Today’s amusement parks have become all-season attractions for large crowds, and investing in indoor entertainment can boost visitor satisfaction and increase revenue. As a contractor, you can help operators ride this trend by providing expertise in indoor playgrounds for amusement parks, from initial conversations through final installation. To successfully integrate them into an existing park, you need to have a deep understanding of the space, safety, theming and the equipment partner selection.
Why Indoor Play is a Strategic Game-Changer for Amusement Parks
Installing an indoor playground at an amusement park provides a revenue source, whatever the weather. Visitors can use the area during rain, snow or extreme heat when other outdoor attractions become unavailable, making the amusement park a year-round destination. Additionally, families with toddlers and young children are more likely to visit because of the space’s accommodations.
Top indoor playground designer Soft Play helps increase guests’ dwell time and secondary spend with its highly engaging and customized play areas. These spaces give parents a much-needed break time, which allows the family to stay longer in the amusement park and enjoy other amenities like food, beverages and merchandise.
The Planning and Design Phase
Here are specific and technical details you need to consider during this foundation stage.
1. Site Assessment and Spatial Analysis
The intended physical footprint dictates the entire project. Key measurements you need to check include square footage and ceiling height. These factors determine what multilevel structures you can place in the area. Additionally, identify structural obstacles as early as possible. Check for columns, low-hanging ductwork and utility access points, and make sure to integrate them into the design for safety.
Strategically build this project in line with the park’s master plan. Family-oriented zones, restrooms and food courts provide great locations to ensure maximum usage and convenience.
2. Designing for Specific Age Demographics
Designers create the best playgrounds with specific developmental stages and needs in mind, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Toddler zones best suit the needs and preferences of children aged three years old and below. They require a ground-level, padded floor with plenty of sensory activities. Examples of these include tactile wall panels, soft-sculpted climbers and low-to-the-ground slides that encourage motor skill development in a safe environment.
Children aged 5-12 will have a lot of fun in contained playgrounds with adventurous designs. Multilevel towers, spiral and wave slides, web-climbs and tube crawls challenge older and more energetic kids both physically and mentally.
3. Theming as an Extension of the Park Brand
The playground’s theme is an important element. It needs to be a natural extension of the park’s brand and its specific design and space use. For example, a pirate-themed zone can have a playground shaped like a ship, with blue floor padding to represent the ocean. Or a jungle section of the park can feature animal-shaped climbers and tropical tree designs. This transforms the playground from just an activity area into an immersive experience.
4. Engineering for Safety, Compliance and Inclusivity
Safety is the most important design factor. All equipment should meet or exceed ASTM F1918, which is the standard for soft contained play equipment. This standard takes into account different safety parameters such as fall heights, entrapment prevention and structural integrity. Incorporate inclusive design, including ramps and wheelchair access, to accommodate all children and their needs.
Find equipment from manufacturers that adhere to the highest standards and have extensive experience in this field. This necessary risk management step helps prevent playground-related emergency room visits.
The Difference a True Design Partner Makes
Soft Play is a global leader in designing and manufacturing contained playground equipment, with over 40 years of industry experience. The company designs, engineers and assembles its products in the U.S., with high emphasis on safety, durability and accessibility in mind. A deep knowledge of material strength, crowd-flow dynamics and maintenance needs enables them to create industry-leading products, such as Burger King playgrounds, Kennedy Space Center experiential play space and Denver International Airport play area.
These playgrounds help keep businesses profitable while also boosting creativity and encouraging play in children through innovative and engaging designs. Soft Play’s long history and wide range of portfolio serve as proof of its commitment to safety.
Some of the key features in partnering with industry leader Soft Play include:
- Unmatched industry expertise
- Verified manufacturing expertise and material science
- 3D renderings and CAD drawings to help clients visualize the final product
- Full spectrum of tailored solutions
- True end-to-end partner in the process
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following are the most commonly asked questions about building indoor playgrounds for amusement parks.
What is a realistic project timeline?
A project timeline typically takes several weeks or more, depending on the project scope. The design team finalizes the plan and makes revisions during the first few weeks. The second stage involves manufacturing and shipping the playground equipment. A certified team handles on-site installation during the last one to two weeks.
What are the ongoing maintenance requirements?
Regular maintenance includes cleaning surfaces daily and checking netting, clamps and structural components for wear and tear every week. A certified technician conducts a more thorough inspection each year, in accordance with industry standards.
Beyond ASTM, what certifications are important?
The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association certification is also important, as it provides third-party validation that a manufacturer complies with the ASTM safety standard, giving operators greater peace of mind.
Build the Next Generation of Family Fun
Indoor playgrounds in amusement parks are a core component of many modern entertainment hubs. Contractors can help parks boost their revenue and visits by mastering the specifics of planning, safety compliance and theming of these playground equipment.
The most critical decision you can make is to choose your manufacturing partner. They should have extensive experience and a long-standing reputation for safety and design collaboration. The best indoor playgrounds enable operators to deliver world-class attractions that provide fun and engagement for many families.
