The days are getting longer, the weather’s finally getting a little warmer, and everyone is catching that itch to get back outside again – especially children. There are really lots of things to like about spring, but there are other things to be mindful of, too. Longer days and more direct rays of sunshine mean more UV exposure, and it’s helpful to have some reliable shade in place to help protect children, adults, play features, and other equipment.
Open-air recreational facilities like playgrounds are great for bringing children, families, and school groups together, and provide many benefits in terms of fun, physical health, entertainment, improved social skills, educational applications & opportunities, and more. But no matter the layout of your outdoor facility, everybody likes to have it made in the shade. To that end, there’s one essential outdoor amenity you really can’t afford to ignore: shade.
Whether by means of installing a shade sail, fabric shade, playground canopy, or some other type of commercial shade structure, shade matters. It doesn’t just provide immediate protection from the effects of sun and precipitation; the proper shade solution will help to keep your equipment – and your visitors – a bit cooler too. Here are a few specific benefits worth considering:
What might the right type and amount of shade coverage look like for your playground? Here are some examples of shade solutions which are practical, flexible, and customizable to suit your specific needs:
A sail shade arrangement can be installed over your entire outdoor play area if you like, and you can choose from a number of attractive geometric shapes and patterns. Shade sails come in many sizes, shapes, and colors, so there’s really no limit to the possibilities. Shade sails can also be partially overlapped to provide even broader coverage for key outdoor spaces.
Looking for a more affordable option for your playground? You might consider taking advantage of a modular shade solution. With modular shade, the canopy can be integrated right into the existing support posts of a playground structure. This is easy to include with a new playground installation project, but can also be added on to an existing playground facility without a lot of fuss.
Speaking of integrated shade, a shade canopy can be mounted over a freestanding swing set as well. Some swing frames are even designed for easy incorporation of an overhead shade canopy. These swing set canopies have proven to be very popular for schools, preschools, daycares, and local parks across the country.
Smaller play areas like freestanding climbers, musical features, and other play centers benefit from having protected shade, too. You might consider going with a single-post umbrella or cantilever umbrella shade installation. The single-post support unit can be an attractive solution if you’re looking to maximize usable play space around your installed play features.
And don’t forget about your benches or other sitting areas – people prefer to sit in the shade versus being fully exposed in direct sunlight. There are shade mounts which can be installed right on the back of an individual standard park bench, along with some of the other shade options mentioned above.
As you may guess from our name, Carolina Recreation & Design is in the business of installing commercial playgrounds and outdoor recreational equipment – but we do offer much more than just that. We can help ensure that your outdoor play space is made in the shade, both for your child participants and for your adult observers. Plus, we can take care of all your site design, site preparation, and site amenity needs in NC, SC, VA, and TN!
Carolina Recreation & Design isn’t just a vendor or a dealer; we’re really a complete outdoor solution provider! In addition to the items listed above, we can also install everything from play features, to fitness features, to safety surfacing, to picnic shelters, to gazebos, to standalone restrooms and concession facilities. We’re happy to partner with local schools, preschools, daycares, churches & faith centers, hospitals, parks, HOAs, community centers, businesses, municipalities, and more across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Got some questions? Ready to get started? Connect with us through this simple form, or for a faster response just give us a call at (704) 664-1833 today! Carolina Recreation & Design has all your commercial playground, recreation equipment, site development, and shade solution needs covered!
Carolina Recreation & Design is a full-service general contracting company offering turnkey installation of recreational products for parks, schools, churches, clubs, daycares and amusement parks. We offer premium-quality commercial products that are safe, fun, and built to last.