Turning Your Plans into a Reality
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.
Outdoor spaces do not have to be boring and only in place to ensure fall heights are met, they need to be not only suitable for everyone who will be using them but creative and fun!
PlaySmart UK is here to provide all the options you need to make a design into 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
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 the correct level of fall protection where required. By providing us with the equipment specifications, we can advise what would be required and where, enabling us to provide a cost-effective solution by avoiding 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 Designs
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 elements of any surface design is it’s ability to draw visitors in. This is especially crucial in a multi-use development where activities can range from play to sports all the way to relaxation.
By using colour and graphics, designers can create aesthetics and features that appeal to different user bases. An example of this is utilising line markings to designate space for certain sports. Another way that colour and graphics can be used within a design are to tie the play equipment in, creating themed spaces. Fun designs inherently appeal most to young children, so can be used to create a toddler zone and older children area.
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.
If you already have some idea of what you are looking for and would require further assistance, please contact us for your Free Quick Quote on our surfacing products today. Having worked in the surface industry for over 21 years, we can recommend which solution your project needs!
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