After more than 25 years in the playground design business, General Recreation’s consultant Steve Hemler still approaches a new client like Spring Garden Township, and a new project with youthful enthusiasm.

Here’s how he described coming on board with Spring Garden Township project in York, PA.

 “We’ve been blessed over the years with long-time working relationships, however a new client still gets me giddy – and we want to take as good care of them as possible,” he said.

Steve and his team worked with Spring Garden Township to replace the Grantley and Elmwood Park playgrounds, as well as develop Tri-Hill Park, a new larger playground in the heart of the community.

A comprehensive plan for Tri-Hill was developed in 2014 by Ann Yost of YSM Landscape Architects, followed by grant funding to update play equipment and ensure ADA compliance.

The project included building a new municipal complex, and more accessible recreation and public gathering places.

Yost referred the Spring Garden building and grounds crew leader, Craig Ruhl, to General Recreation to source and design the playgrounds.

Ruhl felt both parks needed to be better “gathering” spaces, so children could play and families could spend time there, with benches and conversation areas for picnics.

“Our goal was to make the playgrounds unique, challenging and fun with different components and color schemes to complement each neighborhood,” Hemler said.

Ruhl said working with Steve and Ann was great.

“The team has quite a talent for design and poignant communication. They really dotted their I’s and crossed their T’s on everything,” he said.

The Grantley playground used Evos play equipment from Landscape Structures for a modern, open design of yellow, bright green, and brown climbers, slides and ladders.

Elmwood Park’s design was more modular with Landscape Structures’ play components: bright sky blue, brown and gray decks, ramps and climbers. The township kept existing swings, so the new equipment needed to match the color motif.

Both parks included new sidewalks, wood carpet surfacing, benches and ADA accessible parking for families to more easily gather.

Resident feedback has been very positive to the two new playgrounds.

The Tri-Hill Park playground design uses a circle motif, with structures that loop and curve with vibrant orange and dark blue. Equipment incudes wobble pods, swiggle stix bridges, large climbing nets, ground-level interactive panels, tunnels and climbers.  It also has circular benches and plenty of family space.

Yost said communicating with the General Recreation team “has been swift.”

“We can tell Steve and the Gen Rec team truly care. There’s personal attention, and they even put together a manual to help with the installation.”

About General Recreation

General Recreation Inc. serves Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and has helped hundreds of community leaders and organizations build playgrounds that are safe, aesthetically pleasing and made to last.

General Recreation project are supported by expert and trusted services, including site evaluation, playground design, installation and community build services.

Whether your playground will consist of outdoor playground at a pre-school or a large community playground, experienced commercial playground experts will help you every step of the way.

Find out more about the work of General Recreation.