Navigating Your Playground Journey: From Concept to Creation

Planning and Playground Design

Playground Planning & Design Starts Here

Embarking on a playground planning project or selecting commercial playground equipment can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be.

With over 25 years of experience in playground planning, design, manufacturing, and installation, our expert team is here to support you every step of the way.

At Active Playground Equipment, we go beyond industry standards—we help set them.
Our mission is to deliver safe, CSA-compliant playground equipment, paired with outstanding service and a smooth, guided planning process.

Our talented design team transforms your ideas into reality with detailed, photorealistic renderings that showcase each play structure in its proper environment and color scheme.

Want to see what we’ve built? View some of our completed playground projects for inspiration and ideas.

Let’s inspire imagination, movement, and meaningful play with a professionally designed and installed playground tailored to your space, budget, and community needs.

Plan with Confidence, Quote with Ease

Follow the steps below to help with playground planning and visualize your ideal playground layout. Once you're ready, explore our products and start building your quote — our team will guide you every step of the way. From your first question to final installation, we’re here to make the process simple, supportive, and stress-free.

Step 1

Determine Your Playground Needs

Starting your outdoor playground planning journey begins with asking the right questions. A little upfront clarity can lead to long-term success, ensuring your new playground equipment is perfectly suited to your goals, space, and users.

Here are a few important things to consider:

Who will be using the playground? What age group are you targeting—toddlers, school-aged children, or a mix of ages?
How many children will use the space? This helps size and scale your playground design appropriately.
Do you prefer traditional or natural play structures? Each offers different benefits in terms of aesthetics, play value, and theme.
What play elements are must-haves? Think about slides, climbers, tunnels, interactive panels, or themed components.
Will you need certified playground safety surfacing? Surfacing options like pour-in-place rubber, rubber tiles, engineered wood fiber, or ActiveTurf affect both safety and budget.
Do you need to complement existing playground features? Consider how new equipment will blend with or enhance what’s already on-site.
Will any old structures need to be removed? Factoring in site preparation early helps avoid delays later on.

By clearly defining your playground needs, you’ll be one step closer to a successful and safe play environment that supports fun, learning, and child development.

Step 2

Determine Your Budget

Creating a realistic and well-planned budget is essential to a successful playground design and installation project. Several key elements can impact overall costs, including:

Removal of existing playground equipment
Installation and labor costs
Certified playground safety surfacing
Shipping and delivery of equipment

A comprehensive budget accounts for both visible and hidden expenses, helping to avoid surprises down the road.

Working with an Active Playground Equipment representative can help you build an accurate estimate from the start. We’ll help you explore options, prioritize must-haves, and develop a quote that reflects your vision, timeline, and available resources.

Let’s turn your ideas into a realistic, actionable playground budget—designed to set your project up for success.

Step 3

Design a Play Space

Once you’ve selected your preferred outdoor playground equipment, it’s time to design a layout that brings it all together. Proper placement, safe spacing, and thoughtful flow are essential—not only for meeting CSA safety standards, but for creating an engaging and imaginative environment that encourages active play.

Working with your Active Playground Equipment representative, you’ll receive expert guidance on:

Playground equipment placement and orientation
Optimizing flow between play zones
Maximizing both safety and creativity

Your playground design plan will be carefully tailored to your site, age group, and goals—resulting in a cohesive, inviting space that fosters imagination, adventure, and joyful movement.

Step 4

Choose Your Colours

Colour plays a powerful role in creating the right atmosphere for your outdoor playground design. Whether you’re aiming for a calm, natural look that blends into the environment or a bold, vibrant playscape that grabs attention, the right colour palette brings your vision to life.

With playground colour options, you can:

Create natural playgrounds that reflect earthy tones and subtle aesthetics
Design high-energy play zones using bright, engaging colours
Align your playground with your brand colours for a cohesive, custom commercial playground experience

Customizing colours allows you to add personality and purpose to your play structures, giving your space a truly unique and memorable identity.