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Are you interested in designing a new playground that is loved by both kids and dogs? Safety must be top-of-mind when creating a recreation space! Keep reading for a few design tips to keep in mind.

Create a playground that is safe by ensuring your space is free of hazardous objects, such as sharp rocks, broken glass, or trash. The ground should also be even and free of any holes or dips that could cause tripping or falling. Surfacing not only elevates your playground, but it also helps to reduce accidents and increase ease of use. You can also reduce litter by adding trash cans and restrooms.

There should also be plenty of shade and water available. You can install drinking fountains that can support both people and dogs and shade structures to provide shelter from the sun.

Building a walking path where families and leashed dogs can walk together is an ideal way to create opportunities for community connection. Providing benches and shady spaces will allow people to gather with their pets, relax, and talk. This path can also serve as a place where parents or caregivers can monitor kids on the playground.

Designing a public recreation space that is safe and fun for both children and dogs requires careful planning and consideration. By ensuring that the space is accessible to all, you can build a destination that encourages socialization and fosters a sense of community.

Playgrounds are full of opportunities for fun and exercise for kids of all ages! Midstates Recreation designs, supplies, and builds community-enhancing recreational play and site structures. Midstates Recreation offers a variety of playground equipment in communities located in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. Our emphasis is not only to create play and recreation spaces for all but to also provide a truly valuable and inclusive addition to your community! Contact your local sales representative to learn more.

Every parent knows the sinking feeling that comes when your kid sighs that they’re “bored”. Even at a playground, it can be hard for kids to decide how to focus their energy and stay interested. The playground games below are an easy, inexpensive way to add variety to your play space and keep kids engaged. Read on for suggestions for each age group!

1.     Toddlers (ages 1-3):

Toddlers require games that are easy to understand and can help them develop their gross motor skills. Simple games like “Simon Says” or “Follow the Leader” work well for toddlers. These games allow them to practice listening skills while also developing their balance and coordination. Toddlers also love playing with balls, so games like “Roll the Ball” or “Kick the Ball” can keep them engaged for longer.

2.     Preschoolers (ages 3-5):

Preschoolers are still developing their motor skills, but they are also becoming more social and able to follow rules. They enjoy games that are more complex than those for toddlers. “Duck, Duck, Goose” and “Red Light, Green Light” are popular games for preschoolers. These games teach them to listen to instructions, follow rules, and work in teams. Preschoolers also love playing make-believe games, so a game like “Pirate’s Treasure Hunt” or “Superhero Training” can be a hit.

3.     Elementary school kids (ages 6-11):

These kids tend to be more independent and capable of playing games that require strategy and critical thinking. Games like capture the flag and kickball teach teamwork, strategy, and problem-solving skills. Elementary school kids also enjoy games that challenge them physically, such as an obstacle course or tug-of-war.

4.     Middle school kids (ages 12-14):

Middle schoolers enjoy games that require them to think creatively and work in teams. Scavenger hunts or escape room scenarios are games that middle school kids find exciting. These games require them to work together to solve clues and complete challenges. They also tend to enjoy games that test their physical abilities, such as dodgeball or ultimate frisbee.

5.     High school kids (ages 15-18):

Games that involve competition and teamwork are popular among teenagers, so a game of tug-of-war or Capture the Flag is sure to be a hit. Soccer and volleyball are classic games teenagers enjoy playing and can easily be done outside in a grassy area. High school kids also enjoy games that challenge them physically, such as parkour.

Playground games are a simple way to add value and entertainment to your play area, without the need for additional equipment. Not only do they provide kids with fun and engaging ways to socialize and exercise, but they also allow kids to develop their motor skills, social skills, critical thinking, and teamwork abilities. Remember to keep safety in mind and have adaptations ready so that anyone can join in on the fun.

Playgrounds are full of opportunities for fun and exercise for anyone! Midstates Recreation designs, supplies, and builds community-enhancing recreational play and site structures. Midstates Recreation offers a variety of playground equipment in communities located in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. Our emphasis is not only to create play and recreation spaces for all but to also provide a truly valuable and inclusive addition to your community! Contact your local sales representative to learn more.

Games of tag on the playground aren’t just good for getting your kids’ wiggles out— they’re also excellent learning opportunities! Kinesthetic learning, also known as hands-on or tactile learning, is a method that emphasizes the use of physical movement and activity to aid in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. This type of learning is often associated with play, as it allows children to engage with their environment and explore new concepts through hands-on activities. In this way, playgrounds can be wonderful sites for both formal and informal learning for children.

One of the main benefits of kinesthetic learning is that it allows children to actively participate in the learning process. Rather than simply listening to a lecture or reading a textbook, students are able to physically manipulate objects and engage with the material in a way that is meaningful to them. For instance, a child might be more interested in learning about physics if they can test the law of gravity from atop a climbing structure, or they could be more immersed in a story if they can act it out in the outdoors. These strategies can help to increase children’s engagement and motivation, as they are more likely to be invested in the learning process when they are actively participating in it.

Another benefit of kinesthetic learning is that it can help to improve students’ problem-solving skills. Hands-on activities often require students to think critically and creatively in order to solve a problem or complete a task. Group games and activities on the playground can teach communication and cooperation, as well as help to develop important skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and decision-making. It can also help them learn respect for others and for the playground equipment and environment.

Kinesthetic learning can also be beneficial for children with different learning styles. Some students may experience difficulty with traditional classroom teaching methods, such as lectures and reading assignments, but may excel when given the opportunity to learn through hands-on activities. Using the playground as a space for learning can help to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn and succeed, regardless of their preferred learning style. This is why our team at Midstates Recreation strives to make our playgrounds inclusive and accessible for children of all abilities.

In addition to these benefits, kinesthetic learning can also be a lot of fun! Play is an important aspect of kinesthetic learning, as it allows students to engage with the material in a way that is enjoyable and meaningful to them. Play can also help to increase students’ motivation and engagement, as they are more likely to be invested in the learning process when it is something that they enjoy. More importantly, play is important for children because it allows them to explore and learn about the world around them in a safe and engaging way and provides them with an outlet for their feelings and energy.

The possibilities for playgrounds are endless. Midstates Recreation designs, supplies, and builds community-enhancing recreational play and site structures. Midstates Recreation offers a variety of playground equipment in communities located in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. Our emphasis is not only to create play and recreation spaces for all but to also provide a truly valuable and inclusive addition to your community! Contact your local sales representative to learn more.

Playground safety is an important issue that every parent and caregiver should be aware of. Not only are playgrounds a place for children to have fun and expend energy, but they also provide an opportunity for children to develop physical, social, and cognitive skills. However, it is important to ensure that children are safe while using playground equipment to prevent injuries. Our Midstates Recreation team of safety experts ensures that the equipment is as safe as possible, but to avoid any accidents, here are a few everyday playground safety tips for caregivers:

Supervision is Key

It is important to always supervise children while they are on playground equipment. This will help to ensure that children are using the equipment safely and that they are not putting themselves in danger.

Check for Hazards

Before allowing children to play on the playground, check for any hazards such as litter, damaged equipment, or rust. These can cause serious injuries to children.

Use Age-appropriate Equipment

Make sure that children are using equipment that is appropriate for their age and size. Children who are too small for certain equipment may be at risk for falls or lack the physical strength to properly use certain elements.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

Children should wear clothing that is appropriate for playing on the playground. This includes closed-toe shoes and clothing that is not too loose or too baggy. No clothing with drawstrings should be worn on the playground.

Follow the Rules

Playground equipment often has specific recommendations for use, such as not standing on top of a seated swing or climbing onto a roof. It is important to teach children these rules and to enforce them while they are on the playground.

By following these simple tips, you can help to ensure that children have a safe and enjoyable experience on the playground. Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to children’s safety; if you are in charge of a playground, download our free guide to playground safety to ensure that your equipment is regularly and effectively maintained.

Midstates Recreation designs, supplies, and builds community-enhancing recreational play and site structures. Midstates Recreation offers a variety of playground equipment in communities located in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. Our emphasis is not only to create play and recreation spaces for all but to also provide a truly valuable and inclusive addition to your community! Contact your local sales representative to learn more.

Outdoor playgrounds are wonderful for children, giving them an opportunity to move, imagine, and socialize. But what about teenagers and adults?

More and more cities are incorporating outdoor fitness centers targeted at teens and adults. Outdoor fitness spaces can include a variety of options for health and wellness activities, including spaces for various sports (e.g., basketball courts, tennis courts), running/walking paths, or exercise equipment like TrekFit’s climbing walls, fitness circuits, and trampolines.

These outdoor fitness centers provide an accessible and inclusive space for exercise surrounded by natural beauty. The wide selection of equipment means that teens and adults will find an activity they enjoy and work toward meeting their physical activity goals. The CDC notes that most adults do not meet the recommended physical activity levels, so incorporating outdoor fitness equipment can lead to myriad health benefits for community members who use it, including improved heart health, bone health, and coordination.

Beyond the health benefits of providing space for exercise, communities with outdoor fitness centers also experience greater social connectedness. One study found that older adults, in particular, experienced benefits from both physical activity and social engagement in outdoor gyms. Creating opportunities for social connection is an invaluable contribution to any community!

Finally, outdoor fitness centers allow people to experience the benefits of being in the natural world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that being outdoors can alleviate stress, improve mood, reduce depression and anxiety, and strengthen our ability to focus. Furthermore, people are more likely to stick to an exercise routine if it is outside.

For all of these reasons, we are excited about our newest partnership with TrekFit, a leader in aesthetically pleasing outdoor fitness equipment. We would be delighted to help you design the perfect fitness space for your park or school so that your community can reap the physical, mental, and social benefits of outdoor fitness!

Midstates Recreation designs, supplies, and builds community-enhancing recreational play and site structures. Midstates Recreation offers a variety of playground equipment in communities located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. Our emphasis is not only to create play and recreation spaces for all but to also provide a truly valuable and inclusive addition to your community! Contact your local sales representative to learn more.

Midstates Recreation has been committed to designing and building custom play spaces for over thirty years, completing over 1,000 projects. Our longevity is due to our exceptionally caring staff and their genuine dedication to providing the most innovative and inclusive recreational and play spaces possible. We are proud to be a trusted designer of recreational spaces for communities across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan.

Innovation

Our team is the heartbeat of our operation. We have 28 talented professionals working with our clients to develop the ideal recreational spaces for their locations and communities. At the beginning of the process, our Recreation Consultants and in-house Computer Aided Design (CAD) Specialists use their creativity combined with the latest technology to design a layout plan and 3D rendering of your space. When designing, we consider the natural environment and how/if it can be incorporated into the space. We assess and plan for the diverse needs of the children and adults who will want to use the space. And of course, we keep safety standards, access, and compliancy at top-of-mind when finalizing a design. Our team has a wide array of tools at their disposal because Midstates Recreation partners with industry-leading manufacturers to provide the most expansive and diverse product offerings on the market. To see some of our innovative designs, check out our project map.

Inclusion

Our eight Inclusive Play Design Specialists ensure that we have a design for every ability. No child should be left off the playground because they can’t enjoy the equipment. Midstates Recreation staff ensure that children can’t only access the equipment, but can engage with it meaningfully regardless of mobility, sensory, or social limitations. This inclusivity is the core of our mission. When the Midstates Team designs a playground, we look at the specific benefits of the various types of play (e.g., spinning, tactile, cooperative), and then we consider our long list of available products that facilitate that type of play. Our careful process of matching the recreational equipment to the needs of those who use the facilities leads to a product uniquely beneficial to all members of a community.

Safety & Compliancy

A safe playground is a fun playground! Our seven Certified Playground Safety Inspectors ensure that every element of design and construction is planned with great care for safety. From the quality of the equipment to the type of playground surfacing, we leave no stone unturned in inspecting the safety of the recreational space. All play equipment in our recreation spaces pass rigid compliancy and safety testing set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Furthermore, we can provide guides to help local managers keep their new equipment in good shape and compliant for many years of enjoyment!

The Midstates Recreation team is proud of our work and committed to a detailed process of designing and building a playground perfect for your kids and your community.

Midstates Recreation designs, supplies, and builds community-enhancing recreational play and site structures. Midstates Recreation offers a variety of playground equipment in communities located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. Our emphasis is not only to create play and recreation spaces for all but to also provide a truly valuable and inclusive addition to your community! Contact your local sales representative to learn more.

Play structures and play equipment bring children of all ages together. They are an integral part of each community. As fun and inclusive as they are, they need some maintenance to stay in good shape. That’s true of any kind of equipment that gets used by many people, such as a basketball hoop or a slide. Keep reading as we share four ways to keep your playground in great shape:

1. Regularly inspect the playground for loose or broken parts.

One of the most important things you can do to keep your playground safe is to regularly inspect it for loose or broken equipment. Look for loose bolts, screws, or other hardware. Check for cracks in the equipment, missing or broken parts, and the hardware connections of mechanisms with movement.

Contact your Sales Rep at Midstates for any replacement needs for your playground.

2. Check your playground’s surfacing.

As you inspect your playground, be sure to take note of the condition of your surfacing. Do you notice any wear and tear starting to show? Are your sidewalks and pathways still level and clear of uneven cracks and debris? Does your loose fill surfacing, such as wood fiber or rubber mulch, need raked or replenished? Pay close attention to high use areas such as under and around swings, spinners, and slide exits.

3. Routinely clean the playground area to remove any debris or foreign objects that may be harmful.

This can include trash, stones, glass and other sharp objects that have been dropped on the ground by adults or children. Make sure you check around the entire playground, including under equipment and in play areas for harmful materials. Be aware of hazardous materials such as broken glass or nails while sweeping up litter from the surrounding area.

4. Check that the playground area is free from drainage problems.

Drainage problems can look like pooling water in low spots of the surfacing (see point 2) or around the perimeter of a play area. Proper drainage is crucial to ensuring that your safety surfacing maintains its safety value.

The key to proper playground maintenance is vigilance! The best way to keep your community safe is to make sure the equipment is always in good working order, properly maintained and thoroughly inspected throughout use. Following the steps shared will help ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable playground experience!

Midstates Recreation designs, supplies, and builds community-enhancing recreational play and site structures. Midstates Recreation offers a variety of playground equipment in communities located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. Our emphasis is not only to create play and recreation spaces for all but to also provide a truly valuable and inclusive addition to your community! Contact your local sales representative to learn more.