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Why Work with an Independent Designer on Your Outdoor Play Space?

What’s the difference between a landscape architect, landscape designer and landscape contractor – and will any of them provide unbiased information on creating a  naturalized outdoor playground? Read on for insight from an expert with over a decade of experience!

White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group has been designing naturalized outdoor playgrounds for more than 13 years.  You can see examples of our projects at www.whitehutchinson.com/children/playgroundexp.shtml.

Because of the depth of our experience, we’re often asked questions about outdoor play space design. Such as:

• Why do you need an independent designer to work on your outdoor space?
• What is the difference between a landscape architect and a landscape designer?
• What differences can you expect between using a design/build outdoor company and bidding out your project to landscape contractors?

We’d like to offer our thoughts with you on these specific points . . .

Independent consultants/designers
An independent consultant/designer can provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to make your outdoor naturalized playground work on all levels: developmentally, for the various ages of the children; environmentally, for everyone’s health and for the health of our planet; botanically, as many plants are poisonous to children; seasonally, because we go outdoors every day; and architecturally, as the indoors and outdoors are connected. An independent designer/consultant will involve your staff, teachers and parents in the change process needed to implement a naturalized outdoor space. Through surveys, site visits, outdoor observations, concept plans and cost estimations, he or she can help you find the right plants, the most appropriate materials and the right equipment for the project.

It’s important to keep in mind that while playground companies may call their sales staff “consultants” and/or “designers,” it is ultimately the job of those individuals to sell you equipment --  not to give you a naturalized playground. Be aware: Playground company staff make commissions on every piece of equipment they sell. There is a built-in bias, as the designers are selling you what they design, which may or may not be naturalized. They are not independent or objective in their recommendations, or in their advice. This may not be the best resource for you if you want to naturalize your outdoor play spaces. 

Landscape designers
A landscape designer provides design ideas, conceptual plans and planting plans according to the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.  They do not provide any structural analyses or site engineering, but leave this important piece to either the landscape architect or the civil engineer.  If you have an outdoor renovation project where your site has drainage issues, you would need this valuable service. Otherwise, when the outdoor environment is built, you will still have drainage problems.  I have visited several early childhood sites where staff had engaged the services of a playground company. They thought they were getting the site’s drainage needs met but, when the yard was built with the new plantings and equipment, it still had drainage problems. Your project is likely to need the services of a landscape architect if you are affiliated with any school, university or similar agencies, as the drawings must be sealed and put out to bid to a landscape contractor.  You are also likely to need the services of a designer who is very knowledgble of how the Americans with Disabilities Act works for outdoor naturalized playgrounds.

Landscape architects
Landscape architects have undergraduate and graduate degrees in Landscape Architecture and are licensed by the state in which they work.  They can get reciprocal licensing in other states.  Their focus is on designing and engineering exterior environments.  These are your “drainage guys,” as I say!  Some landscape architects have an interest and knowledge of plant materials, but in my experience, most use a fairly small range of plant species on projects. Unless they have a minor in Horticulture or do home gardening, you’ll get the type of plants generally used around office buildings and parking lots of businesses. Landscape architects also usually have a limited knowledge of how children use plants materials, which is very different than the manner in which adults use plant materials.

Landscape contractors
Landscape contractors are licensed by the state in which they implement the plans of landscape designers and architects.  Usually, they provide competitive bids for their services. However, some companies are now providing what is called design/build services for the outdoor environment.  Again, if the design/build firm is designing and providing you with equipment, naturalized or not, there is an inherent conflict of interest.  I have also seen some companies who call their work “naturalized,” but will then build you a “tree” out of wooden scraps.  What happened to the beauty, shade and sensory stimulation a real tree can bring?  Also some of these so-called “naturalized” environments offer little sun protection for children’s sensitive skins against the harmful UV rays now present in our environment.

Having the right resources
Another piece of getting your staff on the right track for a truly naturalized outdoor area is having the right resources.  Our company provides each one of our projects with a master plan, a cost estimate, planning/phasing advice, technical information, safety information, natural play resource guides and horticultural materials.  Most early childhood staff members know little about how to maintain plants, and without this knowledge, the plants are not likely to do well.  Also, staff needs to be knowledgeable of the outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act and safety information.  I have seen many outdoor areas that are neither ADA compliant or fully compliant with safety regulations.  Both situations can put your center at a liability risk.

Below is our latest garden to be built in Kenosha, Wisconsin, for children ages 2-12.  As you can see, the master plan is heavily landscaped, and it came with the cost estimate and a 750-page resource manual!  Call our team of independent designers to help support you, your staff and parents as you renovate your outdoor playground.

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