TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Playground

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

so the 35K is just for the planning phase, correct? Because I don't think that is enough for an actual playground.

FNW · Guru

After #1 broke his arm falling from the monkey bars, all the doctors, hospital staff, and ortho surgeons said that falling from monkey bars was the most common cause of broken bones among children. So I have to wonder...do you see many lawsuits? Not that I think there is a cause of action there, because I feel there is assumption of the risk, but I still wonder.

Personally, I think they have made playgrounds so safe that they are outgrown by the time kids are 5. (And yet, they still get hurt-which is inevitable).

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
so the 35K is just for the planning phase, correct? Because I don't think that is enough for an actual playground.

It's not like a park. I'm talking a small structure with a couple of slides, a commercial swingset and some benches and tables with the rubber mulch and a fence.

I priced the equipment and furniture, and so far, without the installation, I'm at about $16K. I figure $7K for fence and security gate/camera add-on, and that leaves me $12K for mulch and installation.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
After #1 broke his arm falling from the monkey bars, all the doctors, hospital staff, and ortho surgeons said that falling from monkey bars was the most common cause of broken bones among children. So I have to wonder...do you see many lawsuits? Not that I think there is a cause of action there, because I feel there is assumption of the risk, but I still wonder.

Personally, I think they have made playgrounds so safe that they are outgrown by the time kids are 5. (And yet, they still get hurt-which is inevitable).

It's an HOA, so yes, the homeowner's have assumption of risk, guests would be the only real liability. I'm not doing monkey bars, though.

This is the playground I like - it's about $9K before installation.

Image result for two-top khamun playground

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

The freestanding track ride I've picked out might give the insurance company pause, though.

I'm meeting with a playground safety specialist to discuss the issues, though.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

This one is nice, too, but it does have the monkey bars...

Image result for two-top khamun playground

FNW · Guru

It's cute!

I do miss the metal slides where you went down much faster. They did burn your buns though.

Tangerine · Guru

That's fun, LL!
Husband used to work for a company designing municipal playgrounds. He loved it.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Which one do you guys like better?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

The first one has another slide on the backside and a climbing wall. The second one has the spiral slide and monkey bars.

The second one is about $1000 more, but then I wouldn't necessarily get the separate track bar.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Ahhh, I remember, I picked the first one because it's rated 2-12 instead of just 5-12. And I think it provides more under space - shade is important where I'm putting this.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Lawyerlady wrote:
I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
so the 35K is just for the planning phase, correct? Because I don't think that is enough for an actual playground.
It's not like a park. I'm talking a small structure with a couple of slides, a commercial swingset and some benches and tables with the rubber mulch and a fence.

I priced the equipment and furniture, and so far, without the installation, I'm at about $16K. I figure $7K for fence and security gate/camera add-on, and that leaves me $12K for mulch and installation.

Oh! I was going to ask if security cameras would be part of it. Good idea!

Tangerine · Guru

That's a tough choice between a climbing wall and a curly slide. Bunny loves both of those. Hmm.
I think the first one looks like more fun.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

I like #1 best. What type of swingset are you looking at. I like swings.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

This is going to be bigger than the guys on the board expected - but I'm a good shopper!

FNW · Guru

I think it depends on the ages you are targeting. The first one is better for smaller children because it does not have the monkey bars. The second one does have monkey bars, but based on my own experience, those few bars may not be enough to keep older kids interested for very long. Unless they climb on top and play up there. And by "older", I'm talking 6 or 7.

I have noticed that the major draw are slides. The higher and longer, the better. The second one, with its curly-q, was quite popular with my boys and their classmates. Another fun one for the kids were the ones with side-by-side slides so they could race each other.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Lawyerlady wrote:
This is going to be bigger than the guys on the board expected - but I'm a good shopper!

Oh! Use your personal CC and get lots of points. actually, use your Disney card.

FNW · Guru

And don't forget swings. Kids line up for those things.

Vette · Owl drink to that!

Swings!

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

FNW wrote:
And don't forget swings. Kids line up for those things.

Sometimes, adult do too. biggrin

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
I think it depends on the ages you are targeting. The first one is better for smaller children because it does not have the monkey bars. The second one does have monkey bars, but based on my own experience, those few bars may not be enough to keep older kids interested for very long. Unless they climb on top and play up there. And by "older", I'm talking 6 or 7.

I have noticed that the major draw are slides. The higher and longer, the better. The second one, with its curly-q, was quite popular with my boys and their classmates. Another fun one for the kids were the ones with side-by-side slides so they could race each other.

I have considered all of that and keep waffling between systems. My first thought is -

That first playset, a separate track ride (instead of monkey bars, kind of like a placed zip line, you jump up, grab it, and it goes across to the other side.

Freestanding Track Ride

And then a double swingset bar with two swings for big kid swings and two toddler swings. Then on the other side, an adult bench swing.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

My biggest limiting factor has been those canopies. I have found other play structures I like, but where this is going, the option for shade is a MUST.

FNW · Guru

Those track rides look fun, but when I took the kids to a park that had one, all the kids (not just mine) struggled with it. It seems it needs to be installed on an angle for it to work. Otherwise, they just dangle and yell for mommy to drag them along it. Even if we push them, there's no where to go without gravity pulling them along.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

That's good to know.

FNW · Guru

The more canopies the better if in direct sun. Even though they are plastic, they still get hot.

NAOW · Vette's SS

How fun! That is an exciting project! I think I like #1 better. I agree, that shade is a must. And I like the idea for swings that you mentioned. But I am with FWM about the track slides. Kids get excited about them, so it's still a good idea, but I know I always have to stand there and lift kids to reach and then push/run them to the other side.

NAOW · Vette's SS

Image result for playground track glider This is probably too big, but this is a glider that I saw kids being able to use by themselves, and it's long enough to sit or stand on. And since it's elevated at the ends it pulls them along- at least til the middle.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I have a feeling that would be out of our price range.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Have you seen this?

www.playandpark.com

It might be helpful.

chef · Guru

One of the parks near us has the track thing that NAOW posted. DS loves it.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

So, I think I've picked the playground, but I have to see if they can change a few things.

This is the one -

Image result for PS3-31464

I want to change the small wave slide to either a chute slide or a curve slide.

And I want to add a bubble wall - I may remove the 3rd slide to do it.

This playground shows a bubble climber wall -

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I like it.

I have a question, will this play structure be used by physically challenged kids as well?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
I like it.

I have a question, will this play structure be used by physically challenged kids as well?

It has the ADA transfer stairs, and I chose one without tunnels, but honestly - not that I know of.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

DD wants me to change the tri-rings to loop rings.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
I like it.

I have a question, will this play structure be used by physically challenged kids as well?

It has the ADA transfer stairs, and I chose one without tunnels, but honestly - not that I know of.

I think the structure itself will be fine if there are, the only suggestion I would make is to extend the on ramp, for lack of a better word, closer to the ground.

We have a ball park and playground geared solely toward disabled kids. It's awesome. Of course anyone is welcome to use it.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lawyerlady wrote:
DD wants me to change the tri-rings to loop rings.

Is there a reason to?

Unless it makes a difference in kid land?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
I like it.

I have a question, will this play structure be used by physically challenged kids as well?

It has the ADA transfer stairs, and I chose one without tunnels, but honestly - not that I know of.
I think the structure itself will be fine if there are, the only suggestion I would make is to extend the on ramp, for lack of a better word, closer to the ground.
We have a ball park and playground geared solely toward disabled kids. It's awesome. Of course anyone is welcome to use it.

I'm only aware of one disabled child in the neighborhood, and he is older than the playground is geared for.

But, this view doesn't show the 10 inches of mulch I'll have blown in.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
DD wants me to change the tri-rings to loop rings.
Is there a reason to?
Unless it makes a difference in kid land?

She seems to think it does.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Well. Kid land is beyond adult understanding.

If the round hoops don't really alter the price, what's the harm?

NAOW · Vette's SS

Looks good! I was wondering how this project was coming along. I like the idea of a climbing wall. I would think tri rings would be easier to use, but kids probably know better, lol.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

NAOW wrote:
Looks good! I was wondering how this project was coming along. I like the idea of a climbing wall. I would think tri rings would be easier to use, but kids probably know better, lol.

I think that's the point. She thinks the older kids would want something more challenging.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I guarantee you, that all the work you did and planning and budgeting, that there will be someone who is going to come and COMPLAIN about it, lol. Just expect it.

Cheerios4606 · Guru

Why spend the money on a playset and not a water splash pad?

(j/k!)

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

LL, that playground looks fantastic! smile

Now, a word about the mulch.

If it's in your budget...go with the rubber mulch, rather than wood.

Bugs don't like it.

Snakes don't like it.

Cats won't pee in it.

It won't blow away, in high winds.

It will hold it's color for 12 years.

Yes, it's more expensive, than wood mulch.

But it is so much better.

JMHO. I got rid of all my wood mulch, years ago.

I'm so happy I did. smile

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FWM, I had the same exact thought, but the playground specialist actually recommended against it. Said it gives many of the same issues, still washes away and when you have to replenish it every year, it costs 3 times as much.

And my friend's church did the rubber mulch and they hate the smell when it gets hot.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

Lawyerlady wrote:
FWM, I had the same exact thought, but the playground specialist actually recommended against it. Said it gives many of the same issues, still washes away and when you have to replenish it every year, it costs 3 times as much.

And my friend's church did the rubber mulch and they hate the smell when it gets hot.

I never thought about the smell. (Mine is mostly in the shade, so it doesn't get hot.)

I'd go with what the playground specialist recommends. smile

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

Have you thought about adding a water feature? My friend's complex has one and it is motion activated, so if there are no kids there is no water, but when a kid is there the water is unpredictable, which the kids love.

Cheerios4606 · Guru

That is what a lot of parks here in denver have. Motion or pressure sensing water activation. The downside is the cost.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Tignanello wrote:
Have you thought about adding a water feature? My friend's complex has one and it is motion activated, so if there are no kids there is no water, but when a kid is there the water is unpredictable, which the kids love.

Nah. We have a pool. That's enough water.