Highlands Elementary

A playground can do more than give kids a place to burn off some energy. When it’s thoughtfully designed, it gives children opportunities to practice movement, build confidence, interact with others, and—maybe most importantly—figure things out for themselves.

That was an important part of the new GameTime playground at Highlands Elementary in Dothan, Alabama.

Installed by Struthers Recreation, the playground features a large playstructure that gives students plenty of ways to climb, move, slide, and explore. Freestanding elements, including swings and a wrinkle wall, add even more variety and give kids choices beyond the main structure.

That variety matters. Not every child approaches play in the same way, and having different types of equipment allows children to find activities that match their interests, abilities, and comfort level. One child may head straight for the climbing challenges, while another may spend most of recess swinging or navigating the wrinkle wall. Both are valuable ways to play.

The playground is surfaced with Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF), providing a resilient safety surface beneath the equipment while also creating a natural-looking finish that works well in a school setting. Proper safety surfacing is an important part of playground planning because it helps reduce the severity of injuries from falls when installed and maintained according to the appropriate requirements.

For Highlands Elementary, the finished playground creates a space where movement, social interaction, and imagination can all happen side by side. It’s a good reminder that a successful playground doesn’t have to make every child do the same thing. Sometimes the best play spaces are the ones that simply give kids plenty of good choices—and let them take it from there.