Ocean Playground

A: The build team can spend anywhere between 2-5 working days creating new paths and concrete surfaces to create flow within the new play space. Installing equipment. Equipment is then installed, which can take anywhere from 5-10 working days.

A: Plan DIY Playground
This playground's footprint is 64 square feet: 8 feet on each side. The upper level is 5 feet above ground level, or as high as you need to accommodate a slide.
Find a suitable location for the playground that's close to the house, dry, and with stable ground that you can dig into. Provide a 16-foot buffer zone around the playground. No obstructions such as bushes, rocks, trees, or the house should be in the buffer zone. Do not locate the playhouse under trees with low-hanging limbs.
Lay Out Posts
Stake out the four post locations in a square, using the twine and stakes. To make sure that it is truly square, measure the two opposing diagonals. If the measurements match, the layout is a true square.
WARNING
Before digging, call your local utility location service to identify the location of electrical wires, pipes, and other vital services.
Remove Turf and Grade
If applicable, remove the turf with the flat shovel and level the surface down to bare dirt. Grade the surface until it is level. Check level by placing the bubble level on a two-by-four in different directions on the ground.
Dig Post Holes
With the post hole digger, dig four post holes to below the frost line, plus another 4 inches to account for the gravel base. The width of each post hole should be at least two times the diameter of the post, or about 8 inches wide.
Add Gravel
Pour gravel into the bottoms of the post holes. Measure out about 4 inches of gravel per hole.
Plumb and Set Posts
Set the four-by-fours in the post holes. Support each post individually with scrap two-by-fours set up as braces. Screw one end of the two-by-four to the four-by-four. Stake the other end into the ground.
Add concrete at this point to help stabilize the posts. The concrete should be added dry and brought to about 3 inches below ground level. Use the bubble level to get each post perfectly plumb.
Attach Horizontal Bracing
Attach four of the two-by-tens in a square around the outside of the four-by-four posts. Attach them at the 5-foot-high mark (or your desired upper-level floor height).
Set Posts in Concrete
With the garden hose, slowly fill each post hole with water, letting the water percolate through the dry concrete mix until full. Allow a day for the concrete to fully cure.
Add Sandbox Walls
Similar to the upper horizontal bracing, attach four two-by-tens at ground level to form the walls of the sandbox.
Add Joists
Install ten joist hangers, five on each side of the upper level bracing. Space them 16 inches apart. Insert five of the two-by-tens into the hangers. Secure the joists into the hangers with nails designed for use with joist hangers.
Install Flooring
Install the composite wood flooring on top of the joists, spacing each board by 1/8 inch.
Build Ladder
Cut two of the two-by-fours to 5 feet long. Cut the scrap wood into two 2-foot pieces and use another, fresh two-by-four to cut two more pieces. Screw the pieces together to make a four-rung ladder. Screw the ladder into the upper level bracing and the lower sandbox wall.
Build Rock Wall
Cut two of the two-by-fours to 6 feet long. Cut nine of the two-by-fours in half. Run the resulting 18 pieces of wood across the 6-foot-long pieces to form a ladder-like structure. Space the rungs 1/4-inch apart. Screw the two hinges to the back of the rock wall, at the top. Screw the other side of the hinges to the upper level bracing. Screw rock holds across the rungs in a random fashion.
Build or Add Slide
Screw the slide to the upper level bracing, so that the lip of the slide is flush with the top of the deck.
Build Balusters / Handrail
Use 20 full-size two-by-fours to form the horizontal balusters around the upper level of the playground. You will use five two-by-fours per side, spacing them 8 inches from each other, culminating at a top handrail that is 48 inches high. Create cut-out spaces for the ladder, slide, and any other feature attached to the upper level.
Add Swing
Attach a swing to the side of the DIY playground. You can use a purchased swing set, eliminating one of the side legs. The side of the playground would replace the leg. Or you can build your own swing set from pressure-treated ground contact lumber, again eliminating one of the legs in favor of the playground as a type of leg.

A: There are many options for playground flooring that provide a soft, safe surface for kids when the inevitable trips and falls happen from time to time. Rubber mulch, rubber tiles, sand, and grass are all great bases for playgrounds at home, while engineered wood fiber (similar to wood mulch) is commonly found in large outdoor playgrounds.

A: Pre-made playgrounds are more expensive than DIY playgrounds due to the many parts they require for a finished assembly. Rather than buying a single slide or sandbox, most playgrounds include structures for a second story, handrails, roofs, sturdy metal posts, and more. Having the playground assembled by the seller also increases the overall price by adding labor costs.

A: Backyard playgrounds are typically about 100 square feet in size, which can be smaller or larger based on the addition of extra features (not including the play area surrounding them). On the other hand, commercial playgrounds at parks and schools are much larger, often reaching 2,500 to 5,000 square feet in total.

A: For a medium-sized playground (50-foot by 50-foot), we recommend having ten to 20 volunteers to assist with advance site preparation and 100 to 120 volunteers to install the playspace, haul loose-fill safety surfacing, and complete side projects.

A: The best playground is the one nature provided. Tree limbs are perfect for climbing and swinging on and river rocks make the best stepping stones. The ultimate sandbox is a big stretch of beach and a handful of shells.

A: The most common plastic used for playground equipment, including slides, is high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. HDPE can easily be formed into a variety of plastic playground equipment in tons of fun colors, making it a great option for neighborhood parks and school playgrounds.

A: Modern playgrounds usually include a combination of swings, slides, climbers, spring riders, spinners, and sensory panels to maximize fun, safety, and accessibility. Many new types of playground equipment will also help improve coordination, strength, and critical thinking (among other benefits).

A: Sandboxes
Tactile experiences like sand or water play are important for stimulating a child’s sense of touch. Water can be soothing to a child who easily experiences sensory overload, and elements like sand can help a child who struggles to cope with certain sensations or demonstrates a sensitivity to touch. A sandbox or sand table also provides the opportunity to incorporate other tactile experiences by incorporating a variety of toys and objects for children to use during sand play.
Swings
Swinging is so much fun that most children, and their parents, don't realize that it works a variety of muscles and joints.
Swinging — independently or with the help of an adult — is a great way for a child to exercise their vestibular system. Swinging is so much fun that most children, and their parents, don’t realize that it works a variety of muscles and joints. The swaying motion offers input for a child’s vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile and visual systems, helping them learn how their bodies move and how to control their bodies better.
These skills can go a long way toward helping a child establish their sense of where their body is in space and recognizing physical boundaries, which is a common problem among children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a processing disorder, or an autism spectrum disorder.
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of swinging alongside a friend and enjoying the sensation of going higher and higher together. Inclusive swing seats can be incorporated among traditional swing seats to allow children of all abilities to swing side-by-side. Plus, swinging is a great way to help a hyperactive or over-stimulated child calm down.
Spinners and Climbing Toys
Spinning equipment, such as the Whirl, Cyclo Cone Base Climber and Maypole make a great addition to a sensory-friendly playground because they provide ample opportunities for children to engage their vestibular system, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining balance. Engaging in these activities goes a long way toward helping children improve their balance and coordination. It also helps children who may struggle with these traits to practice and become more confident in their abilities to move around.
Climbing equipment also encourages children to engage the muscles needed to develop and maintain balance while encouraging them to accept new challenges in a structured, secure environment. There are a wide variety of options available, and an inclusive playground can include climbing options that allow children with disabilities to engage in climbing activities, too.
Outdoor Exploration
A sensory-friendly playground will make the most of its natural setting, allowing children the opportunity to see, hear and smell the world around them. It might mean planting a small sensory garden or including kid-friendly fragrant plants in the nearby landscaping. It might incorporate a small wheelchair-accessible trail near the playground for family exploration. Or, it might include items that make sounds like conga drums or a xylophone.
Play Panels
Sensory play panels offer fun textures and sights in child-friendly elements. Play panels could include interactive elements like a rotating sphere filled with pebbles to watch. They could also take the form of a sensory maze, where kids can weave their way through translucent panels with textured shapes.
Gentle Colors
Visual stimulation comes through incorporating colors throughout the playground. Colors can be incorporated in various ways, including flooring options. They can also be used to distinguish between different heights and types of equipment. The tasteful use of colors and patterns can encourage children to engage and explore. Sensory playgrounds often use gentle colors so as not to overwhelm kids.