Before you spend a dollar, you should be able to see what you are buying sitting in your actual space. We draw that for you at no charge, whether you buy from us or not. Send dimensions and photos and we come back with a layout, the equipment that fits it and a real number.
What we send back
Overhead layout
Your space to scale with the equipment placed in it, use zones marked, and the surfacing area outlined. This is the drawing you take to a board meeting or a committee.
Color rendering
A three dimensional view in your color choices, so people who do not read plans can see what they are approving. This is what wins votes.
Itemized equipment list
Every component named and priced, plus surfacing quantity, borders, shade if you want it, freight and install. Nothing hidden in a lump sum.
Surfacing and fall height math
How much mulch or how many square feet of poured surface, at what depth, for the highest deck in the drawing. Worked out, not estimated.
Options at two or three budgets
Tell us the ceiling and we will show you what it buys, plus what a phase two looks like if you want to grow into the space later.
Specs and compliance notes
Age range the design serves, ADA accessible routes and components, and the manufacturer documentation your insurer or district will ask for.
What we need from you
The more of this you have, the tighter the first draft is. But do not wait until you have all of it. A rough measurement and a phone photo is a real starting point and we would rather begin than have you stall.
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Length and width of the area | Decides what fits and how much room is left for the use zone around it |
| Photos from two or three angles | Shows us slope, drainage, trees, fences and what is already there |
| Ages of the kids using it | 2 to 5 and 5 to 12 are different equipment, different deck heights and different zones |
| Roughly how many at once | Play capacity drives how many activities the structure needs |
| Your budget range | Keeps us from drawing something you cannot fund. A range is fine |
| Existing surfacing, if any | Whether we are topping up, replacing or starting from dirt |
| Any deadline | Grant dates, the start of a school year, a dedication. Lead times work backward from it |
Things we will tell you that a catalog will not
The use zone is bigger than the equipment
Six feet of clear surfaced space is required around most equipment, and more in front of a slide exit or under a swing. A structure that measures 20 by 30 needs closer to 32 by 42 of prepared area.
Surfacing is a real line item
On a lot of projects the surface under the equipment costs a meaningful share of the total. Anyone who quotes you equipment alone has not quoted you a playground.
Two age groups usually means two areas
Mixing a toddler climber into a school age structure creates a fall height problem. It is normally cheaper and safer to draw two smaller zones than one that tries to serve everybody.
Phasing is normal
Plenty of schools and churches build in stages. We will draw the whole vision, then mark what phase one is, so the concrete and the surfacing get sized right the first time.
How the process runs
- You send what you haveDimensions, photos, ages and a budget range through the quote form or by phone.
- We ask a few questionsUsually about slope, access for a truck, and whether there is existing surfacing to work with.
- First draftLayout, rendering and itemized pricing come back to you. Free, and yours to keep.
- RevisionsMove things, swap components, change colors, cut or add to hit a number. As many rounds as it takes.
- Approval packageWhen it is right we put together what a board, a committee or an insurer needs to sign off.
- Order and schedulePurchase orders welcome. We confirm lead time and set the install date before anything ships.
Send us your space
Dimensions, a couple of photos and the ages of the kids is all we need to start. The drawing costs you nothing.
Start a free layoutCall (256) 734-5117Run the numbers yourself