A simple DIY outdoor playground design made of logs and branches
Darko SavicFeb 11, 2022
Please leave the feedback on this idea
Originality
Is it original or innovative?
Feasibility
Is it feasible?
Necessity
Is it targeting an unsolved problem?
Conciseness
Is it concisely described?
Bounty for the best solution
Provide a bounty for the best solution
Bounties attract serious brainpower to the challenge.
This is a design for a DIY kids' playground made out of logs and branches. Turn a bunch of branches into two swings, a climbing area, and an uphill balancing log. The header image explains it, I think:)
Why?
Affordable playground for kids. All you really need are some screws or rope. The rest can be found in nature for free.
Tons of fun for kids.
A fun DIY project for adults.
How it works
Scout nearby forests to find a few suitable logs and branches. It's best if the tree species are tough and resistant to rot. For example in Europe, this could be Oak, Acacia (Senegalia greggii), or Castanea sativa. If you use the right kind of tree species you can burry the foundation part directly into the ground and it will not rot for quite a few years. If you treat the burried part of the wood with something like creosote (oil-based preservative) that is used for railroad ties, it will last even longer.
The logs and branches can be screwed or tied together. Kids have a way of undoing anything that can be undone. At least mine do:) Screws will last longer.
The header image should be self-explanatory (I hope). I see one potential weakness though (marked with a red circle):
That part of the main log is burried into the ground quite significantly. Also all other logs that touch the ground are burried. Still, the main log acts as a leaver. When kids jump on the main swing the log can potentially slide out over time. I have to figure something out to solve this. One way to do it is to find an old tree stump and dig under it or make a hole into it. That way the main log won't be able to move no matter how many kids climb and jump on the lever.
I have yet to figure out a mechanism that holds the seesaw in place. I'll update this part tomorrow when I figure something out.
This is now called the dinosaur skeleton. I have to come up with a cool head and some spikes to mount on its ridge.
The swing has been added:
Please leave the feedback on this idea
Reinforce the ground with a heavy log toy
Darko SavicFeb 11, 2022
One way to prevent the main log (lever) from being pulled out of the ground is to place something heavy on top of the buried part. For example a heavy log toy like this:
Darko Savic Feb 11, 2022