When to Order Playground Equipment
If you’re hoping to open a new playground in late spring or summer, calendar planning is vital. Playground installation timelines should always be planned backwards from the site open date. Canadian playground work runs on a short outdoor construction season. Equipment is manufactured year-round, but installation is dependant on site conditions and weather. Unpredictable Canadian seasons mean preparing for extra wiggle room for site preparation and surfacing. This means ordering equipment earlier than expected.
Spring ordering for a site open date in the summer can constrict timelines. Budget planning, site condition approvals, product selection, and order entering is a sequential process whose timelines are often longer than expected. By the time conversations begin in the spring, valuable time has already been lost. Industry guidance shows that a full playground process can run from 4-8 weeks for a simpler, smaller project, and can range to 12-14+ weeks for larger or custom build.
Practical rule: if the target opening for a playground is in the summer, planning should occur in the winter of the previous year.
Early Bird Advantage
Queue position matters, as playground equipment is built to order, and not readily stocked. Orders are manufactured in the order they are received, so early approvals create more scheduling options and flexibility. Late orders narrow flexibility.
The same concept applies to installation crews and timelines. Once the ground is workable, there are many facets of the project that start moving all at once. Teams get booked quickly, creating less scheduling freedom.
So What’s the Best Process?
Deciding early on designs (fall/winter of previous year to site opening), and ordering before the spring rush. This way, orders are released when site conditions and approvals are clear. Installation is then scheduled into a realistic weather window.
Contacting your local BlueIMP representative early is extremely beneficial, as we can guide you through the design, budgeting, and installation process before all the rush. We will discuss site constraints, scope, budget, and approvals, creating a proactive plan.
Please visit the BlueIMP website below for a detailed overview of the ordering and installation process.
Playground Installation Timelines: When to Order Your Playground Equipment
