Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it also requires an entire community for the best playgrounds to be built. From the playground equipment that can cater to all ages to supporting amenities that provide comfort for both kids and adults, the magic of play spaces reflecting community needs does not happen overnight—it starts with a town hall.
Whether you are building play areas for your neighborhood or institutions, this guide is here to help you organize and turn your town halls into a launchpad for an inspiring, community-built playground.
Think about the common playground planning process. What usually happens is that the organization committee holds a meeting behind closed doors, tackling budgets, choosing play equipment from catalogs, and making assumptions about what everybody wants. The typical outcome? A generic playground that sometimes meets, but often falls short of, the community’s actual needs and interests.
A town hall or a public meeting flips this approach on its head. By creating a forum where parents, children, seniors, teachers, and neighbors can all contribute their perspectives, you gain insights that standard brochures often overlook, such as:
These voices—when genuinely heard—prevent costly mistakes and reveal opportunities that might otherwise be missed. A successful town hall that ignites creative ideas, practical concerns, and unique cultural insights can elevate your playground from cookie-cutter to community landmark.
Meetings are the least favorite activity for everyone, but when done right, they could achieve meaningful results. Here’s how to make meetings unforgettable:
If you simply ask, “What kind of playground do you want?” expect a lot of “swings and slides” and other generic answers. While these are acceptable answers, they would barely scratch the surface. Instead, try questions that get people thinking beyond the obvious:
Answers here guide and evoke potential themes and styles. If people mention nature, think forest-themed. If history comes up, structures mirroring a treasured heritage or a famous landmark can be ideal.
Clarify age groups, accessibility features, and social expectations. Should it have toddler zones? Quiet sensory areas? Equipment for older kids? This question narrows down the target audience and their potential needs.
This taps into emotional design from color, layout, shade, seating, and safety. You get to see the collective view of an ideal playground designed with the users in mind.
This is great for identifying pitfalls to avoid and addressing overlooked problems. By taking advantage of personal experiences and preferences, you could come up with a playground design full of solutions.
The best ideas often come from the most unexpected voices. Expect unconventional to wild gems here, from climbing volcanoes to art walls to splash pads. When done right, this feature could become the community’s iconic landmark as well.
Encourage small group discussions or sticky-note brainstorming stations for those who may be hesitant to speak up in front of a crowd. This not only sparks deeper dialogue but also prevents meeting fatigue.
Once the town hall wraps up, the real work begins: translating ideas into a cohesive, buildable playground design.
Group comments by theme—safety, creativity, accessibility, themes, age groups, etc. Highlight patterns or frequently mentioned ideas. For example, if “more shade” and “accessible paths” appear over and over, those become top priorities.
Bring in your playground design team early. When working with a provider like AAA State of Play, you can share your town hall results and let their experts recommend layouts, equipment, and themes that align with your goals and budget. It may be impossible to cater to all preferences, but what matters is to accurately reflect the spirit of community input.
Share progress through newsletters, social posts, or posters in public spaces. Let people know: “You spoke. We listened. Here’s what’s happening.” Transparency keeps excitement high and builds trust throughout the process.
The best playgrounds aren’t just built for communities—they are shaped through meaningful conversations and collaboration, with communities involved at every step.
At AAA State of Play, we offer more than just playground equipment—we offer partnership. We make it easy to get people engaged and excited with our special services:
We’ve helped hundreds of communities just like yours build spaces that feel personal, just like home. Not generic. Not cookie-cutter. Authentic. Amplifying. Adored.
So when your town is ready to move from ideas to action, reach out to us today, and let’s build something unforgettable—together!
Mandy has been a playground salesperson and CPSI-certified playground inspector for 12 years. Her passion for play shines through her work, and with years of experience in the playground world, her knowledge of playground safety is unparalleled. In her free time, Mandy enjoys watching her kids play baseball.
