Beauty will always enhance a playspace, because it draws people into a common area – and into an opportunity to socialize with fellow community members. The planters also provide a unique opportunity for children to tend to a plant and watch it grow!
Sort all materials into piles by like items to ensure you have materials needed to complete project.
Take [6] of the landscape timbers. Cut each into [3] 31" pieces for a total of [18] 31" landscape timber pieces.
Take the remaining [4] landscape timbers. Cut each into [4] 24" pieces, for a total of [16] 24" landscape timber pieces.
Inventory and sort all of your materials.
Sort (2) 24" and (2) 31" pieces. Nail together one course of the planter base using the 6" nails. One person should hold the 4x4 pieces in place to make sure they are properly squared while another person hammers in the nails at the points (•) indicated in the picture.
Repeat step 2 for a total of (8) courses.
Now it is time to nail the courses together. Alternate the 31" and 24" pieces for each level (see diagram). The final planter should be 8 courses high. Hint: You may want to pre-drill these holes to make the hammering go smoother.
Position the planter in its final place.
Fill the first ¾ of the planter box with fill material (peat moss, mulch, dirt, or rocks). Then fill the rest of the box with potting soil and top it off with plants.
KABOOM! is a national nonprofit that works to achieve playspace equity. Kids who don't have access to play miss out on childhood and are denied critical opportunities to build physical, social and emotional health.
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Our goal is to end playspace inequity. For good.
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Murals provide color and an imaginative setting to a playspace. They also can be a reflection of the community based on the theme of the mural. Murals can also give communities a sense of historical context for their neighborhood and many murals are considered by the local government to be works of art, which gives the immediate neighbors more leverage when working to make other improvements.
Adding a huge, colorful map brings color to the playspace and teaches geography to kids. Children will be amazed by this enormous map, and will be drawn to thinking about it and playing around it. Painting is also a fun volunteer project! A finished painting project always provides a sense of accomplishment and very little expertise is needed to contribute successfully to the project.
If a pathway is an option for enhancing your play environment, this fun way of making stepping stones is a great activity for adults and children. Be creative and add colorful bits and pieces, or fun designs to your stepping stones.