Play equipment
Indoor and outdoor play structures are feeding children’s imagination like never before, says
Adrian Lennox
WHETHER installed as a standalone attraction or forming part of a larger resort, out-of-home play structures remain an important cog in the wider leisure industry machine. And just as the world theme park, FEC and related attractions industry continues to evolve, so the indoor and outdoor play equipment sector has thrown up increasingly important issues for both manufacturers and operators. Over the years, the sector has come to be divided into
several distinct, yet often interdependent fields of operation, which, in addition to core outdoor play structures such as climbing frames and walls, now includes themed play areas, soft play areas, educational play, wet play areas and fitness and activity play equipment. This ever-diverging market has resulted in attractions operators being afforded more choice than ever when it comes to play equipment. However, finding the right balance between product, consumer and cost remains crucial.
A material choice As with most other sectors in the out-of-home attractions
Image courtesy of PLAYahead
industry, technological advances over recent years have been embraced by play structure manufacturers. According to Paul Redden, managing director of interactive children’s play equipment company Eibe, the use of new materials has opened up several options for ecologically-minded operators. “As a result of new technologies and materials which have been used and integrated at the manufacturing
Image courtesy of PLAYahead
stage within the play industry over the last few years it has enabled play providers to ensure that projects are sustainable both environmentally and economically, of the highest quality and to the highest standard,” he said. Jerry Butling, joint owner of PLAYahead, the UK-
based group which supplies a full range of outdoor play equipment for commercial and domestic markets, added: “New materials have been embraced by some of the bigger companies to produce some very smart looking play equipment for the higher end local authority/government clients. However, there are still a good deal of clients across the board looking for the ‘traditional’ timber play equipment. “Lookalike timber from recycled materials is starting to
make its way into the market and will be useful for certain areas and demographics where vandalism and arson is more prevalent. In terms of new technology, AutoCAD and similar software is always going to make life easier and one would be churlish not to embrace the benefits they can bring.” The issue surrounding new materials and the myriad new
design options available to leisure groups has, perhaps unsurprisingly, led to an increased need for play structure manufacturers to work ever more closely with operators in order to best serve their needs. Indeed, many of the leading outdoor play equipment firms place a strong emphasis on custom builds and aftersales services. Stephen Reid, founder of Star Play Centres, has amassed many years of experience in the visitor attractions and
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- keeping the balance
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