School Playground Design Ideas

A nature-based playground at your school is perfect for encouraging discovery and contact with natural materials, something that's especially needed for a school in a concrete-heavy, urban environment. A combination of wooden multi-play structures with climbing trails lets students train their speed and balance skills in a social environment. It's these group experiences that foster cooperation and lead to friendships.

A school-age tower will engage children in age-appropriate developmental play activities during the school day. These play systems cater to several cognitive, social-emotional, creative, and physical benefits. A thrilling play activity, like the Cliff Rider, is a hugely attractive option for school-age children from 6+.

Playground rope climbers create an all-encompassing play and physical experience for your school playground. Popular picks like the Monkey climbing trails or dynamic climbing equipment provide a competitive, safe, and engaging activity for students during recess. Climbing is a fun developmental activity for children to strengthen muscles, motor skills, and cognitive development.

These “cool-looking” climbing structures (GALAXY Play systems or climbing BLOQX) aren't the same play structures their "baby sibling" uses! With unique designs and irresistible climbing challenges, older kids will be crawling and balancing their way to stronger motor skills. These play systems also provide secluded hangout spots away for socializing, something else this age group will find desirable.

The perfect place to practice Canada's favorite pastimes! A Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) is a must for these schools' outdoor spaces! Ball games and free play will keep students active and entertained, all while helping them blow off steam during recess and create positive connections with their peers.

To motivate tweens to be physically active at school, design areas away from the main playground that will accommodate the performers, along with those who prefer to simply watch! Learn more about the research behind the best motivators for tweens and physical activity in our whitepaper, Tweens Love Playgrounds.

A school playground’s purpose is unfulfilled if all students can’t get to it. Consider wide pathways and ramps that allow users to get to and move throughout your playground. Access to restrooms and other facilities need to be reachable, too. Accessible safety surfacing around the school playground equipment lets children move through all parts of the schoolyard and socialize with their peers; an all-too important fun factor on the playground!

Children with sensory or physical disabilities will want to stay and continue playing at a playground they feel comfortable at. Everyone, children and caretakers included, have different socialization limits, so ample seating and tables away from the school playground, and under shading, will let students recharge. It also gives teachers and caretakers a comfortable look out spot, so place them with an open sight line for safe, easy supervision.

Make sure everyone can get around your school playground by designing extra space for users with assistive devices. Create reachable play for children with mobility disabilities by installing ramps and easy-access surfacing material. Elevated surfaces can be within reach with the proper planning, but some parts of a playground, like the top of a MOMENTS™ play tower or a COROCORD™ rope playground, won’t be attainable. That doesn’t mean kids with mobility or sensory conditions can’t share in the joy! A clear line of sight lends to connection by creating an opportunity to watch other children. Better yet, a variation of ground-level play activities on these taller structures further supports inclusion by getting everyone involved on the same piece of playground equipment.