Has anyone done a Community Build using EVOS from Landscape Structures? I am interested in any ideas, helpful hints, etc. that comes with building such a different type of playground.
Thanks Mara
Mara,
We are planning to incorporate EVOs into our phase II, and have great success with Landscape Structures. Evos are a great way to start-and include into a build. I don't have specifics on what we will do next, but I'll watch this thread to see how it works for you.
OK, our EVOS community build is done. So now I can answer my own question for you. Some of these maybe lessons learned that you can use at every playground build--I don't know.
First of all, make sure that your installer walks you through the entire process--letting you know the volunteers he thinks you need, what equipment, what should be added to the budget, etc. We didn't get this run through probably because he thought I knew so much about KaBOOM that I knew it all. You can never know too much. Ask tons of questions. We got hit at the end with some expenses we didn't expect. LSI has an installation CD. Ask for it, it was really helpful.
LSI uses 24" diameter holes for their arches and I think for their other playgrounds as well. 24" holes require a different type of auger to dig (if I understood my construction chair correctly). Any way it took us 3 days to dig our 48 holes. This was basically with two volunteers. I don't know how we could have used more than 2 volunteers as we could only afford one bobcat. If you can get a professional to donate their equipment and time to dig the holes for you or at least your 8 arch holes--you will be a head of the game.
The equipment went up really quickly. The concrete and the mulch took much longer. I knew that from KaBOOM training--but I really didn't know it until I lived it.
Evos is a very challenging playground. It is great. We love it. It looks beautiful on our grounds. But it totally freaked our teachers out. They couldn't believe that I was encouraging them to let kids go to the top of the big arch which is 13' high. They are sure that every kid is going to fall off the glider and break their arm. So I went in and did an in-service about the importance of challenge and risk in children's play and how to do active supervision. Hopefully, that calmed them down--we will see Monday when school starts.
I am also writing a letter to parents explaining the same things that I went over with the teachers. So they understand the reasoning behind why we chose what we chose.
Overall, I doubt building an EVOs is any different from building another type of playground. Organization, organization, organization.
I love our EVOS playground. So certainly include it in your consideration when you are looking at different playground manufactures.
Thanks for coming back to the forums to let everyone know how things went. It sounds like you've put your whole heart and soul into a great project. I personally love the EVOS structures...who doesn't love an amazing piece of artwork that doubles as a playground?
As with most prep days, having many volunteers on site can usually be a good thing. Although there may only be one Bobcat and one driver, you can usually use 10-15 people to help move the dirt that is pulled out of each hole and move rocks as the auger chops through them. You can also have people who continue to rake out the area as the holes are punched in the ground and people who help bring over the concrete pavers that will go in the bottom of each hole as the installer transits them.
As you said Mara, organization is critical. There are also probably many things people can do on Prep Day to get things ready for Build Day while others are digging holes (i.e. counting name tags, making posters, picking up food, etc.).
Although the EVOS structure looks like one big piece, it comes as many individual components (like a regular playground) that can each be put together by teams of volunteers on build day.
Mara, for the sake of learning from experience, what were some of the unforeseen expenses that others should be prepared for at the end of the process?
I love that you did an inservice on play and the best use of the EVOS structure. Please keep us updated on the continued feelings of the teachers, parents, and of course the students as you use it throughout the year. As this is a newer design in the playground industry, we love to hear as much feedback as possible. Thanks for sharing Mara!
Justin, Project Manager with KaBOOM!