Playground Spring Maintenance: A Post-Winter Readiness Guide
After a long winter of freezing temperatures, snow accumulation, and harsh weather, playgrounds often require more attention than many administrators realize. For schools and municipalities, spring preparation isn’t just about appearance — it’s about safety, compliance, and protecting your investment.
Freeze-thaw cycles, snowplows, de-icing chemicals, and months of moisture can impact playground equipment and surfacing in ways that aren’t immediately visible. Before reopening your play space, follow this comprehensive spring readiness checklist.
Begin with the overall playground environment:
Winter cleanup equipment and snow piles often shift materials or damage site elements. A thorough walkthrough now can prevent costly repairs later.
Safety surfacing plays a critical role in fall protection and liability reduction.
Loose-fill surfacing (like engineered wood fiber):
Unitary surfacing (like poured-in-place rubber):
Maintaining correct surfacing depth and condition ensures compliance with ASTM and CPSC guidelines and protects children from preventable injuries.
Winter weather can loosen hardware and stress materials.
Inspect:
Look for corrosion, cracking, and loose or missing fasteners. Tighten bolts and replace damaged parts promptly. If shade structures were winterized, reinstall fabric in preparation for warmer weather.
If issues exceed routine maintenance, consult a manufacturer-certified technician.
Spring is the ideal time to establish or refresh a maintenance schedule.
As a trusted partner of Landscape Structures, we provide a free personalized playground maintenance kit with each new playground order. The kit includes:
You can also review general maintenance best practices directly from Landscape Structures.
Before reopening, schedule a certified playground safety inspection to:
Unless your playground is brand new and installed by a manufacturer-certified installer, it is likely due for a professional safety audit.
A well-prepared playground does more than look refreshed — it demonstrates your commitment to safety, compliance, and community well-being.
Spring readiness protects your investment and ensures children return to a safe, welcoming space for active outdoor play.
Need help preparing your playground for spring? Contact us today to schedule an inspection or maintenance consultation.
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