Trends in the purchase of playground equipment

by the J.E. Burke Company

The following report is based on an initial 430 survey returns from municipal parks directors nationwide. Two of three serve communities of less than 25,000 population; 29 percent serve communities with 25,000 to 100,000 population, and 5 percent serve cities with more than 100,000 residents.

Buying Decisions. Sixty-one percent of municipal parks directors make the final decision on playground equipment purchases. Community action groups and politicians are primary influencers of the overall decision to purchase, followed by park boards, fraternal/service organizations, school boards and city councils. Community action groups and politicians also are the key influencers of specific types and construction material of equipment, followed by park boards, fraternal/service organizations and school boards.

Forty-five percent of the respondents said they tend to buy playground equipment in the spring; 22 percent, winter; 17 percent, fall, and 16 percent, summer.

Economic Considerations. Sixty percent of parks directors have playground equipment budgets, prepared annually by nearly all. Tax revenues were the key source of funding but federal and state grants and matching funds, and community groups, also are major sources. Fifty-two percent will spend more or the same for playground equipment this year compared to last, and 65 percent expect to spend more in 1982 than in '81.

For new equipment purchases, 55 percent of parks directors have less than $5,000 to spend; 14 percent, $5,000 to $10,000; 20 percent, $10,000 to $25,000, and 11 percent, more than $25,000. For maintenance, 36 percent have less than $1,000; 61 percent have $1,000 to $10,000, and 3 percent have more than $10,000.

Nearly half the parks directors said that increasing costs force purchase of high quality, long lasting equipment, while others are cutting back on new equipment purchases. Sixty-seven percent require bids for playground equipment, but 76 percent do not always buy on the basis of lowest bid.

Equipment Selection. In rating steel, wood and plastic/fiberglass playground equipment for their relative qualities, steel was judged best in all four survey categories: strength and durability, minimum maintenance, safety and long life. In the latter category, 66 percent rated steel "good" while only 23 percent said the same of wood and 11 percent said the same for plastic/fiberglass. For strength/durability, steel was rated tops by 61 percent of the respondents; for minimum maintenance, 58 percent, and for safety, 45 percent, compared to 27 percent for wood and 28 percent for plastic.

Seventy-two percent of all playground equipment currently in use is primarily made of steel. While

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directors praise steel for the qualities noted above, it is personally preferred by only 38 percent of those responding to the question. Most common reason given for a wood preference was "aesthetics," or a similar word or phrase.

Still, more directors said their next purchase will be steel playground equipment rather than wood or plastic. Swings, slides and climbers will be most often purchased in the next 12 months.

Placement of Equipment. Most common surface base, by order of responses, are grass (30 percent), sand (28 percent), dirt, wood chips, asphalt, crushed stone and concrete. Sixty percent of parks directors said their playgrounds are not enclosed. Among the 26 percent who have a professionally trained playground planner on their staff, 77 percent identified themselves.

Relationships with Suppliers. Well over half of the directors buy from both manufacturer and dealer on occasion and receive playground design assistance from both sources. A somewhat larger number said they do not receive equipment installation help. Among the 25 percent of respondents who noted a problem with equipment sources, 70 percent said it is delays in equipment deliveries.

Miscellaneous. Six of 10 parks directors said no to the question on federal guidelines for purchases. If created, however, the guidelines would be followed by most, they said. Fifty-six percent of respondents do not feel a need for more guidance in purchasing playground equipment.

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