Why combine greenery and play in school playground design?
Designing a school playground means creating a space where children spend a significant part of their day. Greening the ground, creating shaded areas and encouraging biodiversity can improve the comfort of the playground while providing new opportunities for learning and exploration.
However, this transformation must also take into account how children use the space, meeting their developmental needs by providing areas where they can be physically active, play together and explore their surroundings. Play is also a valuable educational tool for teachers, who can use the playground’s features to introduce activities focused on nature and motor skills.
A playground designed for children and nature
Originally entirely covered in asphalt, the school playground needed to be redesigned to create a greener, more comfortable environment that better met children’s needs.
The aim was to create shaded, permeable spaces, encourage group play and provide activities suitable for different age groups, while offering children an environment that encourages them to discover nature.
At the heart of this transformation was a tree that already stood in the playground and held a special place in the project. The tree was preserved and incorporated into the new design. It has since become a central feature of the playground, providing greenery and shade while serving as the starting point for a new play area.
When trees and play come together
o integrate play into the heart of this school playground, Proludic proposed an Arborea Play® structure, designed to be installed around the existing tree.
The choice of this range reflected the landscape architect’s ambition to create a seamless connection between greenery and play. In this playground, the tree is therefore more than just a landscaping feature: it becomes an integral part of the play experience.
The vegetation and shaded areas improve comfort, while the various play activities encourage children to move, play together and explore their surroundings. The green school playground thus becomes a versatile space where nature and play come together every day.
This project demonstrates how a play area can be fully integrated into a green school playground design, bringing nature, play and discovery together in one shared space.
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Creating a green school playground helps combat urban heat islands and brings nature back into urban environments. Greening schoolyards also helps educate children about the environment while encouraging play through recreational equipment specially designed by Proludic.
Green playgrounds can be developed in a wide range of educational and childcare settings, including nursery schools, primary schools, middle schools, after-school care facilities, leisure centres and high schools.
Nurseries and kindergartens are also key beneficiaries of green school projects. Local authorities work in partnership with Proludic on schoolyard redevelopment projects, drawing on the company’s more than 35 years of experience as a manufacturer and developer of children’s playground equipment.
To develop an green school playground, you can turn to specialists in the field. Proludic supports architects, specialist engineering consultancies, local authorities and educational institutions in the design and development of green school playgrounds.
Several funding schemes may help support Cour Oasis projects. Local authorities may be able to apply for:
– Regional grants for greening public spaces.
– The French government’s Green Fund (Fonds vert), which supports climate change adaptation.
– Specific departmental grants for school playgrounds.
– European funding programmes, such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Proludic can help you identify funding schemes suited to your project and support you in preparing your grant applications.
Robinia wood is particularly well suited to creating bespoke playgrounds thanks to its natural strength and durability. Renowned for its exceptional robustness, it can withstand the demands of outdoor use over time, including exposure to changing weather conditions, moisture and natural deterioration.
Beyond its technical qualities, robinia wood brings significant aesthetic value to bespoke playgrounds. Its warm tones, natural grain and authentic appearance allow it to blend harmoniously into a wide range of outdoor settings, from urban and landscaped environments to more natural surroundings.
Each piece of wood has its own distinctive appearance, creating a lively and elegant finish that transforms the playground into a welcoming, engaging space that complements its surroundings.
Ceyzeriat, France
Location
France
Client
City of Ceyzériat
Sector
Local authority / School
Theme
Playground in green school
Age group
3+
Number of users
15+
