Outdoor Play – Atlanta Treehouse Ideas and Other Backyard Fun

Remember when having an “outdoor play area” at home meant that you had a simple metal swing set sitting right in the center of the backyard? Typically, it featured two swings (that creaked and threatened to tip the whole structure over if you swung too high) and an often-rickety metal slide (that would burn the back of your legs after sitting in the sun all afternoon). If you were really lucky, there might be monkey bars and a set of gymnastics-inspired rings. 

Those vintage play sets certainly hold a lot of fond memories for many people, but times have changed…for the better. Today, outdoor play areas can be as unique, fun and exciting as the homeowners themselves, with options abounding for both adults and kids. All it takes is some imagination and the help of professionals who specialize in creating a bit of outdoor magic. 

 

Scott Chatham of Chatham Landscape Services, Inc. concurs, stating, “People increasingly want active landscapes—spaces that are useful as well as attractive.” Therefore, today’s outdoor play areas are designed not only with particular activities in mind, but also are created in a way that allows them to fit seamlessly into the yards in which they are being placed. And the possibilities of what can be done with an outdoor space truly are endless. 

 

Catering to all groups and interests is an important part of designing a successful and appealing outdoor play area. According to Dixie Speck of Solterra Landscape, “What we see with our residential clients is interest in creating areas and installing structures for kids’ sports play and practice and camouflaging them within a nice landscape. Most popular are batting cages, trampolines and level lawn areas for soccer and football.” Additionally, plastic slides can be installed into a hillside for an almost hidden treasure for little ones. And trampolines no longer have to be an eyesore, with in-ground structures featuring above ground enclosures that are available today. Also growing in popularity: zip lines. The key to making it all work together, Butler says, is to spread the activities throughout the yard.   

 

For many homeowners, what’s important is to create a space that appeals to adults and kids simultaneously. “I like to create a play area where kids and adults can play together,” Butler explains. Even a treehouse can offer entertainment for young and old. 

Des Williams of Sugar Hill Outdoors often installs sports fields for his clients, both young and old. He advises that, “…for any kind of athletic field, homeowners should allow good open space ranging from 3000 to 5000 square feet. They also need to take into account proper drainage to allow the athletic field to drain and stay dry after heavy rains. We also recommend installing an irrigation system, having the area sanded with river sand to avoid tripping over uneven areas and installing a great light source for extended use at night.” How much might a sports field cost?  “Depending on the amount of preparation needed​, size, and type of turf can be from $5,000 to $75,000.”

 

 

Regarding the amount of space you have, consider the features you want. Speck reveals that for play sets, the minimum clearance needed around the periphery is six feet; Butler adds that this six-foot zone should be outfitted with bark or rubber chips for safety purposes. For bocce ball courts, Speck continues, the standard size is 76 feet long by 13 feet wide—but that is too large for most residential properties; the minimum size for good play quality is 30 feet by 10 feet. Chatham says that outdoor ball areas require a minimum space of 45 by 80 feet, while a trampoline needs at least a 15-foot diameter. And a batting cage will use up approximately 15 by 45 by 80 feet of space. A tree house can be customized, although Culbreth notes that many homeowners begin with a 10-foot by 10-foot plan, which offers a large covered fort and a wraparound porch (and can be outfitted with additional accessories as requested).      

 

While many of Atlanta TreeHouse’s structures range from $3,000 to $4,000, the amount spent on outdoor play  equipment can run much higher depending on your wants and needs. According to Speck, “Budgets range from a few hundred dollars for a simple play structure to more than $30,000 for a sport court.” Even a fire pit can run the final cost up. “Depending on the size and materials used, costs range from $500 to $10,000,” he adds. 

 

 

“For us, the value is not necessarily monetary. When I think of the value derived, I think of the memories that can be created with such a unique outdoor space,” Culbreth concludes. “There’s a value in allowing your kids to have their own escape in the backyard—a place where they can explore, use their imagination and enjoy being a kid.”