Planning for purchasing playground equipment poses many questions and concerns for churches. By addressing a few of the top questions from churches, the process hopefully will be easier and an enjoyable experience for you, the purchaser, and the children who will eventually benefit from your hard work.

Q: How long will the play system last, and what is the warranty on the equipment?
A:Churches must, necessarily, maximize each dollar spent, especially for "extras" such as outdoor play areas, hence the concern with the durability of play equipment. It makes good budget sense to purchase a product that will not need to be replaced for many years. Durability varies depending on each manufacturer and their respective warranties. When researching products, make a point to request warranty information from the original manufacturer of the product, especially if you are talking with a local representative. Compare warranties among manufacturers. Some playground equipment materials are more durable than others, and this will be apparent if you read the "fine print."

Not surprisingly, the durability of play equipment depends also on proper maintenance by the owner. Once the play equipment is sold, delivered and installed, it becomes the owner's responsibility to maintain the site. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Handbook for Public Playground Safety, "A comprehensive maintenance program should be developed for each playground. All equipment should be inspected frequently for any potential hazards, for corrosion or deterioration from rot, insects or weathering." Loose-fill materials should be inspected and maintained to original depth to prevent fall injuries. The handbook states, "Any damage or hazards detected during inspections should be repaired immediately in accordance with manufacturer's instructions for repair and replacement parts."

It is up to you to develop your own procedures and inspection schedules. Manufacturers may offer resources to assist with maintaining your play equipment such as a maintenance kit and copies of the handbook mentioned above. If you maintain your equipment and surfacing properly, the play equipment will last longer, and your children will be safer, decreasing the amount of injuries sustained.

Q: Can we build it ourselves (to save money)?
A:It is possible, but most manufacturers would highly recommend that you at least pay a little extra for a manufacturer-certified supervisor to assist your volunteers with installing equipment according to the manufacturer's specifications. Liability issues and potential warranty negation may occur if equipment is installed improperly. Since litigation is a valid concern even for churches, it is safer to have your equipment installation supervised by a Certified Playground Safety Inspector and manufacturer-certified installer than to do it yourselves and deal with the repercussions of a faulty installation. Playground equipment representatives/installers usually offer a variety of installation options, including full turn-key installation, supervision of your volunteers, or customer installation with provided designs, instructions and even phone assistance for questions arising during customer installation. Installing it yourself is an option, but, for most churches, it is not the best option unless you have knowledgeable volunteers and follow instructions carefully.

Q: Do churches receive a discount?
A:The answer varies on each manufacturer or representative. There is no tax benefit or incentive for companies to offer discounts to churches. So, discounts offered are solely a good-will discount due to the non-profit structure of churches. Don't be shy-go ahead and ask.

Q: Are there "Christian" themes available in play equipment designs?
A:Some manufacturers have begun incorporating a variety of components to create biblical themes. Some manufacturers may even modify standard designs to include themed components if requested. Yet, while choosing play equipment, be sure to keep in mind that the goal is active play. Primarily, the playground should offer age-appropriate and challenging play components for the physical development of the children and secondarily offer pictorial or symbolic themes for their spiritual development.

Many more questions will arise in the process of planning for and purchasing playground equipment or surfacing for your church. So, feel free to ask your local sales representative for assistance as you walk through the process. Their goal is you and your children's enjoyment of the final outcome, and they should be willing to help in any way necessary.

Tabitha Beach is the marketing manager for Play Mart, www.playmart.com.

The following Play Mart sales representatives also contributed to this article: Daniel Wright (Outdoor Fun Store Co.), Doug Knotts (Premier Park and Play), David Thompson (Hammer Down Outdoor Creations), Roger Davis & Nancy Shields (Playground Safety Services, Inc.), Cynthia L. Walton (Nebraska Rubber Innovations, Inc.), Gina Hill & Stephanie Baker (Play Mart, Inc.), and Shan Shepherd & Richard Stanford (Noah's Park & Playgrounds).