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Hi, I don't usually post since I'm unaffiliated, but I thought some of you
might have experience I could lean on.
We have a grant to build an outdoor science playground at an urban primary
school, including some clear-walled raised veg/flower beds, a greenhouse
with tool storage, a small pond, a dirt area, an asphalt area, and a sand
area. All of this space is reclaimed parking lot.

Extending those plans, I thought the kids could benefit from a climbing
structure, but I'm not sure what shape/size/materials will work optimally
for our situation. The school serves about four hundred children, K-5. We
do get a lot of heat, but can fit something under the (tall) shade trees.
The original parking lot slopes but not sharply, so we don't have puddle
problems. What has worked for you? Geodesic hemisphere? Steel or PVC? Flat
or wavy ladder-style monkey bars? Rope nets? Flat-nylon nets? Bridges?
Hollow logs and big rocks? How do you preserve hollow logs and anchor big
rocks? Are there vendors you've been pleased with? Which OSHA/ADA/etc lit
should I consult to be sure I'm not building something awful?

I look forward to your advice. Thanks,

Tracy Nolan
St. Louis

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