securing kids equipment (cubby house / swing&slide)

[D007]

Hey folks 

Do you need to do anything special to the ground before installing kids outdoor play equipment? 

Our base is grass and we wanted to install 

- cubby house 

- slide and swing set 

Wanted to make sure the we have them in secure gound. Wasn't sure if people install concrete underneath or just place them on top of the grass?

Thanks 

- 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @D007,

The ground preparation really depends on the specific cubby, slide, and swing set you'll be installing. It's always best to start with compacted ground, ensuring it’s stable and won't subside over time. If the equipment is free-standing, that might be sufficient. However, if they need to be anchored or concreted in, you’ll need to factor that in as well.

Concrete pads under the contact points of the equipment could work, but I’d steer clear of using hard surfaces around areas where falls might happen. Instead, using a softer surface like mulch or fall and play matting is a much better option for safety. These materials will help cushion any falls and keep the ground more forgiving. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[D007]

Thanks Mitchell

As mentioned we have grass as our surface. 

Would we need to kill off any grass in the area that we were going to put the equipment and then apply the mulch? 

Much appreciated 

[MitchellMc]

I'd suggest installing weed matting over the grass and then adding your mulch, @D007. The grass will die off beneath the matting; no need to kill it first.

Mitchell