What makes a playground worth going out of your way to visit?

How do we design play spaces that become the actual destination and not just a pitstop for the youngest family members?

If you ask us - it comes down to designing playgrounds with all ages in mind.

The playground's buzzing.
You can hear kids laughing and chatting as they run around, climb, slide, swing, rock, and bounce.

Look a little closer.

There are just as many adults as there are kids in this play space.

A parent's or carer's role at a playground is sometimes very hands-on, involving active participation in play. Whether it's pushing a swing, catching a child at the bottom of a slide, or assisting them across challenging equipment, caregivers often engage directly to provide both support and encouragement.

At other times, the role is more observational, allowing the child to explore independently and develop their own physical and social skills. In these moments, caregivers are there to keep a watchful eye and offer reassurance, encouraging the child to take age-appropriate risks that build confidence.

Either way, we aim to take all people present at the playground into account in the design process. Creating play experiences that are appealing and engaging for all ages is key to designing destination playgrounds.

Youths are also often an overlooked age group when it comes to designing playgrounds. Whether they're older siblings accompanying younger kids to the playground or part of a group of friends looking for a space to hang out in, young people - though not the primary user of a playground - are also an important demographic to cater for.

So how do we design play spaces, that become landmarks in their surroundings and destinations for the whole family?

Here are a few of the things that we think are important factors in putting a playground on the map and on families' "must-visit" lists!

VISUAL APPEAL
We humans are creative, sensory beings. Stimulating the sense of sight ensures that a playground captures peoples' attention and then draws them in to explore more. The aesthetics of a playground are also stimulating and fun for all ages to enjoy!

ACCESSIBILITY
Making playgrounds accessible to a broad range of children and youths by designing play features that cater for different needs, abilities and temperaments is vital to making a space inviting for a wide audience.

AREAS FOR REST
Sometimes we adults need a little break from the action and also want to pull back and encourage independent exploration. Designing opportunities to rest/sit/perch while still being with our young ones as they play is essential. We often like to incorporate this into the design of play features - a wave-shaped structure can both provide fun play opportunities and a welcome rest for parents or carers!

VARYING CHALLENGES
Providing a range of play opportunities with varying levels of difficulty and that encourage multiple ways to play means that a playground caters to many different children and means they'll want to keep coming back again and again to challenge their skills and overcome their fears.

PLACES OF IDENTITY
Playgrounds that reflect the location they're in become more than climbing frames and swings - they become places of identity, that people want to visit and experience. They can become tools for telling the story of a place.

GATHERING PLACES
Spaces that are appealing for the above reasons become natural hubs in a community. Their inclusive nature facilitates gatherings of many shapes and sizes - who wouldn't want to have their birthday party at the giant rocket playground or perhaps a neighbourhood meet-up with something for everyone?

Below are a few great examples of how bespoke MONSTRUM playgrounds became destination playgrounds, attracting people to the museums, shopping centers, etc. where they're located.

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