Playground Canopy
The outdoors offers children endless opportunities for learning and physical activity. But it’s important that adults take steps to safeguard their young ones against the elements. High temperatures and ultraviolet rays pose serious health threats to kids that range from mild dehydration to permanent skin damage. Installing a Playground Canopy ensures that kids are able to play outside safely while remaining protected from the sun’s harmful rays.
A well-designed playground shade canopy is more than just a protective structure. It can also define the playground landscape and set it apart from other school outdoor spaces. In fact, it can improve campus aesthetics by creating an eye-catching focal point for kids and their families to gather around. Plus, playground canopies can come in a variety of shapes and colors to align with the color scheme of the surrounding area.
Choosing the right shade structure for a school’s playground is all about evaluating the most important elements of the area, including how often the site is used and what kinds of activities it serves as an anchor for. If a shade structure can’t keep up with the amount of use it receives, its durability may suffer and its ability to provide protection to visitors may be compromised.
In addition to selecting a structure that’s well-suited to the space, it’s crucial to pick one that will be easy for school staff to maintain and manage. If a shade structure is difficult to clean, it can quickly accumulate dirt and debris that attract damaging microorganisms like mold and mildew. And if these contaminants build up too much, the structure could begin to degrade, reducing its ability to protect students and faculty from harsh elements.
A playground shade should offer a high level of UV protection while still offering a clear view of the surrounding environment. To achieve this, look for a structure with an open weave or mesh that lets air circulate while blocking a large percentage of UV rays. For an even higher level of UV protection, consider a shade structure that uses specialized fabric to block the rays while still allowing visible light to pass through.
Depending on the type of playground shade you choose, you might need to consider how many posts it will have and the size of the coverage area. For example, a hip-style structure with a single support pole can protect areas of up to 30-by-40 feet. Or, opt for a full cantilever shade that utilizes two supports outside the shaded area for even more space coverage.
Playground shade structures can be free-standing structures or attached to a playground’s safety surfacing. If the latter option is preferred, look for a canopy that features a low-profile design that won’t interfere with the surface of the safety surfacing beneath it.