Five Steps to Finding the Right School Playground Bench
The playground is a place of fun and friendship. Investing in quality outdoor commercial benches is a great way to make the playground at your daycare, preschool, or after-school program an inviting place for everyone to gather and make memories. With thoughtfully chosen seating, you can create a great experience for children and adults alike. Though the options may seem overwhelming, shopping for the perfect bench doesn’t have to be a daunting process. Our expert advice will guide you through to find the one suited best for your needs. Sit back, relax, and read on!
Take a look at these 5 easy steps that will help you select a bench that’s just the right fit for your space.
1. Find the right size playground bench
Everyone is like Goldilocks—we all need a bench that’s not too big, not too small, but just right! You need to determine if the primary users of your daycare or elementary school playground bench will be elementary children, the adults watching children play, or both! You also need to determine the ideal length for your outdoor benches, especially if you will be incorporating them with other outdoor school furniture. Our classic Ergo-Eco Bench and Flat Bench are both available in adult size in 4’ and 6’ lengths to fit in with small or larger spaces. Even better, these portable park benches are light enough for a couple of adults to move around the playground, but heavy enough to stay where they put it. Talk about just right!
(If you are looking for a playground park bench for the little ones, we have tot-sized benches in our Nature of Early Play line of products.)
2. Find the right style playground park bench
When selecting benches for your facility, it’s important to consider who will be the primary users and for what purpose. Backless options provide more freedom and easy access from both sides, which is great for benches that are located between multiple pieces of playground equipment so that parents or supervisors can face either direction. For those wanting a relaxing spot to take a load off, benches with backs offer guests muscle relief as they take in their beautiful surroundings.
Looking for a classic, uncomplicated look? Our Flat Bench seating and no arms option is a timeless choice that’s easy to add to any part of a school playground. If you’d like to indulge in the great outdoors without compromising lumbar support, our revolutionary Ergo-Eco Benches will provide seated comfort tailored to all body types. Our Ergo-Eco Benches are modeled after the supportive design of office furniture, so they are a true joy to sit in. You don’t have to be an office-dweller to appreciate the innovative comfort—even elementary school kiddos won’t want to get up!
The last step in the style process is to decide on a color scheme that matches the rest of your outdoor playground furniture. Selecting a complementary color scheme can help complete the look of your outdoor play area. Neutral choices such as white or gray provide great flexibility. Our recycled plastic park benches are available in Mist tops over Latte supports or Latte tops over Chocolate supports. These earthy tones are sure to bring vibrancy to any playground design.
3. Find the right park bench material
If you want a low-maintenance bench that lasts through the elements, look for commercial park benches made from recycled plastic. Play Mart has revolutionized playgrounds by introducing RSP (Recycled Structural Plastic) that is great for the environment and fantastic for you! Our new and improved formula offers increased structural strength, increased rigidity, and increased thermal stability. Take a look at the advantages that recycled plastic benches offer over traditional wood or metal benches:
Traditional Wood/Metal Benches | Recycled Plastic Benches |
|---|---|
| Metal pieces rust | Never rusts |
| Colors fade from UV rays | Maintains vibrant colors even after sun exposure |
| Wood subject to termites and rodent damage | Resistant to marine borers, termites, fungus, salt and oils |
| Vulnerable to vandalism: paint and other markings tend to be permanent | Graffiti resistant: marker, paint, stickers, and scratching comes out easily |
| Wood pieces chip and splinter | Does not splinter or delaminate |
| Wood can rot and decay due to moisture | Will never rot when exposed to the elements |
| Paint chips and flakes | Color stays even throughout the plastic without peeling |
4. Find the right add-ons for your public park bench
Give your playground bench an individual touch with customizations and add-ons. Our expansive selection offers plenty of options to make sure this piece stands apart from any other school playground bench out there. It’s time to think about additional factors like sun exposure, location, and other preferences specific to your facility. You may want to ensure the playground park bench remains in the same spot. Secure it safely in one place with our optional surface mount kit. Turn up the shade against sunny days and protect from UV rays with our Ergo-EcoBench Roofed model. Let your children have a slice of the high life with luxe touches like armrests and cup holders. With all these choices at hand, there’s no limit when it comes to making your park stand out!
5. Find the right company
Now that you know what kind of recycled plastic park bench (or benches) you need, you need to find the right company to work with. When you team up with Play Mart and our outdoor school furniture distributors, you are supporting a woman-owned business that stands for sustainable and environmentally friendly initiatives. We bring these values to life through our creations; 100% made in the USA playground equipment crafted primarily from 100% recycled materials. We are proud of the exceptional quality of our early childhood playground equipment and are equally committed to exceptional service. You can also rest easy knowing that our recycled plastic playground benches come with a 10-year limited warranty.
At Play Mart, you can find outdoor school benches that are perfect for your needs:
Make your playground a charmed and delightful oasis with Play Mart’s selection of recycled plastic park benches. Our extensive selection of school playground benches offers low-maintenance options reinforced with steel, available in sizes and colors to meet any vision—making it easy to create the perfect space for kids, teachers, daycare workers & parents alike! Complete your outdoor play area further by pairing your new park benches with our master-crafted picnic tables, trash cans, and other site amenities!
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