Wherever children congregate to play — at a school, park, church, or community centre — you will almost certainly hear them squealing with delight as they use the playground equipment. Playgrounds are not only a fun way to keep children entertained; they are also extremely beneficial to their emotional and physical development.
Unlike a more structured game or play environment, playground equipment allows for unstructured play. Children benefit the most from free play because it allows them to explore and learn from those around them. It is an opportunity for them to bond with others while also developing their learning abilities.
Playground equipment also encourages children to be more physically active at an early age. Physical activity improves children’s self-esteem, reduces anxiety and stress, and aids in weight control. Playgrounds provide an ideal setting for children to be active.
The cost of playground equipment may appear to be prohibitively expensive at first, but by learning how to budget for it and which resources to tap, your community or organisation can find a way to fund this critical investment.
Here’s a breakdown of the price of commercial playground equipment and how to pay for it.
Know How Many Children Will Use the Playground
Customers are advised to consider the number of children who will be using the equipment at the same time. This number could be 50, 60, or more children at once in a large school.
For Inclusive playground equipment, you should budget around $1,000 per child. The average cost of school playground equipment ranges between $15,000 and $50,000. Set a budget closer to $150,000 if you want a larger play structure with inclusive (accessible) features or a custom design.
There’s More to the Budget Than Playground Equipment
Work with your local Dominican recreation product expert to determine the complete budget for your project. Here are some things to consider when planning your budget.
Equipment
Playground equipment is usually the biggest cost. Choose high -quality products from leading manufacturers such as gametime to ensure playgrounds will last for decades. The playground system that is made well will contribute 50-60% of your total budget.
Installation
Around 20-35% of your playground budget will be spent installing play equipment. Dominic recreation products use gametime certified installers to ensure equipment is installed correctly and in accordance with standards.
You can save money on this step by using one or two of our certified installers to help with volunteers or community development. Your school and community can take part in a satisfying project with the help of our experts to train and help your volunteers.
Prepare the site
Most of the playground budget will be spent preparing sites for installation. If you remove the old playground or require a lot of assessment that moves on earth or sites, this can be a high cost. You also need to budget things like drainage, surface of the playground, landscape, or fence.
Shipping costs
Depending on your site and its distance from our manufacturer, your shipping and shipping fees can reach 5-15% of your budget. Dominica recreation products can help you determine shipping costs to your project site so you can make it part of your budget planning.
Paying School Playground Equipment
Another question that we often hear is, “How can we find funds for our school playground project?” Here are some ideas:
School budget
Budget for schools and schools often expand. But often, the school district will have several funds that they can contribute to the new playground project. Even if schools or districts cannot fund the entire project, they can contribute or suitable contributions.
PTA/PTO
Encourage your parents and teachers to start fundraising efforts to collect money to purchase new school playground equipment. It might be difficult for PTA to raise the entire budget for one school year. Consider what you can lift in a year and discuss your new play area gradually, add free play equipment, or update the existing play area.
Grant
Many organizations provide grant funds for school playgrounds. Some estimates suggest more than $ 3 billion in funds available for playgrounds to help children remain active.