How to Make a Cheap Backyard Playground
A dedicated play area gives your children a place of their own to exercise and play right in their backyard. Play equipment for home use is often expensive, but making your own equipment and using secondhand pieces can keep the outdoor project on budget. Consider your child's age and interests when designing the elements that go into the play area. Safety is also a major concern in play areas. Leave plenty of room between the pieces, and use a soft material like mulch underneath the playground for protection. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Secondhand play equipment
- Evergreen bushes
- Tool shed
- Lattice
- Beltless tire
- Playground chain
- Nylon rope
Instructions
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Measure out the playground area, so you know how much space you're working with. List the different types of play equipment you want to include, such as a playhouse, swing set and sandbox. Sketch out where you will place each item, keeping in mind that you need several feet around swings and other components that move for safety.
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Look for secondhand swing sets and other play equipment at garage sales and in online ads. People often get rid of their old play sets for low prices as long as you haul them away. Rent or borrow a truck if you don't own one.
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Plant evergreen bushes in a square shape to create a natural hideout or playhouse. Leave a small space open without a bush to serve as the entrance.
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Recycle a tool shed into a playhouse. Another option is to use a lattice underneath a high backyard deck to create a playhouse or hideout area for your child.
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Remove a section of grass to create a dirt patch for digging and playing with trucks. This option is much cheaper than a sandbox and is often just as entertaining for children.
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Make a homemade tire swing with a used, beltless tire. Hang the tire with a playground chain or rope made from nylon.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
