Design Matters. Play Matters More.

Posted on January 17, 2019 by PlayLSI

We design playstructures to complement their surroundings. But more than that, we design them to complement childhood. Every aesthetic choice is also a choice for fun, for growth, for learning, for exploration. All the things that make play part of shaping better adults. And that’s what really matters.

You’ll find everything you need to complete your play environment. From new products to featured designs, individual components and fitness equipment, we’ll ensure your play space is everything you imagine and more. Browse our 2019 Playground Catalog, then request a copy.

Give kids and families much-needed heat and sun protection while visiting any play, rest or activity area. From small to big shade, decorative to themed shade, we have flexible and stylish options for everywhere people like to gather. Browse the SkyWays® Shade Products virtual catalog, then request a copy.

Our imaginative designs continue to advance the world of dynamic water events—achieving new levels of chilling thrills, challenging interactive games and inventive water-based activities. Invite kids and families of all ages and abilities to immerse themselves in the brilliance of an Aquatix® water experience. Browse the 2019 Aqua Play Catalog, then request a copy.

The best of 2018

Posted on January 3, 2019 by PlayLSI

2018 has been an amazing year… filled with great products, projects and messages. See the best of 2018 in the form of our most read blog posts.

1. Spreading the message of inclusion
We’re working with Shane’s Inspiration to promote the animated short film, “Ian,” which aims to help children understand disability and spread the message of inclusion.

2. Bringing literacy to the playground
The Loft family has grown to include the Fire Station and Market Cafe with even more developmentally appropriate activities including literacy prompts.

3. How to design nature playground environments
Design a playground or outdoor learning environment that encourages kids (and their families) to be outside and reconnect with nature.

4. Five considerations for your toddler and preschool playground
To help you create a dream playground for your daycare or preschool that focuses on toddlers’ developmental needs in mind, we created a fun infographic.

5. Big fun comes in small packages
Smart Play® playstructures pack a lot of activities into compact structures, taking kids from early crawling exploration on up to active climbing and social play to a challenging course for older children.

Thank you for tuning in to Together We Play in 2018. We’re looking forward to an exciting year of play; tell us below what you’d like to see more of in 2019 and we’ll do our best to share it here.

Create word-of-mouth legendary playgrounds

Posted on November 8, 2018 by PlayLSI

Today, more and more communities are using unique design to create a signature playground. Smart design that combines eye-catching aesthetics with built-in play value. Custom design that can be as simple or as detailed as you like.

Discover how custom can put your playground on the map. Request a copy of our 2019 PLAY Book, or browse the virtual publication.

From fully themed wonderlands to palettes that span oceans and deserts and everything in between, see a few of the signature playground designs from our 2019 PLAY Book in action below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpH6mI8YWUI]

Learning, celebrating and connecting in Philadelphia

Posted on October 25, 2018 by PlayLSI

Last weekend, we were in Philadelphia for the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Annual Meeting and Expo. First thing on Saturday morning, President Pat Faust introduced the speakers of the Opening General Session, Susan Stamberg and Laurie Olin. Following, we welcomed visitors to our booth space, which featured the Alpha® Tower and Friendship® Swing.

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On Saturday night, we hosted an event for customers at NOTO. It was great connecting with all of the landscape architects, hearing about their amazing visions and sharing how, together, we can create word-of-mouth legendary play spaces. We’re already looking forward to next year in San Diego.

Shaping play in Indy

Posted on October 5, 2018 by PlayLSI

Late last month, we were excited to be in Indianapolis for the National Recreation & Park Association’s Annual Conference. Our booth space featured the Alpha® Tower and Friendship® Swing, while the nearby Aquatix booth showcased the CanopyCluster, HydroHelix, ground sprays and lots more.

On Tuesday night, we hosted an event for customers at Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians minor league baseball team. With lawn games, a photo booth, and food and drinks, we all had a great time playing and celebrating the work parks and recreation professionals do to shape the lives of kids through play.

Contribute to children’s development with well-designed playgrounds

Posted on August 2, 2018 by PlayLSI

Child development experts tell us that what looks like mere child’s play is preparation for a successful adult life–as vital as learning to walk and talk. But few studies have examined patterns of play on specific playground equipment to assess how these play spaces might shape children’s development. To find out, we commissioned an observational study in partnership with the University of Minnesota Institute of Child Development.

Children demonstrated key developmental skills in a variety of ways, with behaviors often linked to specific types of equipment. For example, children’s gross motor play—seen on swings, slides, overhead events and climbers—may contribute to physical development. Imaginative play has been linked to language development, social competence and self-regulation. Even waiting in line requires children to take turns and consider others’ needs. To request a complete copy of the research whitepaper, go to playlsi.com/whitepapers.

Our observations showed that well-designed play spaces contribute to the development of children. By helping them learn and practice key life skills, great playgrounds help children grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults. Watch our video below that brings the WHY of what we do to life.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3878sEXPuVE]

Principals celebrate 10 years of playground builds during NAESP

Posted on July 12, 2018 by PlayLSI

On Sunday, more than 100 of the nation’s elementary school principals came together to build a playground at Catalina Elementary School in Orlando, Fla. The playground build is part of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Community Service Day, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

@NAESP is celebrating 10 years of Community Service Day with @playlsi @ocpsnews @catalina_OCPS #NAESP18 pic.twitter.com/1dfkLNhX91

— NAESP (@NAESP) July 8, 2018

Another @NAESP playgroundbuild in the books. 10 Year’s strong w @PlayLSI #naesp18 pic.twitter.com/soq43caXJ9

— Kaylen Tucker, Ph.D. (@kaylentucker) July 8, 2018

Thank you Landscape Structures and Lifetouch for your support of the annual @NAESP community project. Thanks LSI for TEN years of community build projects from NOLA to Orlando! @PlayLSI @Lifetouch @TEPSAtalk pic.twitter.com/bAZBnK3qIx

— Mark Terry (@tepsamark) July 8, 2018

The playground was designed for students ages 5 to 12, and features playground slides, climbers, and activity panels in addition to overhead events and bridges. The playground is ADA compliant and was designed to welcome children of all abilities. In addition to building the playground, principal volunteers will do landscaping, painting, and other beautification projects at the school.

Fun day building a Delano, MN based @PlayLSI playground at Catalina Elementary in Orlando. Great work @NAESP Principals! pic.twitter.com/OovSbbayNZ

— Darren Schuler (@DarrenSchuler) July 8, 2018

Great day building @PlayLSI @NAESP I hope the kids in this Orlando community have as much fun playing as we did building. @tepsamark @kasnelson @k2blewis @NAESP_Zone8 @RamonaDunn14 #naesp18 #PrincipalsInAction #principalsrock pic.twitter.com/iPDF1I5Jyu

— Manuel Gonzales (@fisdfederalprgm) July 8, 2018

Great time building a playground at Catalina Elementary with other principals across the nation! Thank you @PlayLSI for your continued support! Way to rock the house and begin #NAESP18 conference! Go Zone 6! @SSpickard @PWPrincipal @shookr87 @MEMSPA @NAESP @PaulLiabenow pic.twitter.com/GyPKPwVXVK

— Eric Cardwell (@Cardwell16) July 8, 2018

As you can see from the tweets, principals had a blast during the 10th anniversary build. Other build locations throughout the years include Tampa, Seattle, Long Beach and Compton, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Prince George’s County, Md. Learn more about the NAESP Annual Conference and save the date: July 10-12, 20198 in Spokane, Wash.

Delivering natural play at the EPCOT® International Flower & Garden Festival

Posted on May 24, 2018 by PlayLSI

We are excited to have our playground equipment featured at the 25th Annual EPCOT® International Flower & Garden Festival. The upcoming holiday weekend is the final one of the Festival. So if you’re near or planning a visit to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., be sure to go play at EPCOT.

New to the Festival this year is the Imagination Garden, which integrates play into the natural environment. Nestled among the flowers, trees and other landscaping elements is a maze of play. Kids of all ages can navigate the playground tunnels to discover fossil digs and Rhapsody® Outdoor Musical Instruments. Upon finding their way out of the maze, kids ages 2 to 5 find more playground fun with the hillscape climber, pod steppers and leaf panels while kids ages 5 to 12 can traverse their way up and around the Lunar Burst® Net Climber. The play space design truly plays off the aesthetics of the surrounding landscape design.

Get more information about the Landscape Structures playground equipment featured at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Then see how you can design nature-inspired playgrounds for your community or school playground at playlsi.com.

Meeting the needs of toddlers and preschoolers on the playground

Posted on May 17, 2018 by PlayLSI

It’s important to keep the developmental needs of toddlers and preschoolers in mind when you’re designing playgrounds for your childcare facility or school. Playgrounds for young kids not only help them build their senses, and motor and cognitive skills, but they also teach them about cooperation and social imaginative play.

Keep the following five considerations in mind when designing early childhood playgrounds:

Interaction Interactive playground features allow kids to get firsthand experience of the principle of cause-and-effect.
Sensory Playgrounds should provide children a wealth of different tactile experiences, which can come from play with textured surfaces and by incorporating natural materials like sand and water.
Challenge Play environments with developmentally appropriate challenges and puzzle-like features can help instill critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Imagination Children should be able to use various components of the playground to express their creativity and to invent imaginative scenarios.
Independence Playground structures should allow kids to feel independent through solo play, which fosters confidence and creativity without sacrificing safety.

Find more resources for your daycare of preschool playground including ways to keep your playground safe, information on fundraising and playground grants, and some of our key partnerships at playlsi.com.

Case Study: Shaping sky-high visions into just-right solutions

Posted on April 12, 2018 by PlayLSI

Client: The City of Hawthorne, From Lot to Spot and the Trust for Public Land

Designers: SWA and Jonah Scholen, Landscape Structures custom playground designer

Goal: Convert an unused concrete space into a community-designed green space including playgrounds for children and recreation activities for all ages

Solution: The City of Hawthorne collaborated with SWA, their local playground consultant, RecWest Outdoor Products, and Jonah to create an aviation-themed playground design. The PlayBooster® and Netplex® playstructures encourage kids ages 5 to 12 to climb higher and higher until they reach the clouds, while 2- to 5-year-olds explore the twin-prop plane-themed playstructure.

Get more details about how the playground at Bicentennial Park encourages kids of all ages to go sky-high.

Together We Play

Bringing the magic of play to communities.

Category Archives: Playground Design