Source: Little Tikes Commercial.
Imagine a young family seeking to entertain their children and spend quality time together. They make their way to a nearby park close to their home, saving them gas and adding activity by walking there. Top Suppliers of the Best Playground Equipment for Every Park. When they arrive, their special needs child has a swing with a harness, and their busy toddler can safely run and explore within the fenced area. The top suppliers of the best playground equipment worked hard to ensure the space was inclusive to everyone, improve a child’s physical and mental well-being, and build beautiful, lasting memories.
Parents understand the value of a strong community park where kids can run off some of their excess energy. Local parents and community leaders should advocate for safe and inclusive park playground equipment in their neighborhoods. Doing so protects green spaces for future generations and provides a valuable resource for families.
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Why Does Your Neighborhood Need a Playground?
Although many schools have indoor or outdoor play areas, the National Institutes of Health still reports children only meet between 27% to 33% of daily physical activity requirements to be healthy. The lack of green spaces to run may be a big culprit in urban areas, but it can also present challenges in the suburbs due to rapid development and a lack of resources.
Adding a playground adds numerous benefits to an area, including:
- A place for families to meet and socialize
- Free activity for lower-income parents
- Convenient place for families to let kids explore
- Strengthened community connections
- Chance to be inclusive of all abilities
- Reduced obesity risk
- More green space is better for the environment
Ensuring any equipment meets safety standards is crucial to avoid injury and liability to the city or playground sponsors. A few organizations lead the way when it comes to performance safety specifications. Any equipment you buy should adhere to safety standards and certifications.
Getting the Funds and Space for a Playground
Once you’re convinced you need a safe and fun area for local families, it’s time to figure out how to get the rest of the community involved. You may already have your eye on a vacant lot. Some of the steps you’ll need to complete include:
- Form a team of local leaders and business owners to develop the funds for a playground for the neighborhood.
- Gather ideas from everyone on the committee.
- Approach the owner of whatever land you have your eye on and see if they’d be willing to donate or sell it for a community space.
- Get any needed permits or rezoning permission to put a playground there.
- Raise money through various fundraising efforts or donations.
Top Suppliers of the Best Playground Equipment
Once you’ve jumped through the hoops to move forward with a local park, it’s time to select safe, inclusive and durable playground equipment. The costs vary depending on how extensive the space is. Knowing who the top suppliers are and their specialization can help you narrow your selection and get custom quotes for your project.
Little Tikes Commercial
Little Tikes Commercial is known for its imaginative playsets, so it’s no surprise this company offers themed creative equipment on a larger scale. The focus on an inclusive playground design considers children in wheelchairs or with mobility concerns.
The brand’s sensory playground equipment encourages kids to develop a sense of community. The Revolution Inclusive Spinner allows kids to be seated and strapped in while others hold on to the bar, run and spin. The company’s sculpted elements bring the imagination alive and tie into whatever theme you’re going for, such as woodland, coral reef or jungle.
When the designers create a new product, they consider safety first and ensure it meets standards set in place by various organizations. Project planners consider individual pieces of commercial playground equipment and the overall safety based on placement and other elements.
WillyGoat
WillyGoat has been around for over 25 years. The brand has partnered with schools, neighborhoods, parks and churches to bring playground visions to life. WillyGoat works with communities in 48 states — from private schools to parks to universities.
The company offers a free playground buyer guide to help you plan your perfect community amenity. Selections include swings, slides, sunshades and climbing elements. You can also choose from sustainable play areas and obstacle courses.
With WillyGoat, you can expand on a basic setup to add other equipment, such as a dog park and water slides.
Soft Play
Soft Play may be your go-to provider if you’re looking for indoor and outdoor playground equipment. Products are made in the United States, and the company offers everything from themed multistory units to aquatic setups. It’s best known for its themed features like dinosaurs and bugs.
Popular indoor products include Stomp Interactive Play and various indoor structures. You’ll also find children’s outdoor playground equipment sculptures and contained activity areas. The company offers design consultations to help match themes with architectural accents and combine systems into something unique.
How to Find the Best Playground Equipment Suppliers
Make a list of what you most want from park equipment and where it will be located. If outdoors, it must be more durable than what’s housed inside. Do research by reading customer reviews and narrowing down options. It’s best to stick with the top suppliers to ensure the company follows safety practices.
You can buy items from multiple suppliers, combining systems in different areas of a park. Not every playground equipment supplier offers the same pieces. High demand for inclusive offerings means you should find systems that work for children of all abilities. Consider how different manufacturers seek to engage young learners with interactive pieces and augmented reality.
Check safety organizations and which ones the various playground companies adhere to:
- American National Standards Institute
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Canadian Standards Association
- NRPA Certified Playground Safety Inspector
- International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association
- International Playground Safety Institute
Suppliers might have one or multiple certifications, depending on their quality and customer base. Ensure they have at least one that you feel is significantly focused on children’s safety.
Playground Trends for 2025 and Beyond
Being aware of playground trends allows you to advocate for the right equipment to include all the children in your community. You’ve likely noticed parks incorporating more inclusive items, like wheelchair carousels, ramps and ground-level play activities. Experts estimate around 1,100 inclusive playgrounds exist, with more being added regularly.
Many designers are also incorporating natural elements into their designs for a nature-inspired play area. Sculptures of bugs or trees growing in the center of a play area help kids appreciate the great outdoors. An extension of a bigger appreciation for nature also plays out in using eco-friendly, sustainable materials to build the equipment.
As technology begins to touch every aspect of people’s lives, expect to see more tech-enhanced play. For example, indoor playgrounds frequently include augmented reality. Outdoor facilities may have interactive pieces where children can make music, sort shapes, or ask a parent to pull up a website with a QR code and add their input to an ongoing game.
Getting Involved In Your Community
Get involved in planning initiatives by attending local meetings and pulling the community together to build something lasting for the young people nearby. It’s crucial to go with suppliers that can create an engaging and safe space for mental and physical health.
Search for links to parks and recreation departments as examples of what can be accomplished for local children. You may find it easier to work with an established city park organization and add a playground closer to your home rather than starting from scratch. You can also volunteer to keep a playground clean or work with others on installing a new feature.
Build a Safe, Interactive Space by Choosing the Right Supplier
Teaming up with the best playground equipment supplier for your project requires understanding the safety features most needed and which brand aligns with your needs. Laying a strong foundation with the right hardware sets the tone for inclusive play and brings the community together.
Play is the way children relate to the world around them. Providing more opportunities for socialization and growth through playgrounds makes the world a better place right in your neighborhood.
