How to Incorporate Landscape Architecture in Playgrounds & Public Spaces

Playgrounds and public spaces are the backbones of urban hubs like Greater Chicago.

These places shape neighborhood ties, facilitate interaction with nature and with others, and improve the local environment.

Well-designed and well-maintained parks foster a sense of belonging. Public park landscaping that is accessible, comfortable, useful, and attractive can do wonders for a community. Kid-friendly landscape design is an important part of this process.

But you might be wondering how you can design a better, kid-friendly local landscape and what specifics make these spaces attractive for folks to enjoy and return to again and again.

Let’s dive into landscape design for parks and landscaping for public spaces to help you better comprehend what these places require to provide maximum impact and usefulness.

Who Can Design Public Parks Landscaping?

You might be wondering whether landscaping for playgrounds requires a certified landscape architect or whether a landscape designer can do the job.

In reality, the design of play spaces can involve multiple professionals, including architects, landscape designers, and engineers. Whether a licensed architect is required depends on the project's scope, complexity, and location.

Many municipalities allow landscape designers to manage smaller playground designs if the project meets local safety standards. Landscape designers can usually work on:

• Smaller parks, gardens, or playgrounds integrated with softscapes (grass, trees, paths).
• Natural play spaces that emphasize elements like climbing rocks, sand pits, or native plantings.
• Projects without significant structures (e.g., bridges, large shelters, or pavilions).
• Public parks with limited infrastructure focus on aesthetics, accessibility, and child-friendly landscapes.
• Larger or more complex projects involving structural elements often require a licensed architect or engineer. Some examples include:
• Playground equipment installations with custom or complex structures.
• Built infrastructure, like bridges, shelters, retaining walls, or drainage systems.
• Municipal or school district playgrounds, where local laws require a licensed architect to oversee the project for safety and liability.
• Projects with building permits: If the playground requires permits for structures, a licensed professional must often be involved in signing off on the plans.

A licensed landscape architect (not just a designer) can handle natural and built elements, making them suitable for larger public park landscaping. In some states or municipalities, only licensed landscape architects can legally design public play spaces to ensure compliance with safety codes.

In many cases, landscape designers work alongside architects or engineers to bring their expertise in plantings, pathways, and outdoor layouts. If the play space has softscapes and built structures, a collaborative approach ensures the aesthetic and structural components meet safety, accessibility, and durability standards.

What Unique Features Can Be Incorporated Into Landscape Design for Parks?

Public park landscaping is a place to shine when it comes to creativity in design.

For instance, you can incorporate sensory and educational elements that make your park stand out.

Sensory gardens, for example, can include fragrant flowers like lavender or mint and textural plants like fountain grass to engage touch and smell. Plants that change with the seasons provide year-round dynamic experiences.

Adding interactive elements can also engage children. For example, edible plants like herbs, strawberries, or cherry tomatoes in small raised beds can teach children about gardening. Another interactive idea is the addition of wind chimes or musical stones to incorporate sound.

Nature-based play areas are also great ways to bring park landscape design to life. These can involve using boulders, stumps, or fallen logs for climbing and balancing challenges or adding splash pads or misting stations for safe water fun.

Finally, designing a special plant area to match a park theme, such as tropical plants for a jungle vibe or pollinator gardens with bees and butterflies for an eco-themed space, can ensure greater use.

What kind of safety considerations are important when landscaping Public spaces?

Safety is incredibly important in public park landscaping.

When KD Landscape designs and maintains play spaces, it must meet several safety metrics and standards to ensure compliance, reduce liability, and create a safe, enjoyable environment for users.

These metrics focus on injury prevention, accessibility, and durability, following established guidelines from organizations like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ASTM International, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Some key areas of focus include:

• Surface selection and impact absorption in case of a fall.
• Equipment spacing and use zoning should ensure clearance around playground equipment and sufficient openings so children's heads or limbs can’t get accidentally stuck.
• Age-appropriate play areas with clear signage for each section.
• Accessibility for disabilities that meet ADA requirements.
• Non-toxic, durable materials that stand up in the heat and are weather-resistant are used.
• Routine inspections and maintenance metrics, so loose bolts or broken equipment can be repaired, vandalism managed, and standards upheld.
• Guardrail and barrier requirements.

Environmental safety considerations include proper drainage, shade structures (large trees like oaks or maples, pergolas, shade sails or trellises covered with climbing plants), and non-toxic or harmful plants in the surrounding landscaping. This includes incorporating windbreaks using evergreen shrubs or tall grasses.

A design that involves clear lines of sight for caregivers of children, such as choosing low shrubs or buffer zones that keep playgrounds insulated for nearby roads or parking lots.

KD Landscape Can Help You Elevate Your Landscaping for Playgrounds

Creating a well-loved, functional, and safe landscape design for parks can be tough.

However, KD Landscape has a broad skill set, a specialization in working in tough environments, and strategic design and maintenance plans to bring your vision to life.

Our proactive planning allows us to identify potential challenges—from plant diseases to drainage issues—before they become major problems. We have experience handling public contracts and adhering to safety standards, ADA compliance, and stormwater management guidelines.

Our team has a history of following through on commitments, consistently delivering high-quality results on time and within budget, ensuring long-term client satisfaction.

Want to learn more about commercial landscape design and maintenance in Greater Chicago? Get started today with a free quote. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice.