Playground Equipment

Playground Resources

Playground Equipment:

Grounds for Play: Good for preschool and toddler equipment. No online catalog-need to order catalog to see equipment.

Kompan: (a little different and a little more expensive but they have materials for all ages)

Safe Space Concepts (great materials for infants)

BYO Playground (better for infants and toddlers than preschoolers)

Playworld Systems (mostly toddler and preschool equipment-good website for how to design a playground).

Big Toys (more natural structures-preschool only).

Little Tikes Commercial: (only preschool equipment and there are gaps on some of the slides where it connects onto the platform. Gaps need to be fixed if you install this equipment otherwise it’s an entanglement hazard).

*Remember all playground equipment comes in the following age categories: O-2 years, 2-5 years, and 5-12 years. It’s important to make sure you are getting the right equipment for the right age range. Manufacturers will sell you anything, regardless of whether or not it’s the right age.

Playground Surfacing:

Child’s Play Surfaces: (based in Denver. Has poured-in place and turf).

Grounds for Play: No online catalog-need to order catalog to see surfacing.

Dinoflex: (rubber tiles)

BYO Playground: (mulch, shredded tire, tiles and poured-in place)

*Remember that you need surfacing under equipment 18 in. or higher. For loose-filled surfacing, like mulch and pea gravel, you will need 9 in. of surfacing in the use zones of your equipment. For unitary surfacing, like rubber tiles and poured-in place, make sure that it’s ASTM 1292 approved and that you receive the ASTM 1292 paper for your playground after it’s installed. For poured-in place, shredded tires, and tiles, make sure to get a lighter color or provide shade because these tend to get hot in the summer.

Natural Playgrounds and Outdoor class rooms:

Nature Explore Arbor Day Foundations:

Playground Handbook:

Consumer Product Safety Commission: Go to the bottom of this page and you will find the Public Playground Safety Handbook (Pub. No. 325) that can be downloaded for free. This handbook is the guidelines that are used by licensing and Qualistar. It includes how to design a playground, use zones, surfacing pro’s and con’s, and equipment. It also discusses other safety hazards, such as entanglements, protrusions and head entrapments.

American Standard of Testing Materials

ASTM 1292 -Testing standards for surfacing materials.

ASTM F2373-05 Standard Consumer Safety Performance for Public Use Playground Equipment for Children 6 months through 23 months.

ASTMF-F2049 – Standard Safety Performance Specification for Fences/Barriers for Public, Commercial, and Multi-Family, Residential Use Outdoor Play Areas.