Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What makes a perfect playground?

89 replies

yknaps · 26/08/2021 21:11

I'm wondering about crowd-funding / fundraising to improve the playground facilities in my local park and interested in people's thoughts on what makes an amazing playground.
(And if anyone has any experience crowdfunding for this kind of thing, please share your experience!)

OP posts:
kitkatsky · 26/08/2021 21:13

Spongey floor! Not crowdfunding but look at the coop community fund!

Zarene · 26/08/2021 21:16

Fenced off.

Bins! And people who actually use them, which is a different challenge…

Benches facing the equipment.

No sand - I don’t want a sandy toddler every time I leave the house !

Elpheba · 26/08/2021 21:16

Benches! When they’re playing nicely I like to/need to sit but inside the play area so I’m close by if needed.
Mine love a roundabout- they’re don’t seem to be that many about these days.

Samcro · 26/08/2021 21:17

Wheelchair swing

Blueleah · 26/08/2021 21:19

Facilities for disabled children such as a wheelchair swing. Sensory equipment for autistic children. Exercise equipment for older teens and adults. Along with the usual stuff for kids. You will need to liaise with the owner of the playground (probably the local council) because the change of equipment will affect their insurance premium, which they will have to continue paying in the long term.

toolazytothinkofausername · 26/08/2021 21:19

Trampolines in the floor are a must!

Squiffy01 · 26/08/2021 21:19

Swings baby and older children but off to the side so people don’t keep running in front of them.

A toddler climbing frame that doesn’t have lots of random openings they can fall off. So something the right size so toddlers just starting to climb can access very few playgrounds have something for little ones apart from swings.

BloodyDetails · 26/08/2021 21:19

Zip wire

DeepNorthFarmGardening · 26/08/2021 21:20

@yknaps

I'm wondering about crowd-funding / fundraising to improve the playground facilities in my local park and interested in people's thoughts on what makes an amazing playground. (And if anyone has any experience crowdfunding for this kind of thing, please share your experience!)
A mixture of stuff that interests a wide range of ages.

I've been to large playground recently that was entirely within a huge sandpit. The sand provided a soft landing but could also be used with lots of the play equipment. A lot of the equipment had duel purpose I little ones could use the space underneath as dens and older children could use it as high /treetop equipment.

There were zip lines, loads of swings, big and small slides lots of picnic benches and sitting areas for parents.

Your local council may be able to assist with grants/funding and most of the big playground providers will help you fill in forms for lottery grants etc as well.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 26/08/2021 21:21

Zip wire.
Proper long chain swings for older kids.
Enough swings for younger ones.
Crows nest.

Apeirogon · 26/08/2021 21:22

I read a really interesting article about how it's important for children's development to include some slightly "risky" play items. Apparently in the US they've gone down the route of making playgrounds as safe as possible - with the outcome that the kids find them a bit boring.

Littlebelina · 26/08/2021 21:22

Fenced off (for bolting toddlers).
Slides (including ones that can be accessed by smaller children). Not always a given!
Toilets are a fantastic bonus but not an easy thing.
Swings suitable for people with reduced mobility (saw someone on fb recently asking for this)
Mix of stuff for older plus younger kids. I've got a big age gap and some playgrounds seem to be geared towards extremes.

Still1nLove · 26/08/2021 21:23

Barrier around the swings, not gated area

GingerBreadTeddy · 26/08/2021 21:23

  • separate area for under 5s
  • separate area for under 5s
  • separate area for under 5s

You get my drift Wink

  • no huge objects like the pirate ship in a park near me where you can’t see your child when they are on it as the sides are solid - it gives me anxiety
babouchette · 26/08/2021 21:24

Coffee stand right next to it Blush

Yy to spongy floor. Wide slides are always good too so that two people can go down together.

GreenTortoise · 26/08/2021 21:24

This is one of our local ones and it's great. Wheelchair access to the big part of the boat and a small toddler sized area with no random openings and very low to the ground. And the swings are at the other end so you don't have to worry about them running in front of them!

What makes a perfect playground?
What makes a perfect playground?
mrsbitaly · 26/08/2021 21:24

@Squiffy01

Swings baby and older children but off to the side so people don’t keep running in front of them.

A toddler climbing frame that doesn’t have lots of random openings they can fall off. So something the right size so toddlers just starting to climb can access very few playgrounds have something for little ones apart from swings.

Oh my gosh I'm so glad someone has said this I thought I was alone in this thinking. Honestly when I take my 19 month old park it is so stressful running from side to side as she tries to launch herself off whatever opening there is other than the slide lol Even in the toddler areas they have this in every park I go to!
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/08/2021 21:24

Decent climbing equipment for older children (8+) that the younger children physically can't use, even with help, so the older children can play uninhibited.

A teens area that is safe for girls (well lit, cameras etc).

GreenTortoise · 26/08/2021 21:24

I meant plane not boat.

chickenninja · 26/08/2021 21:25

I quite like a sandpit. Mine play for ages with sand.

A little sheltered section in case it rains or it's too hot.

GingerBreadTeddy · 26/08/2021 21:25

Barrier around zip wire too
The one in my local park is a hazard

SkepticalCat · 26/08/2021 21:25

My DD says - plenty of swings as there are never enough and either you have to wait, or there are other children waiting when it's your turn.

BlackeyedSusan · 26/08/2021 21:26

more than one bucket swing, there is always a queue.

enough equipment that kids can play without having to wait ages for a go on something.

wheelchair accessible roundabout and "climbing frames" something like a board walk with tunnels and ramps really. I have seen one piece of equipment for wheelchair users in one parkk, then anotherr in a park 3 miles away. It would be good to have minimum of three specific things. Victoria embankment in Nottingham Meadows was quite good for the casual observer...

MulanIsChinese · 26/08/2021 21:28

On one level so you can see them play (ideally from a bench!) Mine are a little older now but I still like to be able to see them play

BlackeyedSusan · 26/08/2021 21:28

West Bridgford park in Nottingham used to be really good, then they updated it and it was then a bit shit.