Playground Lighting – Safer Playgrounds At Night
Nearly all human development experts agree that unstructured play is crucial to children’s development. Unstructured play promotes interpersonal skills, conflict-management skills, physical activity, and creativity. The epicenter of many children’s unstructured play is, of course, the playground. From elaborate jungle gyms to simple swing-and-slide setups, most American schools and parks possess some iteration of a playground. Some ambitious parents have even built playgrounds at home for their children. Let’s explore what you need to know about LED playground lighting.
Key Takeaways
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- Enhanced Safety and Security: Proper lighting enhances safety by reducing the risk of accidents, injuries, and crime in playground areas. Options like LED bollard lights and post lights improve visibility, outline clear routes, and minimize tripping hazards, ensuring a secure environment for children and families.
- Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: LED and solar-powered lights offer energy-efficient and eco-friendly solutions for playgrounds. Features such as motion sensors and scheduling controls further optimize energy consumption, reducing environmental impact and operational costs.
- Customized Solutions with Photometric Analysis: Every playground is unique, and a photometric analysis ensures precise lighting tailored to specific layouts and requirements. This process optimizes visibility and design, creating inviting and functional spaces while meeting local lighting standards.
Property Manager-Approved Solutions
In many cases, especially in urban areas, the local park playground is one of the only nearby places to play. In the summer, it is common to see many children with their families playing until after dark on playgrounds. Here at Access Fixtures, we always strive to think of how high-performance lighting solutions can improve people’s lives. In this case, lighting public playgrounds can extend play time into the fall and winter months when it gets dark earlier. It can also extend summer play well into the evening and draw more use to local parks. Since all playgrounds are different, Access Fixtures is able to provide custom solutions to increase visibility and safety in and around playground areas. Access Fixtures works with municipal governments, home owner associations, property managers and non-profit associations to illuminate playgrounds and keep after dark play safe.
The Importance of Proper Lighting
Proper lighting is essential for playgrounds and parks as it enhances safety, security, and overall user experience. Adequate lighting helps to prevent accidents and injuries, promotes a sense of safety and security, and reduces the risk of vandalism and property damage. Moreover, proper lighting can also help to reduce the risk of crime and improve the overall ambiance of the park. With the right lighting systems, playgrounds and parks can be transformed into welcoming and inclusive spaces that cater to the needs of users of all ages and abilities.
Types of Playground Lighting
Access Fixtures has many light fixtures that would be appropriate to light a playground. We have selected the best three categories for the job based on efficacy, lumen output, durability, and form factor. Additionally, our fixtures are designed to minimize light pollution, ensuring a safer and more inviting environment for children and families. Read on below.
Playgrounds With LED Bollard Lights
Bollard lights can provide a surprising amount of light for a small area such as a playground or a park pathway. Older-style bollard lights such as those with metal halide or fluorescent luminaires often struggle with breaking and longevity issues. Access Fixtures strictly provides LED bollard lights that come in a multitude of styles, wattages, shapes, and heights to meet any design desire. For playgrounds, especially in public parks, vandalism can sometimes be an issue. We recommend our VAND 72″ and 90″ bollard lights for playground lighting, for several reasons. These fixtures are vandal-resistant and lack a breakable exterior lens. For better ambiance and overall design enhancement, VAND bollard lights are available in custom RAL colors to match the color of playground equipment. Additionally, the white light emitted by these bollard lights not only illuminates play areas effectively but also minimizes light pollution and contributes to creating a safe environment by deterring vandalism and inappropriate activities during nighttime.
Playgrounds With Decorative Post Lights
Another playground lighting solution with a focus on ambiance is our collection of decorative post-light packages. These post lights are heavy duty and meant for municipal areas, parks, and sidewalks, designed to fit seamlessly onto existing playground structure poles with specific dimensions, namely 3.5”, 4”, or 5” diameter posts. Included self-tapping screws make installation easy and secure, requiring no additional tools or materials. We carry multiple styles, wattages, Kelvins, and design options. We offer strong steel poles with these fixtures in a convenient package. The best thing about these decorative post lights is that they are available in so many housing options ranging from classic to ultra-modern. Poles are available at multiple heights and the fixtures throw light in a wide circle. Our decorative post lights are guaranteed to add a quaint, sophisticated touch to playgrounds and surrounding park areas while meeting local lighting requirements.
Playgrounds With APTA Area Lights
APTA LED lights are the best in class when it comes to longevity and durability. Made for outdoor lighting projects such as tennis courts and public parks, the APTA is L70 rated at over 200,000 hours. Poles are available in multiple heights and come in steel, aluminum, and fiberglass. They are IP67 rated, meaning they are fully enclosed, dustproof, and waterproof. The APTA is a bold lighting solution for a playground when visibility is the main concern as these fixtures are available at higher wattages than the VAND and the decorative post lights. APTA area lights are available with a choice of many different optic types to distribute the light exactly where it is needed. These lights can also be powered by solar energy, requiring only two hours of direct sunlight for charging.
Safety and Security Considerations
When it comes to playground lighting, safety and security are top priorities. Installing lights that provide sufficient illumination can help to prevent accidents and injuries, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic. LED lights, in particular, are a popular choice for playground lighting due to their energy efficiency and long lifespan. Additionally, installing lights with motion sensors and scheduling controls can help enhance safety and security by providing efficient electrical output monitoring. Furthermore, considering the type of lighting that will provide the most visibility and safety is crucial, such as post lights or bollard lights, which can help to outline clear routes and eliminate tripping hazards.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Energy efficiency and sustainability are critical considerations when it comes to playground lighting. LED lights, for instance, consume less power while providing more light, making them an energy-efficient option. Moreover, solar-powered lights, such as those that use battery technology, can help to minimize the carbon footprint of a park or playground. Additionally, installing lights with energy-efficient features, such as motion sensors and scheduling controls, can help to reduce energy consumption and costs. By choosing energy-efficient and sustainable lighting options, parks and playgrounds can reduce their environmental impact while also saving on energy costs.
Need a Photometric Analysis for Proper Lighting?
All playgrounds are different. Varying equipment, light levels required, and other factors contribute to the need for unique lighting solutions. That’s where a photometric analysis makes all the difference. If you are a property manager or someone in charge of local parks and are looking to illuminate a playground, this can make the difference between ” just okay” lighting and truly incredible lighting. A photometric analysis runs potential fixtures through a computer program and creates a rendering of what the light levels would look like in a given area. The photo to the bottom right illustrates a photometric analysis Access Fixtures performed for a property manager looking to light a playground. We highly recommend a photometric analysis for this type of project due to the fact that there are no uniform sizes or dimensions of playgrounds.
All Access Fixtures playground lighting will be guaranteed to last for years and years of use. The bollard lights, post lights, and APTA area lights come with a five-year Access Fixtures warranty for peace of mind. If you would like to order a photometric analysis or to purchase playground lighting, contact us at 800-468-9925 or email [email protected]. We are happy to assist you with playground lighting or any other custom lighting project that you require.
Request Photometric Analysis
Maintenance and Upkeep
Regular maintenance and upkeep are essential to ensure that playground lighting systems function properly and efficiently. This includes inspecting and cleaning lights regularly, replacing bulbs or LEDs as needed, and ensuring that electrical wiring is secure and well-maintained. Additionally, considering the durability and lifespan of lighting fixtures, such as those made with vandal-resistant materials, can help to minimize maintenance needs. By prioritizing maintenance and upkeep, parks and playgrounds can ensure that their lighting systems continue to provide safe and secure illumination for users.
Conclusion
Proper lighting is a critical component of creating safe, functional, and inviting playgrounds for communities. From enhancing safety and reducing vandalism to offering energy-efficient and sustainable solutions, Access Fixtures provides a range of lighting options tailored to your needs. Whether you’re looking for bollard lights, decorative post lights, or powerful area lighting, each solution is designed to ensure long-lasting performance and compliance with lighting standards. For optimal results, a photometric analysis can help you create a customized lighting plan that maximizes visibility and enhances the overall playground experience. Contact Access Fixtures today to explore lighting solutions that will make your playground safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Playground Lighting Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You have questions on high-performance LED bollard lighting. We have answers. If you have a question that isn’t answered below, contact an Access Fixtures lighting specialist at (800) 468-9925 or click here.
Why is proper lighting important for playgrounds?
Proper lighting enhances safety, prevents accidents, reduces vandalism, and creates a welcoming environment for children and families.
What types of lighting are suitable for playgrounds?
Playground lighting options include LED bollard lights, decorative post lights, and APTA area lights, each designed to meet specific needs for visibility, durability, and design.
How do LED lights improve playground safety?
LED lights provide bright, consistent illumination, outlining clear paths and play areas, which helps reduce tripping hazards and enhances security.
What are the benefits of solar-powered lights for playgrounds?
Solar-powered lights are eco-friendly, reduce energy costs, and provide sustainable lighting solutions with features like motion sensors and energy-efficient operation.
How does a photometric analysis help with playground lighting?
A photometric analysis creates a detailed lighting plan tailored to the unique layout and dimensions of the playground, ensuring optimal visibility and compliance with lighting standards.
Are the lighting fixtures vandal-resistant?
Yes, fixtures like the VAND bollard lights are designed with vandal-resistant materials and lack breakable exterior lenses to ensure durability in public spaces.
What are the key features of decorative post lights for playgrounds?
Decorative post lights come in various styles, wattages, and Kelvin options, offering aesthetic appeal while providing adequate lighting for safety and visibility.
Can playground lighting systems minimize light pollution?
Yes, Access Fixtures’ lighting solutions are designed to minimize light pollution, providing effective illumination while maintaining a pleasant nighttime environment.
What maintenance is required for playground lighting systems?
Regular inspections, cleaning, and occasional replacements of bulbs or LEDs ensure the lighting system remains efficient and functional.
Do playground lighting fixtures come with a warranty?
Yes, Access Fixtures’ playground lighting solutions, including bollard lights, post lights, and APTA area lights, come with a five-year warranty for peace of mind.