Castle Hills Park Reimagined: A New Inclusive Playground for Boise, Idaho
In 2024, the Castle Hills community in Boise faced a major setback when a fire destroyed their neighborhood playground. But out of that loss came an inspiring story of community involvement, resilience, and renewal. After the City of Boise put the project out to bid, the community was invited to vote on their favorite design—and we’re proud to share that Luckydog Recreation won the vote and the opportunity to rebuild this beloved play space.
Today, Castle Hills Park is home to a brand-new, fully inclusive, ADA-friendly playground designed to welcome children of all ages and abilities. This large Playcraft Systems playground features:
Wheelchair-height Spin Cycler for accessible motion play
Wheelchair-accessible slide so all children can enjoy the thrill of sliding
Sensory play panels located along an ADA ramp leading to elevated play areas
Mini go-round, multiple slides, and tons of climbing elements
Standard swings, inclusive group swings, and ADA swings for a full range of motion experiences
One of the standout additions is a brand-new innovation from Playcraft Systems: Terrain Effects—elevated natural-feeling mounds that add a whole new layer of creative movement and exploration. At Castle Hills Park, these mounds are connected by the Nimble Bay Bridge, creating a unique adventure path kids can climb, balance, and navigate.
We’re incredibly proud of how this project came together and grateful for the trust the community and the City of Boise placed in us. Castle Hills Park is now a place where families can gather, children can play freely, and inclusion is built into every corner of the design.
Here’s to a fresh start and many years of safe, joyful play for Boise’s families!
We had an incredible time at this year’s NRPA Conference in Orlando! It was great to connect with customers, industry partners, and fellow playground professionals while working at the Playcraft Systems booth.
The booth was a showstopper, featuring a full-size playground packed with innovative new elements. Highlights included the LeafScape Canopy, a beautiful artificial greenery roof that brings a natural vibe to any play space, along with exciting new Skywalk features like the Skywalk Bridge, Skywalk Cord Climber, and a Skywalk Slide with a spiral tube twist.
Events like NRPA are a reminder of why we love what we do—getting to share new ideas, showcase the latest in play innovation, and connect with the amazing people who make it all possible. We can’t wait to bring these exciting new designs to parks and schools in our communities!
Picture this: a group of teens pushing their limits, testing their skills, and finding their place in a space built just for them. Our products go beyond the ordinary—they’re higher, bolder, and more exciting than the average playground, making them the perfect hangout spot for teens who crave both challenge and growth.
Join our upcoming webinar to discover how you can design play spaces that truly engage teens at your school or community park—all while creating areas that attract adults and seniors too.
Luckydog Recreation August Newsletter
Site Furnishings That Complete Your Outdoor Space
When planning an outdoor space like a park, school, playground, or campus, the fun doesn’t stop at the playground. Site furnishings are what bring function, comfort, and style to your space—and we’re here to help you find the perfect fit.
At Luckydog Recreation, we offer a full line of durable, attractive site furnishings through our trusted partners. From benches and picnic tables to shelters, bike racks, and basketball hoops, we help you create outdoor environments that are safe, welcoming, and built to last.
Custom Playground Design with Playcraft Systems: Where Imagination Meets Innovation
Looking to build a custom playground that perfectly fits your space and serves your community? At LuckyDog Recreation, we proudly represent Playcraft Systems, a leader in innovative and personalized commercial playground equipment. Together, we bring your playground vision to life—from concept to construction. Why Custom Playground Design Matters
Every space is different—and so are the people who use it. With custom playground design, you can:
Tailor play equipment to specific age groups and developmental needs
Incorporate inclusive and accessible features
Address unique site challenges
Reflect your organization’s theme, branding, or aesthetic
Whether you're planning for a school, church, city park, or HOA, a custom playground design ensures your investment meets your community’s needs and stands out for all the right reasons. The possibilities are endless!
Designed Just for You – Powered by Playcraft Systems
Playcraft Systems has the ability to take your custom designs and make them reality. With the use of state-of-the-art design tools like 3D modeling and CAD to turn ideas into detailed, realistic plans. You’ll work with our experienced team to:
Choose colors and themes
Select age-appropriate and ADA-compliant equipment
Optimize layout for safety, flow, and fun
Personalize designs and desires
From natural play environments to themed structures and multi-level climbing towers, Playcraft makes it possible to create truly unique outdoor play spaces.
Built to Last – Quality You Can Count On
Playcraft Systems is known for its durable materials, cutting-edge engineering, and safety-first designs. All equipment meets or exceeds ASTM and CPSC safety standards and is built to withstand all types of weather and heavy use.
You’ll get:
Commercial-grade steel and rotomolded plastic components
UV-resistant finishes
Long-lasting play value with low maintenance
Inclusive Playgrounds for Every Ability
Accessibility is a key part of every custom design. We help you choose components and layouts that allow children of all abilities to play side by side, including:
Ground-level instruments and sensory panels
Wide, easy-access ramps
Transfer platforms and ADA-compliant surfacing
Let's Build Something Amazing Together
We’ve been build playgrounds in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada, and we love helping communities bring their ideas to life. If you’re ready to start your custom playground project with Playcraft Systems, we’re here to help every step of the way.
Contact us today to begin your custom design!
Structure Spotlight: Jensen Farms Park
This year, we've seen a wealth of innovative designs and projects. One that truly stands out and fills us with pride is the unique Jensen Farms Park in Draper, Utah! This park is not just another playground, it's a vibrant, creative space where kids can unleash their imagination.
This playground features various pieces from our fantastic playground manufacturer, Playcraft Systems. The main structure is a multi-themed playground connected to a Tower Net from the Net Effects line, with a slide going out the other side of the tower. These structures combined give the children the opportunity to go from structure to structure without ever having to touch the ground!
When kids are not exploring the playground, they'll find a plethora of spinning and swinging options to enjoy! The Spin Max Orbit and stand, Mini-Go Round, and Stand-n-Spin offer ample space for all kids to have a whirl at the park. And the fun doesn't stop with climbing the playground and tower-the park even features its very own COW climber!
If you have any questions about this park or any of the elements you are curious about, let us know!! We would be happy to help you.
Park Details: Jensen Farm Park 578 W Rolling Hills Way Draper, Utah 84020
Spark Joy with a Themed Playground
When working with a professional playground designer, you can transform a themed playground into an entire experience by incorporating murals, themed surfacing, themed components, and independent toys. Let your LuckyDog Recreation Play Designer help you create an immersive and enjoyable play space without breaking the bank.
Imagine a playground that not only provides fun but also sparks physical activity, creativity, and imagination in children. A themed playground offers precisely this - an enchanting world where play and storytelling blend seamlessly. Each swing, slide, and climbing frame becomes a part of a greater narrative, immersing children in a world of their own making. The benefits are numerous: enhanced imaginative play, improved social skills, and increased physical activity, all contributing to the holistic development in children.
At Luckydog Recreation, we take pride in our unique and innovative approach to themed playground design. We are thrilled to showcase some of the exceptional playgrounds we have created over the years, each one a testament to our commitment to creating immersive and enjoyable play spaces.
IDAHO - Stuart Park in Inkom, Idaho - Leslie Smith Idaho's Creative Play Designer designed this Nature-themed playground that matches the beautiful Idaho scenery.
UTAH It’s a scene from a Hollywood Wild West movie in Grantsville, UT at Hollywood Park. In case you not sure you’re in Hollywood? Just look at the palm trees. See this month’s News for another cool Themed-playground in Grantsville. Watch Video
WYOMING Undine Park, City of Laramie, WY. This Castle-Theme playground shows off what you can do with surfacing to enhance the theme. Watch Video
In conclusion, children crave mental and physical stimulation and what is better than the gift of play. Themed playgrounds engage the mind, resulting in increased interactivity and prolonged play year after year. Start your journey today with creative Playcraft Systems designs.
Playground Drainage – A Crucial Investment for Play Equipment Preservation
Good drainage is crucial to the longevity and functionality of playground safety surface systems. Whether using loose-fill products, such as engineered wood fiber or rubber chips, or unitary surfaces, such as synthetic turf or poured-in-place rubber, the playground area needs proper water drainage. Most people involved in playground design and construction know the importance of moving water away from the play area. However, designers need to understand how a particular drainage system will affect the playground during and after construction.
All drainage systems are not created equal. Drainage for a playground in Las Vegas, Nevada, for example, will be different than a drainage system that's in Orlando, Florida. When in doubt, consult a local water expert who can ascertain how much drainage is needed for a particular climate and how much water, on average, will enter your playground surfacing area at any given time. For example, moving water via an entire "drain field" designed to exit into a more extensive drainage system in Orlando, Florida, makes perfect sense. In Las Vegas, such a system may be less comprehensive.
A playground area should be designed as something other than water collection points for the buildings or groundwater surrounding a playground. The accompanying photo shows water from the roof of the school building draining onto the asphalt area, which in turn drains into the playground protective area. Over half the water at this school is being discharged into the playground surfacing, rendering it unusable at certain times a year. Additionally, it can cause wood fiber displacement, premature wood rotting, and growth of insects and mold in the wood surfacing.
Solution, a sump pit inside the playground protective area is a common and economical way to address drainage concerns. A sump pit consists of a hole dug a certain length, width, and depth. The hole is then covered with a geotextile fabric and filled with drainage rock. To avoid interference with the footing layout provided by the playground equipment manufacturer, designers should show sump pits to be installed outside the fall zone to avoid interfering with play equipment footer placement.
While designers may add a slope to the play area to aid drainage, slopes greater than 1 or 2 degrees can create further problems for the installer. Unless precisely planned with the slope in mind, modular playgrounds are designed to be installed on level ground. For example, suppose there is a 2' slope in the distance of a forty-foot-long play structure with toys such as slides at opposite ends. In that case, one slide exit will be on or below ground level, while the other could be higher than 11", making both exits out of compliance.
Solution, the intentionality of the slope needs to be discussed in the design stage. Equipment designers and manufacturers can adjust for slope and even encourage equipment to be installed at different levels as part of the fun and function of the playground. Read more here.
In the late 1980s, prefabricated playground equipment was still in the infant stages. A set of plans showing a drainage design consisting of a layer of drainage rock throughout the playground protective area was not uncommon; it was widely used. However, geotextile fabric was exposed and ripped in high-traffic areas without regular surfacing maintenance, causing the drainage rock to contaminate the loose fill safety surfacing.
Additionally, a layer of drainage rock used throughout the play area can interfere with the structural integrity of the playground equipment footings. Play equipment manufacturers engineer their uprights and accompanying toys to be installed at a specific depth in native soil, not gravel or drainage rock. For example, a toy is designed to have an eighteen-inch footing, but 6" is used up in drainage rock, leaving only a 12".
This error renders the equipment out of compliance but often goes unnoticed because it is underground. It can even void the manufacturer's warranty. When the integrity of the footings is compromised, they can twist and go out of plumb, causing undue stress and premature breaking of toys. In turn, the life span of the equipment is shortened. And all because the footers were not installed in a solid footing. Think about that!
Solution, using a French drain or trench systems instead of a layer of drainage rock is now recommended. A trench that is dung along the lowest point of the playground protective area, is filled with geotextile fabric and gravel. This allows the water a place to go below grade to prevent water pooling in the playground pit.
In summary, consider the local climate and the playground equipment manufacturer's installation specs for your drainage system to perform correctly. Do not use the play area to discharge the surrounding water runoff. The goal is to move water away from the playground area without compromising the stability of the footings and manufacturer equipment height requirements.
