There was a time, a long-lasting time, when playgrounds in parks and schools were seen as a quick opportunity for kids to burn off steam. They had ladders that reached to the sky and metal slides that burned poor kids’ skin. They had merry-go-rounds that flung toddlers across the concrete, and most people considered it all in good fun. But design innovation has combined with public awareness and public health to reshape the future of commercial playgrounds. Parks and schoolyards are now going even further to benefit virtually everyone involved.
Inclusivity Is the New Normal
Even long after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, playgrounds struggled to keep up. Far too many surfaces were made of tanbark or rubber pieces. The platforms were too narrow for all the children to play. And swings were accessible to only the most able-bodied kids. This reality created a division that left families with different abilities out of the equation, so they would likely never even bother to try to participate and engage.
Now, however, commercial playground equipment suppliers are meeting a demand for more innovative (read: inclusive) designs. Families can now see from the street that a park has wide platforms, smooth surfaces, and swings built for kids with different abilities. The message is clear: all are welcome here. Many schools are making similar accommodations, so their disabled kids who were once isolated from the rest of the student body can now intermingle and play.
Sustainability Is Non-Negotiable
Alongside the rise of inclusivity, you’ve probably noticed a sharp increase in environmental concerns. More people than ever are talking about how to be better citizens of the planet by recycling and buying only from corporations with eco-friendly policies. This sustainability consciousness affects playgrounds, too. Materials in the past have leached chemicals into the atmosphere and into children’s bodies. They posed a hazard to the health of virtually everyone.
Modern playground materials have made huge strides in sustainability. Now, you’d be hard-pressed to find a new playground structure with toxic chemicals involved. Today’s playground designers are now working with recycled plastics, recycled rubber, sustainably sourced woods, and recycled metals. All of these materials are washed and purified to remove all toxic chemicals. For playground designers, kids’ health is now a non-negotiable factor in design.
Sensory Experiences Meet a Range of Needs
One interesting addition that many parks and schools have made to more modern playgrounds is sensory experiences. For generations, kids had a structure, a slide, and a swing set… and not much else. Playgrounds were an afterthought. Even the best ones were “nice to have.” But very few designers and planners considered children’s growth, education, and development when creating recreational spaces.
That’s changed dramatically in recent decades. Modern design now introduces features like water parks, musical zones, and even quiet spaces for kids who deal with overstimulation. You’ll also find parks that create barriers or buffers in between loud, wild, and noisy areas and calmer, more peaceful areas, to meet the needs of the full range of children who visit. These opportunities for kids to explore their senses allow them to create their own experiences each time they play.
Health and Wellness Are Now Associated with Playgrounds
It wasn’t always this way. In much of society, for most of the last hundred plus years that playgrounds have been around, people didn’t associate health and wellness with children’s playgrounds. But as public health experts have looked into how to get children outside more, off screens, and engaged, the connection has become more clear. Getting kids outside, climbing, playing, and socializing improves their overall wellness.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Adults also reap rewards from spending time in the fresh air, even just sitting to read a book outside while their kids play. To these ends, playgrounds designers have begun creating spaces that advance the physical, mental, and even emotional health of people of all ages. In many parks and schools across the country, you can now find children playing on structures and adults walking on paths or playing horseshoes or bocce ball with friends.
Themed Options Boost Imagination
Finally, commercial playgrounds have almost never been a place for children to grow their imaginations. Just 50 years ago, you would have been hard-pressed to find a park with a giant pirate ship for children to climb on or a wooden dragon preparing to breathe fire. Indeed, it has only been in very recent decades that educators and children’s health experts have realized and begun discussing the power of imagination.
But now that they do understand this connection, you’ll notice the increase in themed playgrounds sprinkled across the states. Now, children from all walks of life can imagine themselves as dragon slayers or riders, kings and queens in castles, and pirates on the high seas. They can create games with friends in “jungles” and befriend “wild animals.” All of this imaginative play lends itself to better mental health outcomes and even improved academics. Plus, it’s so much fun.
