Playground Equipment for Parks & Communities

The best playground surfacing depends on the available space, the community’s needs, and your budget. Many larger community parks use engineered wood fiber (EWF) mulch, which is cost effective and performs well when properly maintained. For parks with a strong focus on accessibility and minimal maintenance, poured in place rubber surfacing is often the better option.

While the playground is typically the centerpiece, additional amenities make a community park more functional and enjoyable for all ages. At a minimum, we recommend including shade structures and picnic tables, along with benches placed throughout the space for comfort and supervision.

Many retirement and 55+ communities work with us to create park spaces tailored to older adults. Instead of traditional playgrounds, these parks often feature site amenities surrounding leisure and social areas, as well as outdoor fitness equipment and dog park features to support active lifestyles.

We generally recommend limiting equipment that requires a high level of supervision for safe use, such as zip lines, as well as equipment that presents higher inherent risk, like traditional non-spring seesaws.