Fantastic DIY Playground

April
by April
13 Materials
$350
13 Hours
Medium

Have you been stuck at home with kids who have a lot of energy and need to release it somehow? Well, if you build this playground I promise your kids will have so much fun!

Find full tutorial with FREE plans on my blog.

Build the base


The easiest way to start making the base is to lay down two 4x4s and attach 2×6 to it. Make sure to level everything.

Build the base for second floor


When the bottom “box” is done, It’s time to build the base for the second floor. Let’s call it “upper box”.

Add a 2x4x8 in the middle of the side where you plan to have a climbing wall. 

Make the first floor


Measure the distance inside the box and cut a 2×6”, making 2 joists for the floor. 

Line up flooring using 1×4” (1×6” would also be a good option but they were more expensive). I used 7 of them, cut in half (48” each) – 14 total.

Make second floor


Make second floor the same way you did the bottom one

Build a climbing wall


Cut your 2×4”x8’ in half and attach to the playground structure with 3” deck screws.

Build a ladder


Measure the length of the ladder and the angle it will go at. I went an easy route and made my ladder under a 45-degree angle. On the miter saw, I made a 45 degree cut on the top and on the bottom and attached it to the structure.

Make rails on top


To finish off this project, you need to make the rail on the top. I used 2x2s and 2x4s, just for aesthetic purposes. To make the spacing between rows even, I used a 2×4″ block to help me keep it even. 

Sand it and paint it


Or leave it bare if you like. I loved the colors and wanted to make it very colorful. I wrote a blog about how I painted the whole structure in rainbow colors and what was my inspiration.

Create a climbing route


My husband designed a climbing route, based on our daughter's skills and age.

FREE plans are on my blog. If you decide to make one, please, let me know! I'll be so proud for you and happy for your kids!

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April
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Frequently asked questions
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  • Cindy Rubin Cindy Rubin on Jul 08, 2020

    Where did you get the blue cushion landing pad?

  • Bobbi Perreault Bobbi Perreault on Jul 09, 2020

    Hi, very fun looking! What kind of anchors did you use to pin this to the ground so it doesn't tip when larger people climb it? My kids are heavy.

  • Alex Gaglia Alex Gaglia on Jul 11, 2020

    Could you use peg board for the climbing wall side so the handholds could be moved as skill improves or changed for different routes?

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