A great playground isn’t defined by how much equipment it has, but by how thoughtfully the space is designed. The best environments spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and keep safety at the forefront. Without proper planning, however, even the most visually appealing playground designs can miss the mark.
Whether you’re designing a play space for a school, ECE centre, private childcare facility, or public park, avoiding common pitfalls is key to creating a space that’s both engaging and safe. Here are five of the most common playground design mistakes we encounter, and what to do instead.
1. Overcrowding the space
One of the biggest mistakes in playground design is trying to cram too much into a small area. It might be tempting to include every type of play equipment possible, but a cluttered layout can confuse children, limit their movement, and increase the risk of accidental bumps and bruises.
Great playgrounds give kids room to move. There should be plenty of space between activities, with clearly defined zones for different types of play. Without that breathing room to run, rest, and explore, the space can feel overwhelming or even unsafe for tamariki.
A better way
Negative space is your friend! At Playscape, we design with flow in mind, allowing for clear sightlines and easy pathways between different play areas. This not only supports creativity but also strengthens playground safety. It helps to include a balance of active and quiet zones, with soft transitions between materials like grass, bark, sand, or timber decking. In many cases, less can be more, allowing room for kids’ imaginations to thrive in a space.
2. Designing too broadly
Another classic misstep? Designing for all ages at once without considering who the actual users will be. Equipment that’s too challenging for younger children or too simple for older ones often ends up unused, or worse, unsafe.
Kids develop at different speeds, and a well-designed playground should support those milestones. If the equipment doesn’t match their stage of development, it won’t hold their attention and could pose a safety risk.
A better way
Design with your primary age group in mind while allowing flexibility for growth. This might mean creating separate zones for toddlers and older children or including features that scale with ability, like climbing structures with multiple entry points. We favour nature-based play pieces like sand pits, water channels, and winding pathways, all of which offer open-ended use across a wide age range.
3. Poor supervision lines
Some of the most avoidable playground design mistakes come down to visibility. If a teacher or caregiver can’t see every part of the playground, supervision becomes patchy and safety becomes a problem. Blind spots are where accidents, unsafe behaviour, or even wandering outside of boundaries tend to happen. Great play spaces empower you, as a caregiver, to stay watchful while giving kids enough freedom to roam according to their imaginations.
A better way
It’s important to design play spaces with open sightlines in mind. This is why we strategically place tall structures or dense plantings in area’s that wont obstruct the view. When natural elements like trees or dirt mounds become part of the design, it’s easier to enhance the space without creating any hidden corners. You’ll know it’s successful when supervision feels effortless, rather than a constant run to keep up.
4. Equipment over experience
It’s easy to think of a playground as a checklist of gear: swings, slide, monkey bars — done. But the best playgrounds offer more than just equipment. They’re open plan spaces that invite tamariki to be imaginative with their play, and that means going beyond the catalogue of standard equipment. Children thrive on imaginative play, especially when they can engage all their senses and interact with the environment in unexpected ways. That’s why sensory elements and opportunities for open-ended exploration are so important. Static equipment alone doesn’t always spark that sense of wonder or discovery.
A better way
Think beyond the playground catalogue. At Playscape, we embrace the use of natural features and topography, like gentle hills, boulders, logs, and water elements, to create spaces that feel organic and engaging. These features not only spark imaginative play but also encourage physical development, problem-solving, and sensory exploration.
5. No plan for nature!
Another common mistake is failing to plan for natural conditions like sun, rain, and drainage. A site might look great on paper, but if it’s too hot in summer or waterlogged in winter, kids won’t be able to use it safely. Playgrounds should help tamariki connect with the outdoors, not avoid it. Without shelter, good drainage, or natural features to explore, the space can go unused for large parts of the year.
A better way
Observe how the sun, shade, and water move through the space across the seasons. Use trees, pergolas, or shade sails for comfort. Ensure drainage is built into the base design so surfaces remain safe and dry. Natural materials and thoughtful planting can support biodiversity while enhancing the play experience year-round.
Embrace natural playground design with Playscape
Understanding these common design mistakes is key, but avoiding them isn’t about perfection. It’s about thoughtful, child-centred design. By creating natural spaces that support how children play, how caregivers supervise, and how the environment behaves, we build playgrounds that offer joy, safety, and endless opportunity.
Whether you’re refreshing an existing space or starting from scratch, good design makes all the difference. If you’re ready to create a safe, nature-inspired play space that kids will love, the team at Playscape is here to help. Get in touch today to discuss your requirements.