As we previously mentioned in another blog, community parks promote community health, clean the air, reduce crime, and many other benefits. The more community parks and playgrounds there are near your residence, the more benefits there are for the community and individuals. If you’re in charge of a community park, you can look at the actual needs of your residents to create a safe and vibrant shared space. To help you better realize this vision, we’re going to walk you through the next few steps in planning and designing a community park.
The first step in building a community park is to start with the actual needs of the residents. Different communities have different structures and cultures, some are dominated by young families, others have a large elderly population. Residents’ opinions can be collected through questionnaires and community forums. For example, children want slides, swings and trampolines, young people like basketball or skateboarding areas, and seniors want resting gazebos and nature trails. These suggestions will help you determine what design features must be included to make the park more relevant to the daily lives of its users.
Site selection is the most basic and critical step in the construction of a community park. A well chosen location will allow the park to integrate naturally into the lives of the residents and really make a difference. An ideal park site should have several elements: first, it must be close to residential areas, where residents can walk for about 5-10 minutes, and appropriately close to schools, kindergartens, retirement centers and other crowded places. Secondly, the surrounding area must be quiet and far away from main transportation routes, high-voltage power lines and sources of pollution. Further, the terrain should be flat, favorable for drainage and swimming. If the surrounding area is already surrounded by greenery, water systems and other resources, it is more likely to create a sense of ecology. Lastly, the park structure should be open to avoid too many dead ends, making it easy for daily patrols and security maintenance. Building your neighborhood playground yet? Contact our experts to learn more!
Community building is not a solitary endeavor, and there is no better way to understand the needs of a community than its residents. In park construction, collective wisdom can provide more practical ideas and increase residents’ sense of belonging and identity with the park, as well as save the cost of iterative changes in design. If you are planning a park without involving the community, you are sure to meet with opposition. However, it is important to note that you should not involve community members too much in the detailed design work, but only need to know the functions and general ideas they expect.
A park is not simply a place for a few facilities, but a systematic spatial layout project. The division of functional areas need to give full consideration to the crowd flow, safety lines and activities of the coordination and unity of the zoning. Kids play area, parent-child interaction area, fitness area, leisure area, landscape green belt, etc., should be scientifically configured according to the shape of the site, the surrounding environment and the target population, to form a combination of static and dynamic, layered layout system. In the overall design, the integration of barrier-free facilities is the most crucial, such as barrier-free access, barrier-free restrooms, low handrails, guide paths for the blind and tactile signs, etc., which is a care for special groups and comprehensively improves the inclusiveness and ease of use of the park.
One of the essential elements of a successful community park is multi-functionality. It must be able to accommodate the activities of residents of different ages, interests, and socialization styles. Would you layout a field for barbecues or design an open lawn for children to chase and play? Will you set up a fitness equipment area to accommodate residents who exercise in the morning and evening? Or would you build a pet-friendly area for fur kids to let off steam? Ideally, let it all coexist in a harmonious layout. Most community parks plan for playground equipment, and a well-designed, creative playground can go a long way toward boosting a park’s popularity and resident participation. You may consider equipping your park and playground with the following play equipment:
Site Amenities, Benches and Picnic Tables
Shade Structures
Children’s play area is one of the most popular places in the park. Setting up appropriate playgrounds by age can enhance children’s play experience and effectively reduce safety hazards. For example, low slides, rocking horses, sand pits, and other easy-to-operate, low-risk equipment for preschoolers ages 2-5. For children aged 6-12 years old, more challenging facilities such as climbing frames, suspension bridges and combination slides can be set up. Inclusive play equipment is appropriate for children ages 2 through 12. Some park play equipment includes:
Crawls
In addition to playground equipment, the configuration of playground surfacing materials is equally critical. Choosing the right playground surface will help protect children from injuries and make the playground look clean and attractive. Common playground surface materials include:
Artificial Turf: Ideal for playground areas where you want to create a natural look that is soft, comfortable and visually friendly.
Sand and wood chip surfacing: economical and natural, commonly used in nature-themed park designs, but requires attention to maintenance and hygiene issues.
EPDM rubber mats: soft and elastic, with excellent anti-slip and anti-drop performance, rich in color, can be spelled out in interesting patterns.
Poured-in-place rubber: a highly customized safety flooring system with no surface seams, wear-resistant, non-slip, and suitable for large play areas.
Lighting systems are one of the most important components of park design, ensuring safety for night-time use and also enhancing the overall ambience of the park. Proper lighting can extend the use of a park, especially in the evening or nighttime when residents can still walk, run or socialize in the park, increasing community interaction. There are many lighting options to choose from for park design that not only meet functional needs, but also consider aesthetics and environmental harmony:
Pathway Lighting: Ensure that park trails are clearly illuminated even at night to avoid safety hazards due to insufficient light. Low brightness lamps can be selected to provide a comfortable walking environment, and through the arrangement of lamps to increase the landscape effect.
Area lighting: Different functional areas have different lighting needs. For example, children’s play area needs to use soft lights to create a warm atmosphere; sports area and rest area need brighter lights to ensure the safety of activities.
Decorative Lighting: In landscape areas, use decorative lamps or ground projectors to enhance the visual appeal of the park and improve the overall aesthetics. Lighting combined with the park’s vegetation, sculptures and other landscape elements can create a fantastic effect, attracting more residents to come and enjoy the good times at night.
In addition to the above aspects, the configuration of safety facilities is equally important. As a public space, parks need to provide sufficient safety to ensure that community residents are not harmed in all kinds of activities. Proper safety features can prevent accidents and also enhance residents’ sense of security, encouraging them to participate in outdoor activities. The following are some suggestions for safety facilities:
Surveillance and alarm systems: installed in all major areas of the park, such as entrances, parking lots, play equipment areas, etc.
Emergency Medical Facilities: Install first aid stations with basic first aid supplies such as band-aids, tourniquets, ice packs, etc. in the park.
Guardrails and fences: Install guardrails or fences in children’s play areas, water areas, or other hazardous areas to prevent residents from accidentally entering dangerous areas.
Warning signs and directional signage: alert residents to potential hazards and guide them to various areas of the park to avoid getting lost and confused.
A community park is a vibrant and welcoming public place that provides a place for community residents to relax and enjoy themselves, and is an important platform for promoting community health. Careful planning and design of parks meets the needs of different groups of residents. Innovative kids’ play areas stimulate children’s imagination and motor skills, while seniors can enjoy peaceful moments on serene walking trails. In order to achieve these goals, quality play equipment is vital. Choosing the right playground equipment can greatly enhance a park’s appeal and resident engagement. As the industry’s leading play equipment manufacturer, NanPlay is here to help you create a more engaging and energized community space!
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