The power of play is transformative for children. We all love taking our toddlers and older kids to a playground whenever we have the chance. Unfortunately, only some inspire peace of mind. You may have seen play areas at local parks with unsuitable protective surfacing, exposed hardware, sharp corners, or trip, entanglement and tangling hazards. Perhaps only a few rusty railings or slightly rickety barriers. As passionate proponents of outdoor play for children, we should investigate the best suppliers of durable and safe playground equipment for parks. This guide will suggest the top-rated safe playground equipment for your community and explain why secure, active play is vital to our children’s lives.
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Why Heavy-Duty and Safe Park Playground Equipment Matters
First and foremost, heavy-duty and safe park playground equipment matters for the welfare of kids. Outdoor play has inherent risk, so play areas can be hazardous when incorrectly designed, poorly constructed and improperly maintained.
Park playground equipment should meet international standards developed by organizations like the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and general guidelines prepared by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In Canada, you can look to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the Canadian Playground Safety Institute (CPSI) to ensure the equipment is sound and of high quality.
Quality outdoor playground equipment also has financial and environmental benefits. For example, high-quality swings, seesaws, monkey bars, spinners, giant strides and still rings need to be robust in extreme weather. Any equipment designed to last a long time and require little upkeep produces less waste over its life, helps conserve virgin resources, and minimizes the greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing and transporting such products.
Plus, safe playground equipment brings value to communities. Local parks with inclusive play spaces attract families and promote holistic development in children of all abilities. Active parental involvement plays a vital role in ensuring kids from every background can have access to heavy-duty playground equipment.
What to Look for in Commercial Playground Equipment
The key factors to consider when looking for commercial playground equipment are design, materials, construction, accessibility and maintenance.
Playground designs should have age-appropriate, inclusive equipment to support adequate physical activities and meaningful social interactions.
The most common equipment materials are wood, metal and plastic. Wood is durable and aesthetically pleasing, but it can be high-maintenance. Metal is resilient and requires less TLC, although it raises child safety issues during hot weather. While plastic is safe, flexible and low-maintenance, its longevity may be questionable. Weigh each one’s pros and cons before making a decision.
Sturdy construction and quality craftsmanship are synonymous with heavy-duty playground equipment, so supplier reputation matters.
Top Suppliers — Where You Can Buy Durable and Safe Park Playground Equipment
The top suppliers of durable, safe playground equipment for parks are Miracle Recreation, PlayPower and Landscape Structures.
Miracle Recreation
Miracle Recreation has been around since 1927 and manufactures custom, sensory, and inclusive playground equipment and themed playground structures for different age groups.
This playground equipment and structure manufacturer shares that, “every Miracle play space is built with innovation from the ground up.” Its products boast cutting-edge features, such as Versalok® clamps and Gator Grip® surface finish.
The company’s creations meet or exceed the performance safety specifications set by ASTM, CPSC, CSA Group, European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), speaking volumes about the company’s commitment to child safety and innovation.
Miracle Recreation uses materials that make sense for the play space’s location, including using coatings and finishes that minimize the likelihood of burns, rust, splinters and other potentially dangerous anomalies. The company uses advanced playground equipment fabrication techniques, like rotational molding, and employs Canadian Weld Bureau-certified welders.
Little Tikes Commercial
Little Tikes Commercial offers various commercial playground systems for different age groups. Each adheres to the safety standards and guidelines established by ASTM, CPSC, CSA Group, TÜV Product Service and IPEMA.
The company uses high quality materials and components, such as strong, hard-wearing compound resin, nonslip steel clamps and Direct Connect dual-tempered fasteners. It builds safe play areas for children using state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, including three-step steel post finishing and vinyl deck coating.
Little Tikes Commercial promotes continued safety. The company provides equipment layout drawings and detailed instructions to guide the certified installer you hire.
Aside from regular preventive maintenance inspections, Little Tikes Commercial highly recommends a safety audit performed by a National Playground Safety Institute-certified Playground Safety Inspector. “Inspections should be specific and strive to handle potential issues before they become risks, creating a safe playground environment,” the manufacturer emphasizes.
Landscape Structures
Landscape Structures creates playgrounds for all ages. It takes pride in its industry-leading innovations, including Sway Fun®, Glider, TenderTuff™, Permalene® and Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete.
The company values precision manufacturing. It does everything in-house to give them “more control over the final outcome.” This philosophy enables its multidisciplinary team to uphold its commitment to detail and ensure excellent quality assurance.
Landscape Structures complies with numerous standards. The International Organization for Standardization, IPEMA, CPSC, ASTM, CSA Group, CEN and Enterprise Singapore approve of its work.
The company is also an American Institute of Steel Construction — Certified Fabricator, which is another form of validation of its manufacturing processes.
How to Advocate for Better Playground Equipment in Your Community
You can be a safe playground equipment advocate by joining local communities of like-minded people and voicing your concerns during local park planning meetings. You can also contact relevant government officials, such as park directors and city council members, to request improvements.
Use social networking platforms and attend community gatherings to raise awareness of the importance of safe, heavy-duty playground equipment. Plan fundraising events and partner with trustworthy suppliers to snag favorable deals and financing options to buy playground equipment on sale for local kids’ needs.
Resources for Parents
In the U.S., the most relevant government agencies and organizations for playground construction and management are:
- CPSC
- National Park Service
- National Recreation and Park Association
- City Parks Alliance
Their Canadian counterparts are:
- Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
- Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
- Park People
Local governments are in charge of urban parks in either country.
Furthermore, ASTM F2373-11(2017), ASTM F1487-21 and ASTM F1292-22 are some of the most crucial safety standards to note when comparing playground equipment for sale.
The CPSC’s Public Playground Safety Handbook is the go-to resource for buying, installing and maintaining public playgrounds. Its latest edition was published in 2015. The Commission did accept comments on the next edition’s draft until December 2, 2024, so a rollout of the guide’s updated version should soon be available.
Unlock the Power of Play With Durable, Park Safe Playground Equipment
A kid-friendly play space is an asset to any local park and community. Use the information you learned to be a more effective advocate for durable, safe playground equipment to help children harness the power of outdoor play.
