PLAY for all ages

PlayNation looks at products and solutions designed for older children and teenagers

Activating Public Spaces with Kore

Kore, developed by SAPCA member, Jupiter Play & Leisure, has been created to transform teenage play provision and multi-use games areas (MUGAs) through adaptable, user-centred design. As a modular system, Kore grants the ability to reimagine a space over time and easily integrates into existing environments.

At its heart is the Kore Konnex consultation process – putting the power of design in the hands of the end users. Engaging with the community, residents are given a blank grid and a series of tiles that represent different play kits or features. From chillout zones and parkour units to the interactive Fono DJ booth, participants select and arrange their ideal combination of kits to design their dream play space.

The hands-on approach has been designed to empower individuals to express their preferences and to facilitate an inclusive dialogue about the needs and desires of the broader community. Every choice made by participants is recorded and quantified, offering valuable insights into the interests of the end users to shape the design. The result is a play space for the community, designed by the community.

Sutcliffe installs Pentagon multiplay product

Sutcliffe Play has installed its first new Pentagon multiplay range in Upton Play Area in West Yorkshire. Radius – one of four units in the range – has already proven a big hit with young visitors and given a boost to the playground. Intended for children aged six to 14, Pentagon’s five-sided towers come in many configurations, with each delivering play opportunities at ground level, 1.6m, and 2.4m high.

Standard features across all four towers include a crevasse ladder, a circuit climber, a scramble rope climber and more, while a number of individual features make each one unique. All units in the range feature a compact design which minimises their overall footprint, and reduces the amount of safety surfacing required. Each is also constructed from curved powder coated posts, galvanised steel support frames and HDPE panels, making them durable in nature and sustainable in origin. Each Pentagon unit is available in lime and forest green and grey and enhanced with vivid orange accent detailing.

Places

Kompan’s Galaxy lets tweens and teens have fun too!

The impressive Galaxy range from Kompan fills the gap for older children to hang, climb and have fun with friends safely.

Not that long ago, tweens, let alone teenagers, viewed a playground as a place for their younger siblings rather than for their own enjoyment – and perhaps with good reason. It wasn’t that there was just a gap in the market, there was a crying cultural need. No one really offered fun and exciting playgrounds for teens and tweens, they were, too often, left to their own devices.

To satisfy the need required a rethink, not a remodeling of well-trodden play techniques. The Galaxy looks like nothing that preceded it. It was a game changer, a free play structure offering built-in activities that are responsive and dynamic, and the first to give play access to everyone regardless of ability.

Tough Trail – Keeping Teens Engaged in Play

In spring 2025, eibe Play completed the installation of the Rockmaster Tough Trail unit at KC Active, a sports and recreation facility in Kings Cliffe, Peterborough. The dynamic new addition forms part of KC Active’s ongoing mission to improve play access for local children.

Designed with challenge, adventure and inclusivity in mind, the Tough Trail has become popular for visitors of all ages. The Tough Trail range comprises a collection of engaging play units, targeting the teenage age group. Inspired by the thrill of ninja warrior, parkour, free running and obstacle trails, they bring together climbing, balancing, crawling and coordination challenges in one continuous circuit. The layouts are modular, combining ropes, overhead ladders, angled climbing walls, monkey bars, traverse nets and jumping elements. Targeted at children aged 10+, Tough Trail supports both independent and social play. The courses are deliberately non-linear and unprescribed, meaning children can set their own pace and pathways.

A whale of a time for visitors of all ages

The newly revitalised Water Adventure Play Park in Weston-Super-Mare has been transformed into a vibrant, seaside-themed destination that celebrates the town’s coastal charm. Located just off the promenade, the site faced environmental and logistical challenges, including deteriorating timber equipment, poor drainage and the need to work around underground flood defences.

Proludic was selected for its expertise in coastal environments and durable, innovative play solutions. Using robust materials like high-pressure laminate and structural steel - supported by lifetime guarantees - the new park was designed to endure salty air and high footfall while offering an exciting, inclusive play experience for children of all ages.

The centrepiece is the impressive 10.42 metre-long J2696 Whale from Proludic’s Aquatica range. This large-scale play structure accommodates up to 70 users and includes 59 play functions such as net climbs, slides, hammocks, and swings. Nearby stands the 6.9-metre-high J47251 Lighthouse, featuring a spiral staircase, fire pole, and panoramic views.

A dedicated toddler zone features sensory-rich, developmentally supportive play with the J2646-M Odyssey, J2615 Little Boat, and inclusive J2406 WOK Spinner. A sensory pathway with seven tactile surfaces connects themed zones, while “play on the way” elements like sound panels and balance boards engage older children.

Accessibility is central to the design. The park features wide paths, inclusive swing seats, accessible surfacing, and communication panels for non-verbal users. Strategically placed seating and shade structures allow families to relax while supervising their children.

Despite the complexity of the site, careful planning ensured a layout that is safe, inclusive, and fun. The result is a dynamic coastal play destination where families of all ages and abilities can explore, play, and truly have a whale of a time - now and for years to come.

Places

Elevated play for teens and older children

As children grow, so does their appetite for adventure and challenge. To cater for that, Wicksteed has launched the Adrenaline and Vertex ranges, specifically designed to captivate older children and teens through active, engaging, and inclusive play.

The Adrenaline Range features 12 dynamic steel and rope multiplay units ranging from 2 to 4 metres high – ideal for thrill-seeking children aged six and up. Packed with exciting features like climbing walls, twisted nets, 3D nets, spinners, and curved bannister slides, these units push physical boundaries while fostering confidence, coordination, and healthy competition.

Complementing this is our Vertex Range – a collection of 17 bold and diverse boulders that blend physical activity with mental agility. With varying shapes, heights, and colour-coded climbing routes, Vertex is a natural draw for teens who crave real climbing challenges. From easier routes with close grips to advanced surfaces that demand strength and strategy, every boulder encourages progress and perseverance.

Designed for parks, playgrounds, or open spaces, both ranges deliver high-impact fun that keeps older children engaged and active.

Sculptural play in motion

Russell Play has launched the new Twist 0.2 – a contemporary and playful piece of equipment where form meets function in a striking 7.2m-long spiral climbing frame. Designed to captivate both visually and physically, the sculptural structure encourages children and young people to move, balance, climb and connect in creative ways.

Crafted with a durable combination of stainless steel, powder-coated aluminium, and steel core rope, the Twist 0.2 is built to withstand years of active play in even the busiest parks and public spaces. Nets are suspended seamlessly between each curve, creating flowing routes that invite imaginative movement and physical challenge.

As part of Russell Play’s landscape-led design philosophy, the Twist 0.2 doesn’t just offer a playground feature – it becomes part of the environment. Whether installed in a natural parkland or a modern urban setting, its sculptural design brings a sense of place, purpose, and play. Suitable for a range of ages and abilities, this is a piece that adapts to the way children play – not the other way around.