Are you curious about where to find children when they’re not in class? The answer is they’re at the playground. Play areas are full of benefits; aside from the entertainment it brings, it allows children to develop social, emotional, and physical well-being through free play, which is unlike a structured game or play environment.

Free play is like hitting two birds with one stone: they learn and explore more about the world; they get to meet and bond with new friends; lastly, they get to improve their physical abilities, and as well as their self-esteem, reduce anxiety and stress, and avoid obesity. It’s really beneficial for children when there are playgrounds nearby or within the neighborhood.

However, playground equipment costs can cause quite a shock, but with proper budgeting, planning, resources, the community or organization can support this project.

On an Average

All right, first things first. One of the factors that will determine the budget is how many children will be using the playground equipment. At an average, the budget for a single child can already reach a thousand dollars. On the other hand, the average cost of playground equipment could be around $8,000 and $50,000, while bigger playground areas can reach up to $50,000–$150,000.

But, do take note that these estimations may already include the whole play structure, swing set, borders, safety mats, ground covers, installations, and more. Ask your chosen playground equipment manufacturer or provider to know more about inclusions.

Per Square Meter Prices

Another factor to consider is the size of the indoor play area. The average costing per square meter for two-level structure indoor playground can already reach between $90 to $110 per square meter, while the average cost of three-level structure indoor playground equipment can already be priced at $180 to $230 per square meter. But, if you’re aiming for the multi-level structure indoor playground, costs are definitely more expensive, which is at $400 one square meter.

These prices are just estimations made for reference. The real price comes when the design is already final and there is already playground equipment agreed on.

The Usual Breakdown

Equipment

As mentioned before, the estimations, aside from the square meter pricing, already include the whole play structure, swing set, borders, safety mats, ground covers, installations, and more. Actually, the largest allocation of the budget goes to the playground equipment.

Playground equipment can take up to 70% of the budget allocation because of its variety, meaning the budget can go up and down depending on the type and material of play equipment needed. If your budget is limited, you can choose soft play areas. But, if you’re looking for plastic components, the price is higher and is another element for indoor playgrounds, such as slides and plastic tubes.

You can also add ropes since it adds safety and adventure for children when exploring heights. Some investors even add bird nests so that children can lie down on rainbow-colored nets while looking at the designed ceiling. Meanwhile, interactive play is the most expensive because of the technology needed to detect gestures and movement.

Installation

Equipment installation comes second in the list after equipment because it can take up around 15% to 40% of the budget. It can reach that high if you chose to hire engineers to install. Depending on where these come from, you may need to prepare extra cash for their accommodation, visa and ticket fares.

If this costs too much, you can lessen the cost through a self-installation or community build. However, this comes with risks, especially when the people who will do this are not experienced enough.

Preparation

A part of the budget will land to this category because the site must first be checked and preparing before opening. Of course, experts will be hired in terms of borders, surfacing, irrigation, and drainage.

Freight and Taxes

You should also allocate a budget into this in order to have a step closer to opening the indoor playground. Often, the final prices are taxes and shipping can take up to 15% of the total price depending on the country.

Play is an important activity for kids when growing up, especially when they’re young. Its benefits that target the child’s social, physical, and emotional well-being helps in how they can adapt to their environment upon growing up. And during rain or shine, indoor playgrounds can cater to the endless energy children have every day. Buying commercial indoor playground equipment for your indoor playground is an investment and should be ordered from a trusted manufacturer, and iREC has over two decades in designing, manufacturing, and installing high-quality durable equipment. For a quote, call +63 47 250 2779 or email sales@irec.ph.