How To Create a Play Pole / Directional Post

Difficulty: Easy  |  Estimated time: 2 hours  |  Help needed: 5 volunteers

Colorful directional posts can beautify your playspace and are great for pointing out landmarks selected by the community. If there are children present at the build day, you may want to enlist their help to choose the directions and paint the signs.

Download Instructions

Materials and tools

Quantity: Materials:
1 4x4x10' board
2 1x4x12' board
Adjust as needed Primer
Adjust as needed Paint supplies
Adjust as needed Exterior paint
[2] 80lb bags Concrete
1lb 1 ½" deck screws
Tools needed:
Miter saw
Tape measure
Carpenter's square
Pencil
Drill
Screwdriver bit
Screwdriver
Level
Safety goggles

Preparation instructions

  1. Sort all materials into piles by like items to ensure you have materials needed to complete project.

  2. Optional: Bevel the top of the 4x4x10' board on all four sides.

  3. Take both 1x4x12' boards. Cut each into [6] 1x4x24" pieces, for a total of [12] 1x4x24" pieces.

  4. Angled Cuts:

    • Take all [12] 1x4x12" pieces. Create an arrow-shape by cutting [2] 45° angles on one side of each piece for a total of [12] 1x4x24" arrows.

  5. Prime the sides and edges of all 1x4x24" pieces. Prime the 4x4x10' board if it will also be painted.

Build instructions

  1. Before building, inventory and sort all of your materials.

    Quantity: Inventory:
    1 4x4x10' board
    12 1x4x24" arrow pieces

  2. If you are going to paint the 4x4x10' board, do that first. While it is drying, move on to the next step.

  3. Paint the directional arrows. These can have a literal directional theme (New York City, 225 miles, etc.) or can have any theme.

  4. Decide which way the arrows will point before painting them.

  5. Paint both side of the arrows using various colors.

  6. Once the post and arrows have dried, attach them to the post using the 1 ½" screws. Use 3 screws per arrow.

  7. Dig the hole for the post. It should be at least 6" in diameter and 2' deep.

  8. Place the post in the hole and use the level to ensure the post stays straight while adding concrete.

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