How to Use Surface Design in Multi-Use Developments
Outdoor spaces, particularly in public multi-use development works, need to be available to and suitable for everyone who will be using it. This includes anyone, from families to school groups, from commuters to sports-people.
In order to cater to the expected variety of users of the site, your choice in surface design needs to be appropriate to an equally wide variety of needs. PlaySmart is here to provide the surfaces you need to make this design a reality!
The surface design of your multi-use development should provide:
- Adequate safety and fall protection underneath play equipment
- Wheelchair-accessible flooring with superior grip and stability
- Ergonomic surfacing for any sports courts, outdoor gyms, and running tracks
- Stable, flat surfacing for open gathering places
Improved Accessibility and Safety Where You Need It
In larger areas with multiple uses, only certain areas need the maximum safety protection. All areas of the playground should have some level of fall protection and slip-proofing. However, applying the best safety surfacing across the whole playground is not cost-effective and doesn’t improve overall safety. Avoid wasting money on areas that don’t need extra safety assurances with smart surfacing choices.
Our EcoSmart grass mats are great to add extra protection where needed. These mats blend into natural grass as it grows for an uninterrupted aesthetic. Alternatively, designers can leave them uncovered for a modern look that makes the protection obvious for parents concerned with safety. Installed securely with PlaySmart’s patented installation technique, these will not lift or move over time, ensuring more effective safety protection in the long-term.
Cost-Effective Surface Design
Depending on the size and purpose of the outdoor development, a single surface cover, or a variety of specialised surface materials may be used. Cost is an important factor in any sort of surface design for outdoor developments. By identifying which areas will be most heavily used and selecting high-wear specialist surfaces to place in these key area, you can a save your budget for where it really counts.
For pathways used by commuters, joggers, and cyclists, we recommend a hardwearing rubber bound aggregate or mulch. Creating designated pathways saves money and materials by avoiding surfacing for larger swathes of the site and helps organise your site by restricting flow to specific routes through the park.
In playgrounds with active play equipment, we recommend EPDM wear pads. These rubber patches not only increase the safety of key fall and impact areas but also brighten up the site with fun designs that cover any wear or cracking in the existing surface. During planning, a playground designer should identify high-impact points that require extra reinforcement from wear pads. This saves money by limiting the use of the higher tensile strength EPDM to where it is needed most.
Unique Aesthetics and Colour Stories
Landscape Architects and Playground Designers need to account for a range of variables when designing a multi-use outdoor development. But with the wider concerns for safety and utility, aesthetics need not be left to the wayside!
One of the most important roles of surface design is its ability to subtly direct the movement of visitors and keep certain activities to specific areas. This is especially crucial in a multi-use development where activities ranging from relaxation, to play, to sports can occur.
By using colour, surface designers can create different aesthetics and features that appeal to different user bases. The most obvious example of this is sports courts that utilise line markings and ergonomic sports surfacing. This designates the space for a certain sport or a more generalised activity in a Multi-Use Games Area or MUGA.
However, colour and shapes can also be used in more subtle ways to improve safety for children. Bright colours and fun designs inherently appeal most to young children, so can be used to create a zone for nursery-aged children that they are less likely to stray from. Also, by adding outdoor furniture like benches and shaded seating around these spaces, parents know that in this play space, they can keep an eye on their children easily.
Use Smart Surface Design in your Next Multi-Use Outdoor Development
Contact PlaySmart today to book your consultation with our amazing team of experts.
Having worked for 21 years in the surface design industry, we know which solution your project needs! If you already have some idea of what you are looking for, you can also get your Free Quick Quote on our surfacing products today.
