10 Ways To Save THOUSANDS On A New Playground Installation

Removing existing equipment. Choosing new pieces and designing the layout. Laying down modern safety surfacing. Burying timbers several feet into the ground. Raising timbers several feet into the air. Ensuring the equipment is safe.

Followed by years of maintenance.

There’s no denying that a new play area installation is an expensive project, often costing thousands, if not tens of thousands, of pounds. Trying to save money on such a venture can seem like a thankless task, but for local authorities dedicated to reducing overheads, there are a number of design and funding considerations that can dramatically shrink the expenditure on a new playground installation.

10
Save 50% By Not Laying Down On The Job

Oftentimes, the most expensive element of a new playground installation is the surfacing. On average, laying down a new wetpour area for outdoor play equipment accounts for approximately half the overall cost of the set-up.

This is down to the necessary groundwork spec, shock pad depth requirements, high cost of materials, and the specialist, time-sensitive labour involved.

While there are both practical and aesthetic benefits to erecting a playground on new, specifically laid out surfacing, it is sometimes possible to construct a play area on grass covered land – as long as it provides the necessary safety standards.

As a company with over 30 years’ experience in playground installations, our Creative Play outdoor play experts are in the unique position of being able to provide expert assessments of areas’ suitability for direct grass fittings.

In many cases, this can lead to a 50% saving on the cost of a new play area, and even reduce costs of future modifications by eliminating the need for expensive surface removal – every time a post needs to be removed the surrounding wetpour needs re-laying too (usually in a contrasting splash of colour).

But even when new surfacing does prove an absolute necessity, there are still ways of saving. Available surfacing options, for a broad range of budgets, include:

Rubber Mulch | Grass Mats | Artificial Grass | Wetpour

Extremely limited budgets are often served best by grass mats.

Rubber mulch is a higher-price item but recyclable (made of used forklift tyres).

Wetpour is regarded as one of the best materials for safety surfacing but comes with a price tag to match. However, there are still ways of making it more attenable…

All Black
These tend to hike up the price of wetpour, so those looking to get it for less can do so by opting for black, which is considerably more affordable than red, blue or yellow.

Black Flecks
It is still possible to have a colourful surface for less – by adding black flecks to the mix. Although up close the grains of black fleck are visible, from a distance the surface colour will be indistinguishable from the chosen dye.

Touching Colours
Multiple colours of wetpour make an impressive platform for presenting a play area. Having more than one however, significantly increases the cost of surfacing – each colour that meets another must be poured on separate days, turning a one-day job into several, and upping the cost of specialist labour as it does so.

9
Access HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS In Financial Help

Sometimes there’s only so much cash a bake sale raffle can generate. While community-led fundraisers are a fantastic way of raising money, an additional source of funding is often required to meet the target. Although local authority councils are generally quite savvy when it comes to their funding options (particularly regarding section 106), it is worth reminding members that they are not limited to a single source, as many playgrounds are installed after multiple avenues of funding have been combined.

When considering alternative possibilities for funding it is worth researching all major operations in the area, such as windfarms and trainlines. Due to their potential impact upon local communities, they are often obligated to provide some form of financial reimbursement to resident projects.

The API (Association Of Play Industries) website hosts a long list of organisations offering funding, however some of the most recent successful financing solutions include:

The National Lottery Community Fund which can grant up to £20,000

Sport England which grants up to £15,000 (Sport Scotland £10,000, Sport Wales £50,000)

FCC Community Fund grants up to £100,000

ASDA Foundation grants up to £20,000

Veolia Community Grant which can provide up to £75,000

Enovert Community Trust grants up to £50,000

Viridor Credits can help out with as much as £15,000

BIFFA Award grant up to £75,000

HS2 Community And Environment Fund has been known to contribute up to £250,000, but is looking increasingly less like a viable option.

For further information on financing check out our comprehensive Playground Funding Pack guide.

8
Anyone Else Want To Play? Lower Costs By Partnering Up

Although not too common, it is sometimes possible to find nearby organisations that can also benefit from a new play area and are willing to contribute to the costs. It might take some working out, but joining forces with a local school to share the expenses can radically reduce funding requirements.

Creative Play are happy to incorporate the requirements of both parties into the design. For instance, a development for Rushton Parish Council had to accommodate the needs of the nearby Eaton Primary School, so along with the Towers, Spinners and Swings of the ‘Play Zone’ a multi-use games area was designed to enable sporting activities for pupils.

The school utilise the playground during the day, while the local community take advantage of it in the evenings and at weekends.

7
Get A FREE Consultation That Can Be Worth Up To £400

Once a likely source of funding has been identified a quote for work is required on the application. To avoid losing momentum on a project it is important to get it done as swiftly as possible. Not only can some playground suppliers delay the application with a 2-week delivery time for quotes, but they can also charge a service fee that can cost up to £400.

Creative Play however, offer quotes FREE of charge, over the phone, and usually in only 3 days or less.

Consultation typically involves:

• Discussion of the type of play experiences required
• Selecting age-appropriate equipment
• Specialist advice on safety and accessibility
• Assessing the area for suitability of layout and materials
• Calculating how to maximise the value of the budget

Creative Play are happy to continue with help and advice throughout the funding journey, so that once financing is in place we can move quickly onto the next phase of the process – beginning with a 3D computer model of the proposed play area crafted by our professional design team.

6
Save THOUSANDS By Burying Your Ex

Many authorities purchasing a new playground installation are often surprised at the additional costs involved with the removal of old equipment. When the existing play equipment is laid out on grass, then the cost of taking it away is normally a couple of rubbish skips and labour time. Even so, the simplest of disposal jobs such as this can still cost in excess of £1000.

Local councils looking to save money might consider seeking the help of volunteers, and a friendly farmer with a tractor, to get rid of antiquated play equipment themselves.

While equipment removal can be straightforward (although not necessarily easy), the disposal of old surfacing is much more complicated:

• Rubber flooring needs to be recycled, and the necessary protocols for doing so must be observed
• Many materials require being carefully disposed of in landfill, which is an expensive procedure

Due to recycling and landfill expenses, when a professional playground provider is hired to remove old surfacing, it is not uncommon to cost thousands of pounds. If a local authority can utilise alternative, existing resources to take care of the matter, then the savings can amount to half the cost of the entire set-up.

5
Use Protection To Prevent Spending More In Future

In an age concerned with green issues timber has proven the ideal choice for the modern playground. Not only a sustainable material, timber also has a great aesthetic, helping children feel more relaxed in a ‘natural’ environment.

Steel may have a reputation for being robust, but the truth is that it looks and feels harsh – cold to the touch – and despite its longevity, often ends up giving off a ‘used’ industrial look over time.

Of course, there are benefits to both materials, and with our steel post shoes, Creative Play can now offer the best of both worlds, incorporating steel where it matters most.

The addition of these steel ‘shoes’ to the bottom of wooden posts can save thousands of pounds over the lifetime of a playground by:

• Making the replacement of timber posts easier – they won’t need to be dug out, simply unbolt the shoes!
• Preventing strimmer damage to posts during grass cutting
• Preventing water ingress

The durable reliability of steel post shoes combined with the sustainability of wooden posts really are a step into the future!

4
Square-Off For Long-Term Savings

The popularity of round timber can’t be denied. Smooth to the touch, there is an inviting aesthetic to cylindrical wood that appeals to young and old alike – perhaps it is because their shape lends so much to imaginative play? Or a deeply-embedded cultural link to the awe of pillars from the classical style of antiquity?

Or because they’re generally kinda-sorta the same shape as sausages and wotsits?

Whatever the reason, the production process of round timber means it comes with a higher price tag than its’ square counterpart.

But Shhh… we’re about to let you in on a little secret….

Not only is square timber cheaper, it’s also better value for money. More resistant to splitting than round timber, square-shaped wood delivers durability and longevity that makes for an outstanding long-term support, and significantly reduces a need for the confident, 20-year guarantee which accompanies all our timber uprights.

3
Save A Fortune By Making A Long-Term Investment

Back in the day we used to have a useful saying – ‘Buy cheap, buy twice’. However, in the age of mass-produced designed obsolescence we are forced to ‘buy twice’ whether we want to or not, as high-quality alternatives are rarely available. Fortunately, that isn’t the case when it comes to timber play equipment – top-quality materials are still readily available, so those looking to make a long-term investment are able to make smarter financial decisions.

When looking to make a long-term investment in a play area consideration should be given to the following:

• What materials are used in the designs of the equipment? Are they inviting, yet robust?
• Are there any anti-vandal fixings incorporated into the designs?
• Is the overall design inclusive, ensuring continued relevance of the area to as many people as possible?
• Has at least one ‘Wow!’ item been added to keep children visually interested in the playground?
• How popular is the chosen equipment?

The final point is a great opportunity for public consultation. Ask what type of outdoor equipment (swings, slides, spinners or towers) are actually wanted. Even more money can be saved by discovering if there are any existing pieces people want to keep – Creative Play can perform an inspection to assess if it is still fit for use, and even take steps to repairing or updating it.

2
Avoid Massive Spending On The Next Playground With Future-Proofing

The digging and re-installation costs of fitting a new playground, or even expanding an existing one, are huge. Up to 50% of the costs of any future playground set-up can be avoided with some careful planning and consideration. With a phased approach to the play area, expanding it once more funding is available can be simple.

Trim Trails
Versatile pieces of outdoor play equipment linked together, trim trails can be as large or compact as required, can link individual zones together to help with the flow of play, and be added upon with ease.

Jigsaw Range
Creative Play’s innovative modular Jigsaw designs allow outdoor play equipment to be added upon and enlarged with over 100 other sections whenever convenient, granting developers an opportunity to make incremental steps into creating the ultimate outdoor play area.

Beyond saving on the labour costs, it is also adaptive to any new requirements. As a result, if over time a playground is found to be needing more inclusivity, or accommodate younger children than initially expected, sections can easily be added to cater to the issues – at a fraction of the cost.

1
Reduce Further Expenses By Applying Some TLC

Long-term, the best way of avoiding large expenses with play areas is with regular maintenance. Accompanied by a ‘find and fix’ approach, annual check-ups are effective in keeping the playground constantly at tip-top condition, no matter how many years roll on by.

For less than the price of a daily cup of coffee (much less than half the price, actually), Creative Play will provide an annual inspection and service by an RPII (Register Play Of Inspectors International) accredited inspector delivering a full report, renewal of worn moving parts, and quotation for any possible chargeable works.

Benefits include:

• Swift and effective aftercare process – just give us a call, we have a dedicated in-house team and typically respond to requests within 24 hours
• Quick turnaround on repairs – with our 4 operational inspectors working across the entire UK mainland a decline in the quality of play areas can be easily avoided
• As manufacturers, we hold all spare parts, so there are never any delays in waiting for suppliers – also, as we have records of all of our designs on file, there are never any discontinued parts
• RPII accredited inspectors – ensuring a playground is up to BSEN1176 standards
• Templates and user guides – know how to look out for any issues before they are a problem

More than ever, councils are feeling the pressures of limited funding constraints, but Creative Play outdoor play experts pride themselves on their specialist knowledge and ability to guide partners to the best set-up for their budget and needs.

We can help you work out ways to deliver new, high-quality outdoor play equipment to your community on any budget.

Every child deserves the opportunity to play, so let’s make it happen!

Need Help Navigating It All?

We understand that the range of physical activities and equipment can be overwhelming.

If you’re unsure where to start or need advice on the best options for your community, our Play Advisors are here to help.

Get in touch today for expert guidance tailored to your specific needs and goals by calling 01244 375 627 or via the Contact Form

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