a site is the existing landscape. If an area already has trees, shrubs, flowers, or other features, you must decide whether you want to design around the existing landscape or start anew. Shade trees, grassy areas for play, picnic tables, benches, and trash can receptacles will need to be taken into consideration if you decide on new landscaping.
You will need to decide whether or not you are going to provide water fountains and restrooms, which are a requirement in some cities and towns. The number and location of the water fountains and restrooms will also be something to take into consideration when evaluating the site for design.
Your Kaplan representative can help you plan access points and pathways to promote smooth traffic flow into, around, and within your playground. Ample space for parking, for example, is needed when you are evaluating a site for a playground, and an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirement mandates that pathways must connect the parking lot to the play area. It is also important to make sure that emergency and maintenance vehicles can access the area.
By understanding the guidelines for accessibility under the ADA, our representatives can help you create a space that makes it possible for children of differing ages, backgrounds and abilities to come together through play. Follow the helpful guidelines on the United States Access Board's website. to ensure that your current or future play space complies with ADA requirements.
Each year, over 200,000 children in the United States alone visit the emergency room due to playground-related accidents. Your local Kaplan representative will help you properly plan for playground safety to ensure your site doesn't contribute to the statistics. With Kaplan, you get the peace of mind that comes with knowing our equipment is designed to meet or exceed both U.S. and international guidelines for safety.
Fencing can help keep children safe in an area with moderate to high traffic. A child chasing a ball or running while playing a game may forget they are near a road and wander out in traffic if there is not a fence or blockade there to protect them.
Supervision is another great way to increase safety at playgrounds, especially if you can control who will be supervising children and at what times. If you cannot control supervision at your playground, consider adding signage that states what age group each play area is designated for to help give caregivers a better understanding of what areas of the playground best meet their child's needs.
If your playground is open after dark, you will need ample lighting to provide a safe play area for children and families. Appropriate lighting can also provide a clear view for law enforcement during off peak hours if officers patrol the playground or surrounding area for misuse.
Manufacturer's maintenance instructions and recommended inspection dates should be strictly followed to ensure the safety of children and families who use the playground equipment. Maintenance inspections, repairs, loose-fill surface maintenance, and recordkeeping should all be included in your maintenance plan.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website features a Public Playground Safety Handbook, which is a great resource for ensuring that you pick the right materials and equipment, have the right safety measures in place, and have a maintenance plan to keep children and families safe in the future.
Seventy-five percent of playground injuries are a result of a fall on an unforgiving or poorly maintained playground surface. Keep in mind that loose-fill surfacing materials require special maintenance to ensure that the materials have not been displaced due to high use or weather. Because surfacing is the first step to playground safety, your Kaplan representative will walk you through your options to make sure you get the right surface for your space and how to maintain your surfacing.
A great playground starts with a strong design. Establish clear objectives for your project early in the planning process by asking yourself some important questions as you outline your goals.
When you contract with Kaplan, we take all the worries out of the installation process. Consider the following pointers to ensure the installation process goes smoothly from beginning to end!
Before your play equipment can be installed, prepare your site for installation:
The Kaplan Playground Department will notify you of the delivery schedule once your equipment is ready for shipment. Be on hand when your equipment arrives to perform a quick inventory from the checklist the delivery driver will provide. If installation is not scheduled for the day of delivery, find a secure location to store the equipment. If Kaplan is contracted to do the installation, we will handle receiving all the materials.
Our professional installers are certified by the National Playground Safety Institute to ensure that your project will meet all national guidelines put forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM F-1487).
Typically, surfacing is the last part of the installation process. Once the playground is assembled and the surfacing is poured, the site must be secured for 72 hours to allow the concrete or our unitary Pour-in-Place Rubber Surfacing to dry. Keep children away from the equipment by installing orange temporary fencing or posting bright boundary tape and signage.
During a post-installation safety walk with your installer, you will make sure that your playground has been installed to your satisfaction.
If you would like more information about different aspects of building and maintaining a safe playground for children to enjoy, be sure to read the Learning Center articles listed below: