Mounds and Topography

Mounds can be gathering spaces, quiet places to sit and read, or part of active play. A variety of materials can be used to create this topographic variation in the school ground – including grass, concrete, asphalt, and rubber. Don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild, there are endless possibilities for how mounds can be arranged or integrated into your design. Other play equipment can also be embedded into mounds, including climbing holds, crawling tunnels, and slides.

These mounds offer kids a chance to safely challenge themselves as they climb. Standing on top of a mound gives kids a different view (and might make...

Concrete Mounds
With a soft carpet of grass, these mounds let kids roll and tumble around, padding any falls. Mounds can be any size, and even a gentle slope can...

Grass Mounds
Just like the name implies, these slides are built right into hills. The advantage of a hill slide is that no ladders are required to get to the top....

Hill Slides
Metal can be used to construct play mounds, and can be finished in a number of different ways. If a plain metal finish is desired, it is best to place...

Metal Mounds
Rubber makes mounds that are both durable and cushioning. Kids can run, jump, and roll safely with a surface that will break their falls. Mounds let...

Rubber Mounds
Adding terracing to slopes on a school ground can create all kinds of great play and design opportunities. Geometric terraced steps can function as a...

Terraced Slopes
Tunnels provide an exciting way to explore and move through the play environment. They can be integrated into play elements such as mounds, or used to...

Tunnels