Using Rubber Grass Mats To Create An Outdoor Hub For Play And Education At A School

This case study is courtesy of Play To Measure and Priory Park Community School. The school sought a specialist play company to convert an unused piece of land into an innovative learning and play environment. Their aim was to merge education, creativity, fun, nature, and most importantly safety, in one holistic design.

Before the project commenced, the outdoor space at Priory Park Community School was mostly inaccessible and overgrown, resulting in underutilisation.

Play To Measure faced a significant challenge due to the lack of engaging features and safety concerns while transforming this space into an area promoting both learning and play. Ensuring students’ safety while encouraging outdoor learning, creativity, and physical activity was a top priority in the planning process.

To address these challenges, Play To Measure proposed a comprehensive solution. This involved creating an outdoor classroom, pond, climbing frame with a slide, hammocks, and more. They also added rubber grass matting underneath suitable structures to cushion falls and ensure the safety of the children.

The initial phase involved clearing the overgrown grass and plants, providing the team with a blank canvas to work on. With the area cleared, the team commenced transforming the design into reality.

They created a pond filled with self-oxygenating plants to attract various wildlife, making it a potential habitat. Adjacent to the pond, they placed a boat, offering a unique relaxation and learning space.

Above the pond, they installed a custom-built Outdoor Classroom with a bridge, serving as a dedicated educational space with a canopy for year-round use.

In proximity to the classroom, two handmade hammocks were installed with our protective rubber grass mats underneath, ensuring a safe surface under this unique relaxation area.

The subsequent phase involved designing, constructing, and installing a unique climbing frame. Play To Measure's team crafted an innovative play space featuring ladders, a slide, a climbing wall and nets. The climbing frame was assembled and installed on-site, with some help from the school’s students!

Rubber grass mats, 23mm in thickness, were then laid and secured around the climbing frame, providing a safety surface for all users. These easy-to-install safety surfacing solutions offer a superb 3.3m critical fall height, ideal for various play spaces. The addition of a play area enhanced the recreational aspect, promoting physical activity while ensuring children's safety during play.

"Another quality structure completed, featuring a climbing wall, scramble nets, ladders, a platform and a slide!"

"Thanks to South West Play for all things rope, GCL Products for safety matting and the students at Priory Park Community School for your help in building the structure." - Play To Measure

The collaboration between Play To Measure, Priory Park Community School and GCL Products successfully transformed an underutilised outdoor space into a vibrant, safe, and educational area. The project achieved a fine balance between education, recreation, versatility and safety, creating an inspiring environment that fosters both learning and play. This exceptional project highlights the value of innovative solutions for outdoor spaces while prioritising children’s safety and well-being.

"We are delighted with the before and after. The transformation of spaces is what we do. Take an unused space and make it into a play oasis."

"Earlier this year it was an empty area... Now there is a Nature Pond, Outdoor Classroom, Boat, Table & Chairs, Hammocks and a large Climbing Frame."

"Thank you to Priory Park Community for the opportunity to work at your school." - Play To Measure

Play To Measure excels in transforming indoor and outdoor spaces, crafting playgrounds, sensory gardens, learning spaces, and home garden projects. Based in Sheffield, they operate throughout Yorkshire, the Midlands and across the UK. This project exemplifies Play To Measure’s commitment to excellence and their capacity to exceed clients' needs and expectations. To discover more about them or discuss a potential project, visit the Play To Measure website.

GCL Products are proud to have contributed to the creation of this exceptional safe learning and play space. For more information on our rubber grass mats or to request a quote for an upcoming project, do not hesitate to contact us.

You can call us on 01246 418144 or LiveChat with us during office hours. Alternatively, you can leave us a message outside these hours.