As a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Old Moor Nature Reserve in England's Dearne Valley seeks to become a premier destination for families wanting to experience nature first-hand in an exciting and safe environment. Old Moor wished to introduce wild play into the reserve by using smaller and more informal elements and adding playful routes through the site to immerse children in nature.

Richter Spielgeräte's longtime partner Timberplay assisted RSPB with the supply and installation of equipment and landscaping to create wonderfully natural and playable spaces. Several crossings in the form of a Chain Path and Big Suspension Bridge are to test balance, promoting playing within the water, long grasses and the beautiful trees of Old Moor. A tunnel incorporated in grass mounding within the wetland creates both a hiding place and physical test for all ages as they navigate through the site looking for wildlife. 

The play elements have a significant focus on playful landscapes, including a sand pool and log area with fallen trees and willow dens, capturing play experiences that promote physicality and imaginative play and communication. A large Octagonal Tower is a stand-out structure within the landscape, standing at 2.4 metres high; it allows children and adults to climb upwards towards the treetops and see over the whole site, enabling them to feel at one with the birds.

A park in the heart of Austin

The newly remodeled 11-acre park in the heart of Austin features a thrilling rock slide - Richter's first - and an expansive climbing structure. The granite slide is ideal for warmer climates. It embodies Richter's commitment to natural materials and feels comfortable even in the Texas heat.
This very special playground was created under the direction of the renowned New York landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc. in collaboration with the German company Richter Spielgeräte GmbH. Waterloo Park has slopes with large natural stones that were to be equipped with slides. The only problem is that stainless steel slides heat up quickly and strongly due to their high thermal conductivity. As the use of stainless steel as an outdoor material is always under discussion, the Frasdorf-based company Richter Spielgeräte set out to find a suitable solution. In the end, Richter came across granite, a material with particularly slow thermal conductivity. The next question was how different parts of a stone slide could be manufactured in such a way that they would fit together exactly during assembly. Richter came across an Austrian stonemasonry company via an Italian manufacturer of CNC-controlled stone milling machines. The Kienesberger brothers produced the individual slide elements based on CAD models, which were then trial assembled in Frasdorf on the Richter Spielgeräte premises before being packed and shipped to the USA. In the fall of 2021, the playground in Austin, Texas, was officially opened with Richter's first granite slide.

Unique playspace in the middle of old trees

IIn cooperation with the renowned landscape architecture office West 8 from Rotterdam, Richter Spielgeräte GmbH in Munich-Freiham realized a unique game world. On the enormous green area with old tree existence different play areas, which address all age groups, developed here. The slide hill with the climbing structure enthroned on top invites to daring climbing, balancing and climbing. In a clearing in the deciduous forest, a few meters further on, there is a sand play area that appeals especially to younger children. The herd of wild boars invites to role-play, in which you can swing gently back and forth and the hexagonal platform and the triangular platforms invite to climb and discover.

A seaport from the Hanseatic era

In the Zingst seaside spa resort, the "Hanseviertel" project on the grounds of the "Experimentarium" children's museum has created a harbour town on the beach. The enormous stranded ship is a two-master with a steering wheel, lookout, trough slide and many other play facilities. Behind the ship's hull the typical gables of the Hanseatic era rise in bright colours - the workshop rooms of the "Experimentarium". The whole area invites you to immerse yourself in role-playing, climbing and romping around and the unique playable ship is the attractive centre of this play world.

An imaginatively designed indoor playground

The spacious "Wola Park" shopping center in the heart of the Polish metropolis of Warsaw has an imaginatively designed indoor playground for children. The centerpiece of the play world, whose equipment is made of high-quality spruce wood used especially for indoor use, is a large tree on which there are several tree houses. The houses, which are located on different levels, are connected to each other by net tunnels, ladders and climbing nets. The transparency of the net structures ensures the safety of children and parents alike. This allows the climbing children to maintain eye contact with their parents on the ground. From the upper levels, there are two large winding tunnel slides to get back down again. The large tree is equipped with plank roots, which are modeled on the roots of large trees that are exposed to strong winds.

With additional play elements such as rotating disks, a marble run or "remember-what", the little houses on the ground offer creative opportunities for experiencing the senses. These modules are also easily accessible for smaller children and wheelchair users.
An additional special feature is a small hill underneath the playhouses. A solid steel beam is mounted underneath it, which bridges the heavy loads between the high play structures.

Climb and discover to your heart's content

In the northern district of Nice, the “Parc du Ray” project created a spacious green area as a recreational and play paradise. The project approach of the Compagnie du Paysage was to discover the qualities of the previously derelict site in order to build a project in symbiosis with its surroundings. Richter Spielgeräte has created an exciting and spacious playground in this park against the beautiful backdrop of the Côte d'Azur. Several platforms of different heights connected by climbing nets, ropes, bridges and net tunnels and a large, winding tunnel slide invite you to marvel, climb and discover.

Richter Playground in Port Melbourne, Australia, combines high-quality play equipment with pieces of old seafaring gear to commemorate the town's maritime history

In the "Maritime Cove Community Park" in Port Melbourne, near Sandridge Beach, there is a spacious playground that combines our high-quality play equipment with parts of old seafaring equipment, thus integrating the maritime environment and the history of the place into the playground.
For example, there are old canal markers, which are ideal for use as forts in the playground, steel buoys that can be climbed and used as seating, as well as a mast basket, harbor bollards, a rope ladder and replicas of shipping containers.
These components are complemented by the various play equipment. There is a large wooden fort with a long tunnel slide, challenging rope bridges and climbing ropes for older children, as well as unusual spinning tops, musical instruments and a spacious sand play area for toddlers.
On hot summer days, the two water play areas with pumps and various spray nozzles are a particular attraction.

Imaginative play world on an idyllic beach promenade.

The secret of our success is a convincing mixture of a deep understanding of children's need to play and a respectful approach to the material wood.
A well thought-out, age-appropriate playground design can make a significant contribution to improving children's lives. We are convinced that the need for playgrounds is merely the consequence of a complex, ever-expanding society, but cannot remedy the lack of free space for children.
Nevertheless, the playground should be seen as a way of compensating for the lack of general freedom of movement through play and as a necessary alternative to the mechanized life of children. If a playground is to fulfill these tasks, it and its equipment should have a high play value. The term play value is defined by the relationship between the playground or play equipment and the user and must be the focus of any planning.
A playground can already have a high play value through a differentiated terrain structure with hills and embankments, with different paving and different surfaces. A playground with a high play value can be recognized by the signs of wear and tear. The worn turf, scuffed ladder rungs, steps and equipment floors, polished handles or handrails can tell you about eager children's feet and hands and say: "Playing" is fun here!
In 2018, we opened a playground with precisely these standards in Qatar for the first time.
Lusail City is located north of Doha and is a new, world-leading city with exemplary facilities in all areas: Residential, Retail and Tourism.
Timberplay, Richter Spielgeräte GmbH's UK partner, worked with local contractor Nakheel to create a playground in one of the city's best recreational areas, the Lusail Marina Promenade.
Idyllically set amidst white sand and palm trees, the various pieces of Richter equipment offer fun and challenging activities for children of all ages.
The climbing structure, see-saw or sand snake offer energetic fun and challenging climbing and balancing. Shady shelters and seating for visitors have also been provided.

Unique due to its natural design in material, shape and color

What makes this playground unique is its natural design in terms of material, shape and color and its sensitive integration into the surrounding landscape, which was created in close collaboration between the City of Melbourne and Richter Spielgeräte.
There is a climbing area with various rope and balancing structures, nets and viewing platforms to discover, a water play area with various pumps, channels, damming and mud elements as well as various slope slides integrated into the existing terrain. An arched bridge has been specially designed for wheelchair users and families with baby carriages, and its attractive appearance alone makes it a special meeting point. The movable suspended floor provides a little thrill.
There is a climbing area with various rope and balancing structures, nets and viewing platforms, a water play area with various pumps, channels, damming and mud elements as well as various slope slides integrated into the existing terrain.
elements as well as various slope slides integrated into the existing terrain. An arched bridge has been specially designed for wheelchair users and families with baby carriages, which is attractive in its own right.
bridge, which is a special meeting point due to its attractive appearance alone. The movable suspended floor provides a little thrill.

Atmospheric nature playground

For the atmospheric nature playground in the Parc de la Tête d'Or, the main focus was placed on the theme of "tribes". This can be clearly seen in the palisades of the climbing structure and the climbing forest. The various rope constructions, nets, ascents and transitions that connect the trunks with each other allow older children and teenagers in particular to climb and balance to their heart's content. In the horizontal triangular net, you can also sit down comfortably to chat and observe. Adults can also have fun on the Merk-Dir-Was. And the little ones are particularly attracted to the spinner, the seesaws and the platform with slide. Everyone can make cheerful noises together on the whistle seesaw. The concept of a playground for all generations has been a success here.