With more than 700 of them across Auckland, playgrounds are an ever-popular place for children.
However, every summer there is the risk children and their caregivers will come away sunburned as a result of prolonged exposure in the sun.
Auckland Council says shade, whether it be by shade sails overhead or planting new trees, is always an element in designing new or renewing playgrounds. Shade may also come in the form of sculptures, as part of the playground, acting as cover from the sun, or over-sized roofs.
"Where feasible, we follow the Auckland Design Manual when we build new play spaces or upgrade existing ones,” says Mark Bowater, Manager of Parks for the council.
"The design manual encourages us to think about incorporating natural shade from trees and ensuring shade is provided for not only playground users but those keeping an eye on them.
"We know sun exposure is a concern for parents and caregivers, so we encourage parental guidance, including, but not limited to, testing the surface temperatures of equipment by hand, as well as ensuring your children are sun smart.
"The best way to let us know what you want in a local playground, including what types of play equipment or shade we should provide, is to get involved in the design of local playgrounds," Mark says.
"This happens whenever new ones are being built, or existing ones are being upgraded. The council will consult with the local community via the local board, which ultimately has approval of the final playground design."
Tips for top playground design (from the Auckland Design Manual)
- Incorporate natural shade from trees.
- Ensure shade is provided for both play and seating areas.
- Consider the location of playgrounds in relation to existing mature shade trees.
- Consider the use of either fixed or seasonally installed shade structures, such as tensile fabric sails.
- Consider the use of oversized roofs or sculptural elements in play equipment to provide shade.
- Limit the use of unpainted steel in seating, sculpture and play elements, which become too hot under direct sunlight.
Find out more about your local board by visiting the Auckland Council website.
