How to Plan a Playground in Cedar Rapids, IA

No need to feel overwhelmed! It’s not every day that most of us set about purchasing playgrounds and playground equipment in Cedar Rapids, IA. Obviously, you have many questions. How much surfacing do you need? Do you even need surfacing? Are certain kinds of play equipment for kids better—safer—than others? Have you stopped to consider installations that are not part of the fun-going experience but are nonetheless integral for safety—such as a playground fence?

Fortunately, our comrades at American Playground Company—the top contractor for play equipment in the Midwest—have provided us with a useful guide on playground planning. In this article, we will go over some essential questions to ask before you start shopping for equipment. Then we’ll talk about the importance of having a fence around your playground in Cedar Rapids.

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What is the budget for your Cedar Rapids playground? Who are the people heading the project?

Let us begin with what might seem like stating the painfully obvious: establishing and knowing a budget is integral to a smoothly operating project. As a matter of fact, most playground companies request a planned budget be presented to them before they sign on. Having a budget to show is also encouraging to them—it shows that you are serious about installing a playground and will not back out when pricing comes into play. And, of course, having a budget known in advance helps reduce headaches and confusion between you and your financiers.

Speaking of which, let’s talk about them for a minute. If you need funding for your playground, contact potential financiers right away, prior to contacting your playground company in Cedar Rapids. Speak to fundraising groups and assemble a team of project leaders. Everyone involved on the money level needs to be kept informed from the start. Communication—between team members and with your playground company in Cedar Rapids, IA—is essential to a smooth project.

Do I need to contact people outside my playground planning team?

Honestly, it’s not a bad idea to contact city clerks and school personnel, for example, as they can have a say in how your playground in Cedar Rapids turns out. Keeping such people in the community informed—again, communication—might save you some hassles in the long run.

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In addition to a budget, have you planned a time frame for your Cedar Rapids playground?

Here are a few good subjects to bring up when you speak with your playground company representative. Ask about worst-case scenarios involving manufacturing. Likewise for installation. Be mindful of and ask about lead times, as you might end up waiting a while for certain products to be delivered. Be sure to make accommodations for possible waits when planning out the time frame for your playground in Cedar Rapids, IA.

As a matter of fact, we recommend picking out secondary choices for each product you want. This way, if there’s an extraordinary lead time on one that clashes with your schedule, you have the option of falling back on another. Inform your playground company representative about these alternate choices. We keep stressing it, but it really is true: the smoother communication between you and the contractor, the better.

Why is ADA compliance essential for my playground in Cedar Rapids, IA?

In 1990, a law was passed called the Americans with Disabilities Act. Essentially, this law prohibits discrimination against—as the name suggests—users with disabilities and even dictates what features your playground should have. For instance, the law states that a safe pathway must reach from the play area to the nearest building or parking lot. A safe pathway must similarly exist between the area’s play equipment and the edge of the play area. At the beginning of this article, we talked briefly about surfacing. The ADA law specifies that surfacing must comply with ASTM 1951, which addresses Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment. Playground surfacing in Cedar Rapids, IA comes in two basic forms: solid and loose fill.

Playground surfacing is absolutely essential when it comes to helping reduce and prevent injuries. After all, kids come to a playground to climb and run around. Accidental falls are bound to happen. But the right surfacing can help cushion a fall somewhat and reduce the severity of injuries. Of the two surfacing types specified above, which one is best for your project? Solid playground surfacing is the more expensive option, but it requires less maintenance. If you are willing to sacrifice part of the remaining budget in favor of less long-term surfacing maintenance, this is the product to consider.

Loose fill playground surfacing, on the other hand, is less expensive but requires more upkeep over time. It is composed of materials such as rubber mulch and pea gravel, whereas its solid counterpart consists of a sturdier composition of artificial turf and rubber.

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Should I consider installing a playground fence in Cedar Rapids, IA?

Although typically not the first choice when it comes to playground features—obviously equipment and surfacing have a higher priority—a sturdy fence encompassing and protecting the area where children will be playing is actually a great safety device. Simply put, a playground fence helps safeguard children from outside threats while simultaneously keeping threats outside the playground.

What threats are we talking about? For one, automobiles. Playgrounds are often located in close proximity to roadways, and it’s sadly not uncommon for children to wander from a play area and attempt to cross a busy street. This sometimes occurs when a child accidentally knocks his toy ball outside the playground perimeter and chases it into the roadway. Having a playground fence, however, can help contain toys as well as children. Also consider what happens if an automobile traveling fast down a road spins out of control. The playground users are in danger if the driver cannot stop in time. A strong fence might minimize impact—especially if curbs are installed next to it. A playground fence also helps prevent kids from wandering off and getting lost—or wandering into nearby dangerous areas such as rivers and lakes. Stray animals cannot get into the playground.

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