Press Releases
Choosing the Right Play System for your Backyard
With winter melting away and temperatures rising, spring clean-up, yard-work and backyard improvements are soon to be underway, and if your home includes young children – those improvements may very well include a new backyard playground system.
It has been said that outside of the home, playgrounds are one of the most important environments for children, and that unstructured outdoor play is essential for a child's mental and physical development. Garff Hubbard, V.P. of Marketing and Sales for LifePlay brand play equipment, quotes National Playground Safety Institute's literature in saying, "Particularly today with children spending so much time in school, participating in structured activities, in front of computers, video games and TV, outdoor play is now more important than ever."
Unlike traditional wood-based backyard play equipment, LifePlay has developed a line of park quality play equipment made with oversized 3.5" metal tubing which is the same tubing used in most commercial playground structures for extreme strength and safety, but requiring minimal maintenance.
- Safety: This goes without saying, but do you really know what makes equipment safe? Before considering any playground system, make sure it meets ASTM and CPSC safety standards (www.astm.org / www.cpsc.gov ) and don't forget things like potentially slick surfaces or protruding hardware. Many new backyard play systems include large canopied areas as well as slides and walls that make it hard to see your children, so keep in mind visibility on and around your playset as well.
- Strength & Durability: This is a purchase that should last throughout childhood; whether in large groups or alone with Mom or Dad, is the equipment strong enough for the years of activity that a play unit receives? Is the system tough and low-maintenance to resist high-use and weathering, or is it made from materials that will bend and break or could rot away?
- Trust and Service: When you invest in a play unit, you want to make sure the manufacturer is dependable, secure and responsive. If something on your equipment breaks, you want easy contact, a history of reliable service, and a company that won't be out of business in a year.
- Innovation: Choose equipment with activities to keep your child interested and active. The more ways a child can play, create, experience and move, they will stay stimulated longer and will never realize the healthy physical and mental development they're building.
- Age Appropriateness: Activities should suit the age and needs of your child. Equipment should be sized proportionately to your children, but without the threat of outgrowing it too quickly.
- Quality/Value: A good deal isn't a good value if your play system wears out and breaks. Many homeowners have found that by investing in quality, they save much more in the long run by saving on maintenance and replacement costs. Look for solid materials and a generous warranty.
- Low Maintenance: Look for equipment that does not require continuous maintenance to keep it safe. Ask yourself, will I have to weather-proof, strip and sand or paint this equipment? Will I have to tighten the components due to the swelling of the heat in summer and the shrinking of cold in winter? Are there holes or crevices for bugs to nest? Keep possible maintenance in mind.
- Attractiveness: When you take pride in your home, you want play equipment that is stylish and will complement the design and function of your yard. Choose equipment that will look as great five years from now as the day it is purchased, and made with materials that will last.
- Easy installation: Many units may look simple to assemble, but find out truthfully what it takes to install. Research how the parts are packaged and labeled. Find out how many people are needed as well as what tools you require. Will you have to measure and drill holes? Will you have to buy materials or hardware separately? Keep in mind that the more difficult and intricate the installation, the more likely the possibility for errors, and the chance to put your children at risk.
- Versatility: Choose play equipment that can change, be modified and grow with the needs of your family. Look also for equipment that can be easily moved if you do, or that might be resold after your children have outgrown backyard play.
Brooke Plumlee, Certified Playground Safety Inspector and consultant for Performance Design, Inc. says, "Many people do research when purchasing a play unit, but they only look at prices. Considering these ten tips will help you make a much wiser, safer and more satisfying play investment." By keeping this "Top 10" in mind, you will invest in a play unit that will be a pleasure to own, and a true, long-term value to your family's heath, lifestyle and your children's development and enjoyment.
LifePlay Brings Park Quality Play Equipment to the Backyard
CLEARFIELD, UTAH — Playground quality outdoor play equipment built for your home. That's the mission Performance Design, Inc. has set out to achieve with a new line of backyard play equipment designed with the look and feel of the neighborhood park, but specifically configured to fit the residential market.
It has been said that outside of the home, playgrounds are one of the most important environments for children, and that unstructured outdoor play is essential for a child's mental and physical development. Particularly today, with children spending so much time today in school and; participating in structured activities, or; in front of computers, video games and the TV; outdoor play is now more important than ever. LifePlay has created playground quality outdoor play equipment built for the backyard – and built to last for generations! And, having a playground in your backyard enables children to stay-outside longer and play.
Unlike traditional wood based backyard play equipment, LifePlay has developed a line of park quality play equipment made with oversized 3.5" metal tubing, the same tubing used in most commercial playground structures and requires minimal maintenance with maximum strength and safety.
The product, branded LifePlay, is the result of many long design hours to create safer stronger backyard play equipment with the most play value for the money. Now, for about the cost of a week’s vacation, families can purchase a LifePlay system that will last for generations!
The complete structure is centered around an adaptable, free-standing fort, swing, and monkey-bar unit complete with a picnic table, sand box, climbing wall, wave slide, ladder, and swing bar with 3 swings and a trapeze-ring combo. And it's all made of high-quality 13 gauge steel and blow-molded plastic.
What really makes LifePlay innovative is how it fills a need in the outdoor play equipment market. Most residential metal and wood sets range between $200 and $2,000. Some only last a few seasons, may be made with lesser quality components, require a great deal of maintenance, can be difficult to install, or may be incapable of flexible design or relocation. At the other end of the spectrum, commercial playground equipment is very durable, but components often start at $10,000 or more. LifePlay’s warranted steel frame and commercial quality plastics require minimal maintenance, are designed for a lifetime of use, take one quarter of the typical installation time, have flexible color options and configurations, and are priced around $3,000.
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