Chapter 3:
Which playground companies are best?
creospace.co.nz
In this section, we’ll look at the various types of playground companies in New Zealand and outline what they have to offer. As you have probably discovered already, there are many different types of playground company out there which can be broken down into the following categories: • • • •
Playground Designers Play Equipment Suppliers Play Surfacing Installers Playground Builders
Playground Designers In New Zealand, most playground designs are done by landscape architects, who are skilled designers of outdoor spaces. A small number of landscape architects in New Zealand specialise in playgrounds, but most would be considered generalists who can design for many different types of outdoor space. Landscape architects generally only supply designs. Once they have completed that, you would work with a construction or landscaping company to build your playground.
Playground Equipment Suppliers There is a range of playground equipment suppliers in New Zealand and most of them import their equipment from overseas. Playground equipment companies will generally provide installation and will sometimes offer basic playground design and project management services.
Playground Surfacing Suppliers Playground surfacing services in New Zealand are generally provided by specialist surfacing companies. Traditionally, bark and woodchip surfacing were the favoured play surfaces in New Zealand playgrounds, but recently, more modern rubber and PVC tile surfaces, with their high safety ratings and improved durability, have come to the fore.
Full-Service Playground Builders Full-service playground builders are a new breed of playground company in New Zealand. They focus on offering an integrated suite of playground building services from concept design through to equipment procurement, project management, installation, and construction. Some companies (like Creo) go further and include bespoke equipment manufacturing and specialist play surfacing installation.
