Furnishing Your Park the Right Way

 Effectively placed site furnishings can have a huge impact on the way people use public spaces such as parks and public gardens. Unfortunately, due to many financially strapped parks and recreation departments, functionality, durability, and price can be key requirements when deciding on the kind of materials to purchase hortikultura.

Luckily, for those park departments, there are a variety of materials to suit just about any set criteria. You want the materials to feel good and be comfortable for park visitors. That's where making a final decision can become difficult, most people are attracted to wood but there are many wood varieties that don't hold up in all weather conditions and usage.

The majority of parks and outdoor spaces use wood picnic tables, concrete picnic tables, plastic or plastisol coated picnic tables and the environmentally friendly recycled plastic picnic tables. It is also important to consider the hardware being used. For example, steel components are zinc primed and test results have proven that a part coated with a zinc-rich primer can outperform a part coated with only a polyester powder top coat by at least 300%.

Chairs and movable furniture are a good addition, as well. People like moving the furniture at their leisure to state their ownership and create their own space. Picnic tables can also be portable or moveable but please keep in mind that the frame can become scratched or weakened over time. In addition, shade structures have become a necessary amenity and people are increasingly requesting shade options. While trees, of course, are a more natural way to provide shade, shade structures and umbrellas are also a useful option.

The Bare Essentials:

Budgets can be very tight these days, but, at the very least, a park should have furnishings to provide adequate seating for visitors. Even if you can only afford two benches, they should be placed next to each other to encourage chatting and lingering. Of course, when talking about the bare essentials, it does depend on the site.

It is important to look at the specific conditions and the estimated amount of usage. Much like buildings are not built to accommodate the same functions, you have to take a look at each individual park's circumstances. Buying decisions are highly dependent on site usage, a beach environment will not have the same needs as a dog park.

Triangulation: Locating elements in a way that greatly increases the chances of activity occurring around them. The idea is to situate them so that the use of each builds off the other.

The site should be thought of as a series of places, each having a specific function and specific activities. The amenities should reflect these functions and activities.

Customization:

Instead of keeping the same theme throughout one park, consider carrying the theme through several. This is, arguably, one of the best ways to be unique. Standardizing the look throughout your entire park system can help to create a sense of identity to all properties.

Using custom pieces can also help to create a unique and individualized space. A radius bench, for example, can build a sense of community to that space. Use your imagination to get a custom bench or trash receptacle. Every park or site is already unique in it's own way, what makes it so is something that should be emphasized and highlighted. Not sure what your park needs? Ask current or potential users of the area! Local community members will generally know what their needs are and how to make the space unique.

Care and Maintenance:

A critical part of any park project is how to maintain the furnishings once the most appropriate and affordable ones have been chosen. Maintenance costs are determined, in large part, by the quality and features of the material. Cost of installation and how long the product is expected to last should be considered as well as if the product is suited for it's intended use.

Once your site furnishings have been installed, a regular maintenance program should be developed to protect your investment. Cleaning and inspecting should begin at the time of installation to ensure that any construction materials (i.e. concrete, paint, hardware) have been removed.

Regular washing of your furniture and site amenities can be most effectively done using a solution of warm water and a non-abrasive detergent. Casual Clean is also a good and harmless cleaning option. Any scratches or wear and tear should be repaired immediately to prevent unnecessary weakening or rusting. Wood slatted picnic tables, benches and trash receptacles will weather to a rustic grey, however, a clear wood preservative can also be applied to maintain that new wood appearance.

Raising the Funds:

With most park and recreation departments facing a budget crunch, fundraising and sponsorship programs can be hugely successful uređenje vrta. By developing a bench donation program, a plaque can be placed on the benches in memory or in honor of community members. If you have the manpower, some minor maintenance and repairs can be done in-house.

You can also try to get money from individuals, asking them to make charitable donations. Offering a sponsorship program to local businesses is also a great way to raise money. This not only provides you with the funds needed but will also create brand awareness for the local businesses.

The "park initiative" is becoming more and more popular, local individuals and organizations are willing to give large dollar amounts to help fund them. Take advantage of that and watch your park or outdoor space grow!