Church playground equipment
In all, church playground equipment usually costs a church $25,000 to $75,000 once you count the soft ground cover, delivery and setup. Manufacturer discounts can cut your cost, and one quote can cover the equipment, the ground cover and the installation.
What Church Playground Equipment Costs
$25,000 to $75,000
Published figure for smaller playground projects for daycares and churches, from the cost guide at playworld.com (published, not our estimate).
Get quotes for your site Work out your group's cost range
Other Published Figures
Standard commercial playground for faith centers, daycares and schools: $35,000 to $85,000, says adventureplaysystems.com.
Special price on the GameTime Fontana play system for HOAs, schools and churches: $12,975, says gametime.com.
Grants and Matching Funds Open to a Church or Faith Group
Programs this kind of group can apply for:
American Academy of Dermatology Shade Structure Grant
American Academy of Dermatology
As much as $8,000 toward a permanent shade structure. Your group must have kept a sun-safety program going for a year or longer before it applies.
GameTime Community Champions matching funds (a manufacturer program)
GameTime (a PlayCore company)
On its own play systems, GameTime adds extra equipment value. The biggest share, as much as the whole price, goes to orders over $75,000 paid in full; smaller or financed orders get less. Within the lower 48 states (every state but Alaska and Hawaii), this offer applies only to GameTime play systems.
BCI Burke matching funds (a manufacturer program)
BCI Burke (manufacturer)
You can receive up to 100% in matching funds for a new Burke outdoor fitness course or playground. Schools, parks, towns and other groups qualify if their last Burke playground purchase was more than three years ago.
How to Size Your Play Area for Kids
Count the children who will play at once, for example after Sunday services or during preschool recess. Allow about $1,000 for equipment per child playing at once, plus about 75 square feet of ground for each of them. Our playground cost estimate puts wood fiber ground cover, setup, delivery, and the structure into one budget:
| Children at Once | Space Needed | Total Installed Price |
|---|---|---|
| 15 children | 1,125 sq ft | $24,900 to $28,700 |
| 30 children | 2,250 sq ft | $49,900 to $57,400 |
Choosing a Soft Ground Covering
Whatever you build, the play area needs soft ground underneath to cushion falls. Covering 1,000 square feet with engineered wood fiber, a loose material designed to cushion falls, costs $3,500 to $5,500 once installed. For 1,000 square feet, poured in place rubber costs $9,000 to $18,000 and forms a smooth, one-piece floor mixed on your site. Our ground covering guide also lets you compare rubber tiles, mulch, and turf.
How Can You Get a Complete Quote?
The equipment price does not include extra charges for setup and delivery. In the United States, shipping the equipment for a 15-child playground averages about $2,300. To put the playground together, a professional crew adds $3,800 to $5,300. Details on what that covers appear in our installation cost guide. One short quote request reaches local dealers and manufacturers' representatives. These regional specialists price equipment, ground cover, and setup as a package.
Common Questions About Church Playground Equipment
Do churches qualify for playground equipment grants?
While cash playground grants for churches are uncommon, you can get up to $8,000 from the American Academy of Dermatology for a permanent shade structure after teaching sun safety for one year. Most churches count on matching funds instead of cash handed to you. The playground manufacturer cuts the equipment price rather than giving you money. GameTime gives matching discounts on its own equipment, while BCI Burke gives matching funds if you have gone three years without buying from them. To find state programs, use our grants finder.
What kinds of playground equipment exist?
A main structure with steps and slides, like the GameTime Fontana set, is where most churches begin. Committees also place permanent shade covers above the play area to block the sun. Under the equipment, groups use turf, rubber mulch, rubber tiles, poured rubber or engineered wood fiber.
Which costs less, building a playset or buying one?
The usual route for a church is buying a ready-made commercial structure. Before shipping and ground cover costs, the GameTime Fontana set starts at $12,975. Budget 25 to 35 percent of what the equipment costs for a professional crew to assemble it. Ask dealers to list installation as a separate line, and that cost will be clear.
Why do churches have playgrounds?
Churches that run weekday preschool, child care or Sunday classes for 15 to 80 children at once usually add a shared play area. Backyard play sets are not built for group use, so churches install sturdy equipment plus cushioned ground cover sized for a whole group of children at play.
Get quotes from playground dealers
Tell us about the site once. Dealers who sell commercial playground equipment in your area use it to quote equipment, surfacing and installation.