Whether your park is a serene natural oasis or an action-packed adventure loaded with activities from ballfields and skateparks to play areas, spraygrounds, and outdoor fitness areas, adding a place for families and friends to gather is an important part of meeting community members’ expectations. Just about all of us have some experience of visiting a local park for a visit with family, friends, church groups, school groups, and more. Adding one or more shelters to create a dedicated space for such gatherings will improve your park’s appearance, while creating a great experience for park visitors.
Small Get-Togethers
Start by thinking about all of the different areas within your park, and then consider if those are spaces where people will naturally gather. For example, playgrounds attract a lot of people, and families will appreciate the opportunity to take a break from the action and sit down nearby for a comfortable picnic.
Some parks feature a series of smaller shelters, suitable for smaller gatherings. Often, these individual shelters can be reserved, and some park departments even rent out their small picnic shelters for a small fee, helping boost revenues.
Large Gatherings
In addition to smaller shelters and shade structures, consider adding a larger shelter that will be able to host larger groups of people. Your summer day camp program, for example, might separate into smaller, age-specific groups for activities, but then all gather together under the shelter for a snack or lunch. Families planning reunions often choose a local park for their festivities, and for these groups, a larger shelter can make a great home base and picnic
or barbecue location.
Consider that a wide range of people will be using the shelter, so make sure you take accessibility into account. Your large shelter should be located relatively close to parking areas, and should definitely be reachable via an accessible pathway.
Adding power to your shelter is another smart option, helping guests enjoy your site into the evening hours, and providing for a wider range of activities. Adding lighting and power will make your shelter more useful, and with solar options available, is simple to achieve even without electrical connections.
For More Information
Classic Recreation Systems Inc.
800-697-2195
www.classicrecreation.com