Councils & Local Authority Sport & Play Equipment

Playground Equipment for Public Spaces & Communities

Council-led playgrounds serve a wide range of users, from young children and families to older children and carers. Unlike school environments, public play areas must work for mixed ages, mixed abilities and high levels of daily use. Certain council playgrounds also include disability playground equipment to support accessible public play alongside inclusive design.

Our playground equipment for councils is designed to:

• Support inclusive and accessible play
• Withstand heavy use in public environments
• Encourage social interaction across age groups
• Fit within real public-sector budgets
• Remain safe, compliant and easy to maintain

Each project is approached with a clear understanding of how public spaces are used day to day.

Inclusive Playground Design for Local Authorities

Inclusion is central to modern council playground design. Public play areas should allow children of different abilities to play together, rather than being separated by equipment type or access need.

Local authority playgrounds often include:

• Shared-use inclusive play equipment
• Ground-level and accessible play features
• Clear, step-free circulation routes
• Equipment that supports social and group play

Councils planning inclusive environments may also wish to explore SEN & Inclusive Playground Equipment, which supports shared play across public and community settings. Inclusive design is now a core expectation for local authorities, with many councils prioritising play spaces that are accessible, welcoming and usable by children of all abilities — a principle explored further in our guide to inclusive playground equipment for councils.

Durable Equipment for High-Use Public Environments

Council playgrounds must perform reliably over long periods with minimal maintenance. Equipment selection is therefore critical.

Our council playground equipment solutions prioritise:

• Robust materials suited to outdoor public spaces
• Long service life and low maintenance
• Vandal-resistant design where required
• Safe layouts that support supervision

All equipment is selected with longevity and whole-life value in mind.

Many design and durability principles used in public playgrounds also apply to education settings. Councils may find it useful to reference School Playground Equipment (UK) when planning high-use play environments.

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Compliance, Safety and Public-Sector Standards

Playground equipment installed for councils and local authorities must meet strict safety and compliance requirements. Our playgrounds are designed and installed in line with EN 1176 playground safety standards, ensuring public play areas are safe, compliant and fit for purpose.

We consider:

• Risk management in public spaces
• Clear sightlines and logical layouts
• Appropriate surfacing and fall protection
• Long-term inspection and maintenance planning

This approach helps councils manage risk while still delivering engaging play environments.

From Refurbishment to New-Build Play Areas

Local authorities often manage a mix of existing and new play spaces. We support both refurbishment projects and full new-build playground installations.

Council playground projects may include:

• Refurbishing existing play areas
• Replacing outdated or unsafe equipment
• Improving accessibility and inclusion
• Creating new community play spaces

Our team works collaboratively with councils to align designs with funding, consultation outcomes and long-term asset management. From Section 106 and CIL contributions to grant funding and phased delivery, understanding council playground funding and budgeting is essential when planning sustainable public play spaces.

Project Planning

Planning a council playground involves balancing inclusion, safety, durability and community use. Our detailed guides support local authorities at every stage of the process, from early design principles through to delivery and long-term management.

• Designing playgrounds for mixed-use public spaces

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• Playground equipment standards and compliance for local authorities

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• From consultation to installation: council playground projects explained

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• Council playground funding and budgeting‍

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Supporting Communities Through Play

Public playgrounds play an important role in community wellbeing. Well-designed council playgrounds:

• Encourage physical activity and outdoor play
• Support social interaction across communities
• Provide inclusive spaces for families and carers
• Contribute positively to parks and public realm

By designing playgrounds as complete environments rather than collections of individual items, councils can create spaces that are welcoming, functional and valued by the community.

Speak to Council Playground Specialists

If you’re planning a council or local authority playground project, our team can provide expert guidance from early design through to installation. We work with councils across the UK to deliver safe, inclusive and durable public play spaces.

Contact Morti Sport & Play to discuss your council playground equipment requirements.

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