Creating standout playgrounds to attract visitors

Some playgrounds appear to be more visited and interesting than others. To explore this, KOMPAN Play institute set out to research what makes a playground more visited and interesting from a user perspective at Frimley Lodge Park, a refurbished playground in the UK. The case study included interviews with 262 adults and 95 children.

The study showed that more than half of the playground’s regular visitors had increased their visits to the park after the refurbishment.

Click the link below to learn more about the research and read KOMPAN Play Institute’s five recommendations for designing attractive playgrounds that, on average, keep children playing for more than 60 minutes.

White paper

Unique Play Designs - Increase play duration

DESIGN ##ATTRACTIVE## PLAYGROUNDS

5 recommendations for designing attractive public playgrounds

  1. Choose unique playground equipment, something that stands out from what other playgrounds nearby have.

  2. Choose a wide variety of playground equipment for all ages and abilities, appealing to parents who influence their children’s playground visits.

  3. Remember playground equipment for the youngest children as most of the users were below 5 years.

  4. Make sure the playground has WOW factor. People will drive a long distance to visit an innovative playground.

  5. Have transparency in design to ensure easy parental supervision.

Play webinars and white papers

Mastery through make-believe play

Tweens love playgrounds

Play for all - Universal designs for inclusive playgrounds

Designing unique playgrounds that match your story and your scene

Play value increases with sensory play

6 tips to dramatic play outdoors

Energy expenditure on a KOMPAN school-age playground

a children's play area with children playing on the playground.

A Design Checklist for Success with Inclusive Playgrounds

Equality in play - Survey on playground use in children with disabilities

Sensory Play: Science behind child wellbeing in playgrounds

Children playing on a large playground tower made from more sustainable materials in Olins Park

Play for the planet: redefining outdoor design to minimise carbon footprints

Tweens love playgrounds: 5 new science-based tips for school playground design

Nature Play: 8 Tips on encouraging outdoor play with nature playgrounds

Inclusive Public Playgrounds: 10 new, science-based practices for play spaces

The risk-benefit equation of challenging playgrounds

Play value - The influence of playground equipment

truly inclusive section

Truly inclusive - the reward of thrill in universal play designs

Innovative products - The key to more play

The more thrilling playground

Sensory play: The why, how and what of sensory stimulating playgrounds

Nature play and natural playgrounds

A couple of girls climbing on KOMPAN play equipment.

Climbing activates tween girls - How to increase tween girls' physical activity

Physical activity among preschool children

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