I am under orders to build a rather large play area for our kids to use up north, so "they have something to do," while I am busy with the endless list of other projects I have to do.
I am a carpenter so the building part is easy, but my pocketbook is not ready to fork out thousands of dollars to get this done. I have looked into buying pieces of playground equipment and building the frame from lumber, but even that is expensive. Slides, are you kidding me !!? $400 for one that is only for a five foot high platform? Has anyone made one from scratch, like from plastic culverts. Or any other material? I would love some ideas on materials to use to make it fun for kids. All my kids have no fear, (which is bad sometimes), so i would like a bigger slide from like a 10-15' platform. And maybe some other cool ideas. I did get some used swings and a 6' slide for the little kids, so at least I can tell my better half I started working on it all ready . My kids are 10,7,5,4, and twins are 19 months. Thanks for any feedback, I really appreciate it!

I just ordered some brackets for a swing set from amazon. They use 4x4 legs with a 4x6 top rail for swings. Has all the angles for setting the posts up. also you can get a bracket for the center that is straight so you can use a longer 4x6 for the top by putting a set of legs in the middle of your swing set. ($150.for all) Have seen a slide made out of core-gated pipe (36 inch), one with water running threw it for a pond and one just running down a steep hill. The dry hill one was cut in 1/2 so you would be able to double your length. No idea of the price on the pipe. Would like to see what you or anyone else comes up with.

Estate sale?

Craigslist?

I bit of a tangent...I have found that a fort/clubhouse/playhouse keeps kids more engaged than the traditional play set. Here's my proposal, build a nice sized shed (maybe 12 x 12 - you have a bunch of kids to pack in there, maybe bigger), put a few low windows in (mine were plexiglass for safety), frame in for a regular sized door, but then sub-frame and finish it for a little person door. Add a kitchen counter, some bunk beds, a loft, work bench, stable door/window opening, front porch (very important), table/chairs, etc and you have a place for them to call their own and it can be anything their imagination can come up with. Swings and slides and such can be added to the sides. When they grow out of it, you have some storage space after you redo the door for big people.

I used to work for a playground company that made the plastic ones you see at fast food restaurants and the heavy duty ones you see in city parks/schools. Most of my R and D cohorts had $40,ooo plus playgrounds in there back yards. These play sets were ones that had been used for catalog photo shoots or new product developments, so they were the latest and greatest. Once the newness wore off after a few weeks, the only kids that came to play on them were the neighbors kids.

Trust me, my girls spent much more time in the "pretend house" than they ever would have on a play set and as young boy, I spent all my time in "forts".

Ne hunter
On the pipe that was cut in half did they put any covering on top of where they cut? I would be concerned if that edge was sharp.

Quarter acre
Very interesting observations, I was thinking of making a center tower that could double as a house/ fort, with the slide on top and swings going out on one side and monkey bars going out other side. I can't wrap my head around spending $40,000 on a playground set, but to each his own. If someone didn't spend the money you wouldn't had the job at that company.

I would imagine you could take a handheld propane torch and soften the cut edges to roll them on black plastic pipe.

A swivel head de-burring tool is very effective at removing sharp edges from cut plastic. It takes some practice to become really good with one, but anyone can clean up the sharp edges, it just may look a bit rough or bumpy. And, a lack of respect for the tool will cause blood loss.

Take the torch to it after de-burring to make it complete.



Think Ronald McD...the small ones cost $40K. Back then there where small businesses that would fill up a strip mall sized building with the playgrounds and would spend 6 figures...easy, plus installation. My coworkers had free access to the components after the photo shoots if no business bought it at a discount and it was our job to know how to put them together. I'm not really sure what it did to their property value having a $40,000 playground in the back yard...to some a bonus, to me...a constant reminder of work and a neighbor kid magnet.

Well a little update over the last week we have been monitoring Craigslist and found a slide and swings and some other parts for $40, and today got a used set for $150. I am going to start with this and add more sections as I go. I got a 112' of a used dock put in to get to the lake. Turns out I needed 20 more feet but that's okay I got to the water's edge I can build new sections from scratch to get there. I had to cut down brush and the dock is sitting on top of boggy ground. (Not fun conditions to work, but it's in.) I had this lot for fours years now and these are the first projects towards eventually building a cabin. Now I hope the misses can keep the kids busy while I tend to other projects to get this where I want to be.

First used section

Added 14 yds washed sand

Built a new one next to it. Now have enough room for six kids to swing. Next project put in driveway.

That's classic! Very nice, I bet the kids had a hard time staying off of it until it was done.

Sorry for the late response. Yes they had a smaller pipe split on one side that covered the ruff edge.

They all helped with the build. We had to use a wheel barrow and a small dump trailer on the four wheeler to move the sand. I got to show my kids the difference between callous and blisters. It was a fun but hot weekend when we did it. I hope that they will remember it for a long time,

Driveway pics

To me, kids are lucky to have you.

The dock out to the lake. Or should I say the first phase.

My better half putting in sections