Buyer Beware!!

I recently got a phone inquiry from a daycare director at a Church in Greenville, South Carolina. She had found us online and read about our playground services on our website. She was about to purchase a playground from an online vendor. She was exasperated and exhausted from research and shopping for a playground on the web. She had shopped diligently, seen multiple “special price” offers, done her research as a smart shopper like we all do for a major purchase. When she went to complete the purchase she found that she was hit with huge shipping fees, little or no on site support with installation and no one to turn to after the equipment landed at her facility. When we visited the site we found the equipment use zones would not even fit the site….OOPS!

She needed help in a big way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a common problem in the playground equipment industry. The internet is a wonderful tool but a playground purchase is too complex to simply type in a keyword and slide a credit card. There are so many issues to consider when you purchase your playground. The world wide web is an awesome resource to generate ideas, brainstorm concepts and generalize your budgets. But when the rubber hits the road (or the playground) NOTHING beats having a trusted adviser to meet you at your facility, define your needs and help guide you through the process. A playground is a vision and requires a thorough design process to be a success. Also, be aware, commercial playgrounds must be constructed and certified by a CPSI (Commercial Playground Safety Inspector) to be code compliant and help avoid liability issues.

Kurt and I own Creative Playscapes and will personally meet you to help you wade through the myriad of questions that need answered prior to selecting and constructing your playground. We will make sure it’s built to code requirements and monitor it after it’s installed to make sure it’s safe and standing the test of time. We will also be straight forward with price points, budgets, including freight, installation, maintenance costs and surfacing requirements. We will also look at the site from a design perspective unlike our competitors. We are licensed Landscape Architects and General Contractors. We know how to design and build playscapes that are more than a playground.

Call us at Creative Playscapes to discuss your needs. Consultations are always free. We promise you the best value and customer service in the industry!

Jon Dumont, CPSI
Landscape Architect, Owner
Creative Playscapes, LLC
704-929-2603

The post Online Playgrounds??? first appeared on Creative Playscapes.

We had a banner year in 2014, especially in the fun category!

Our goals for this New Year are very simple:

1. Be Safe
2. Have Fun
3. Healthy Play

Safety Starts w/ Stability!

Kurt Karriker
704-589-7455
Creative Playscapes

The post Welcome 2015! first appeared on Creative Playscapes.

Click here to watch the video

The British International School in Charlotte, NC has contracted Creative Playscapes to design a new play and learn area for their school kids.  Replacing the current outdated play equipment was the first order of business, followed by the site development and leveling of the area for the introduction of the artificial turf and PIP (pour in place) safety surfacing.  The landscaping was specifically designed and integrated to accent the play area along with being durable to withstand the play from the kids as the venture off the turf.

This is a very cool project with a variety of play and interactive features.  The sandbox was designed by Jon to be a huge ship; this design was to encourage the imaginary thought process of the kids while they play.  Along with the sand box, Jon incorporated a production stage which will be an active aspect for the kids to conduct plays on an outdoor stage, along with everyday adventures.  Another wonderful way for the kids to exercise, learn and have fun.

One unique aspect for this Charlotte playground is it’s separated into two play areas.  The primary phase with the turf and sand box, along with the second area which will have our PIP (pour in place) colored safety surfacing.  Jon has designed a bridge to connect the two areas, which we should see in our second documented video.

Jon designed another outstanding playground for this Charlotte school and as we progress along, more video documentation will be released.  We appreciate the British International School in Charlotte for allowing us to document this project for our website and You Tube channel.

#CommercialPlaygroundCharlotte

Safety Starts w/ Stability!

Kurt Karriker
704-589-7455
Creative Playscapes

The post British International School Charlotte Playground Video 1 first appeared on Creative Playscapes.

Click here to watch the video

7^th and final video on installing a playground for The Williams Center in Charlotte, Jon has done a wonderful job of filming and narrating this series.  We hope you enjoyed watching us install the safety surface and will check back later for more videos from Creative Playscapes.

We are wrapping up the PIP (Pour in Place) playground surfacing, with the last of the sandy bordering surface.  You can easily see the green EDPM surface around the climbing area of the playground and listen as Jon describes the Trike Path, to give the kids a walkway/roadway to guide them through the playground.  Jon designed a trellis into this project for the kids to play under and add additional shade.

This is the final day of the playground surface installation and completion of the project.  We appreciate The Williams Center in Charlotte allowing Jon to video this project for our website and You Tube channel.

We are already planning our next video series!

#RubberPlaygroundSurface

Safety Starts w/ Stability!

Kurt Karriker
704-589-7455
Creative Playscapes

The post Charlotte Playground Project – Video 7 Completed Rubber Playground Surface first appeared on Creative Playscapes.

Click here to watch the video

This is video #6 of the 7 video collections on the process of installing a playground for The Williams Center in Charlotte.  Jon is our videographer and narrator.  We hope you enjoy this particular video where the colored EDPM is being installed.  Click here to learn more about playground safety surfaces.

We are nearing completion of the PIP (Pour in Place) playground surfacing, with the “Blue Water” section of the playground complete; we are working on the “Sand Colored” areas.  When finished (next video) we will have the “Green Colored” surfacing in place, mimicking the grass and be finished with the playground surface.

Colored rubber safety surfacing uses:

• Provide a “Cushiony” top surface
• Add color
• Create a theme
• Add attractiveness to the playground

Jon mentioned a “Work-Around” in the previous video, in this next to last video, you can see how we installed the sleeves for the delayed playground equipment, we are ready to install upon arrival.  Staying productive is important to staying on schedule.

Again in this video, Jon refers to the good weather.  Late May in Charlotte typically gets a lot of summer storms which could hamper our production; this good weather actually has us ahead of schedule.

Stay tuned as we complete The Williams Center playground project in our next and last video of this trilogy.

#ColoredPlaygroundSurface

Safety Starts w/ Stability!

Kurt Karriker
704-589-7455
Creative Playscapes

The post Charlotte Playground Project – Video 6 Sand Colored Rubber Surfacing first appeared on Creative Playscapes.

Click here to watch the video

This is video #5 of the 7 video collections on the process of installing a playground for The Williams Center in Charlotte.  Jon is our videographer and narrator.  We hope you enjoy this particular video where the colored EDPM is being installed.  Click here to learn more about playground safety surfaces.

We top off the rubber safety surface with the EDPM (Ethylene-propylene rubbers & elastomers) colored surfacing.  This project incorporated “Hippos and Alligators” so we used a “Blue Water” colored safety surface to imitate the water these animals live in.  The “water theme” used for this Charlotte playground is an excellent example of how we use our safety surfaces for more than just protection.

Colored rubber safety surfacing has a plethora of uses:

• Add color
• Create a theme
• Add attractiveness to the playground

Jon talks about a delay, notice how we were able to continue working and not delay the project due to circumstances beyond our control.  Our goal is to always stay on schedule and on budget, this is an example of how we can do a “Work-Around” and stay productive.

Listen to Jon mention the weather in this video, it was late May when this video was shot.  Weather does have an effect on when and how we can apply the rubber safety surfacing, but this particular day was perfect early summer temperatures.

#ColoredPlaygroundSurface

Safety Starts w/ Stability!

Kurt Karriker
704-589-7455
Creative Playscapes

The post Charlotte Playground Project – Video 5 Blue Water Colored Playground Surfacing first appeared on Creative Playscapes.

Click here to watch the video

This is video 4 of the 7 video collections on the process of installing a playground for The Williams Center in Charlotte.  Jon is our videographer and narrator.  We hope you enjoy this particular video where we are beginning the installation of the rubber safety surface.  Click here to learn more about playground safety surfaces.

The base of the rubber safety surface is being installed; we use a 1 ½” amount of base to add a more protective level of safety.  Regulations vary, but we typically exceed the required amount of rubber base that is required for numerous reasons, mainly the safety of the kids.

Jon describes the install and mentions the Ethylene-propylene rubbers & elastomers (also called EPDM and EPM); this is state of the art playground surfacing.  EPDM is made of tiny rubber pellets, incorporated on the playground site with a urethane binder to form a playground surface that is “Pliable” or “Soft” in other words it’s very durable but cushiony too.  We also use this top surface to add the color and vibrancy to the playground.  A later video will reveal how Jon incorporated a “train-track” into the surface of this project.

We install EDPM Surfacing in a variety of depths, using a fall guide AKA compliance regulations based on the fall height requirements of the playground equipment we are installing.  Playground safety is a topic we feel strongly about, EPDM is the surface coverage we recommend.

#PlaygroundSafetySurface

Safety Starts w/ Stability!

Kurt Karriker
704-589-7455
Creative Playscapes

The post Charlotte Playground Project – Video 4 EPDM Rubber Playground Surfacing first appeared on Creative Playscapes.

Video 3 

This is video 3 of the 7 video collections on the process of installing a playground for The Williams Center in Charlotte.  Jon is our videographer and narrator.  We hope you enjoy this video series.  Click here to visit our website and view more playgrounds.

In an incredibly productive week, the Creative Playscapes installation team has The Williams Center in Charlotte’s playground equipment erected and tested for durability.  Numerous variables factor into the installation timeframe, especially the weather.  It was a very pleasant week in May, which allowed us to work full time without interruptions and install the Charlotte playground in one week.

We hope you are enjoying this series of the playground we are installing in Charlotte at The Williams Center; we appreciate their consent to record and publish this series.  Jon is enjoying the process and being out of the office and has commented to me many times how he is enjoying the wonderful weather and documenting our process.  We welcome your comments regarding this project or any questions about playground equipment or safety surfaces.

#CharlottePlayground

Safety Starts w/ Stability!

Kurt Karriker
704-589-7455
Creative Playscapes

The post Charlotte Playground Project – Video 3 Playground Installed first appeared on Creative Playscapes.

Video 2

Here we see that the playground equipment has been delivered to the Charlotte site and we are ready to begin installation in the next video.  All of our steel and aluminum playground equipment is powder coated with an environmentally safe (and child safe) coating, this coating not only adds colorful beauty to the playground equipment itself, it is a major deterrent for rust and a positive replacement for paint (especially the old lead based paint).

In the next video of this series, Jon will describe the playground as it has been installed and the arrival of the safety surface materials.

Click here to view more of our playstructures.

#CharlottePlayground

Safety Starts w/ Stability!

Kurt Karriker
704-589-7455
Creative Playscapes

The post Charlotte Playground Project – Video 2 Playground Equipment first appeared on Creative Playscapes.

Video 1

This is video 1 of a series of 7 where we developed the playground site, installed the new playground equipment and finished with the rubber surfacing.  Jon is our videographer and narrator.  We hope you enjoy this video series.

Jon describes the layout of the playground, including trike paths, slides and shade structures.  He also included trees to be planted that will provide natural shade in the years to come.  One aspect we/Jon prefer to include is natural foliage, vegetation and shade.  In this project, Jon added several trees to accent the already existing trees (which Jon will describe in a later video) on site.

#CharlottePlayground

Safety Starts w/ Stability!

Kurt Karriker
704-589-7455
Creative Playscapes

The post Charlotte Playground Project – Video 1 Playground Base System first appeared on Creative Playscapes.