Playground equipment is a hefty investment. Still, if you take good care of it, the equipment can last several years and bring a lot of enjoyment to the families using it. One thing that is tough on outdoor play centers is winter. The cold weather, snow, and ice wreak havoc where they land. Prepare your playground for winter now so that you can rest easy knowing that everything will be in good shape when the cold weather passes.
Take Down the Canopies
Some centers use canopies as roofs or shade on the playground. The covers are usually made of material that isn’t designed for a harsh winter, especially heavy snow. It’s best to remove them until the spring.
Snow Removal
The time to find a snow removal service isn’t when the snow starts falling. Businesses get busy around these times, so sign up in advance for professional snow removal for your playground. Choose a service that also offers de-icing of any equipment, ensuring the area is safe and the equipment doesn’t remain covered in ice.
Clear Drains and Water Lines
If your playground offers a splash pad or any form of water fun in the summer, make sure those water lines and drains are cleared before the cold hits. If they aren’t, the water will freeze and cause issues.
Prepare the Surfaces
A safe playground offers some type of shock-absorbing grounds to help prevent injuries. The materials are often wood chips, mulch, or shredded rubber or poured-in-place rubber surfacing. As kids play and the wind blows, these surface materials become sparse in some areas. Before winter, fill in those empty spots so that you can be sure the entire surface is safe when the snow covers everything.
Cracks occur over time in pour-in-place rubber surfacing, and when preparing for winter, it’s best to fill all cracks in with a pour-in-place rubber surfacing repair. If you don’t, there is a risk of ice getting into the cracks and making things worse.
Remove Slippery Equipment
Even though the use of the playground slows down in the winter, it likely still gets used. Some areas may be unsafe in bad weather, such as plastic rock-climbing walls and other areas that become too slippery from ice and snow. Remove those types of pieces from the rest of the equipment until spring.
At Discount Playground Supply, we understand the importance of preparing your playground for winter and replacing parts as needed to keep the play center running smoothly and safely. We have everything you need for a productive and safe play environment. Contact us with all your commercial playground questions, and we’ll help you find the answers.