THE KING OF BACK-YARD SWINGS

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Treat your kids to a royal recreation set for those times when play's the thing.

You'll have to think big, even when building for little people. The play set takes up a 16' X 20' space and stands about 12' tall. The slide run-off is shown in detail to the left.

ILLUSTRATION BY DON OSBY

MOTHER has never been one to turn down a good offer, so when Iowa reader Paul Swenson agreed to share his plans for a back-yard recreation set, we took him up on it. His design came from studying play sets in public parks and looking through dozens of catalogues. His motivation? Downright practical:

"The garden was becoming a pain, so I put a sandbox there, and I made it big so I could play in it with my daughter. The measurements are based on what could be done using 8' railroad ties, standard lumber and nice round numbers."

Happily, the information and sketches Paul provided allowed our research and workshop specialist, Dennis Burkholder, to build a duplicate in a staffer's back yard (he also worked in a few changes for improvement's sake). The finished play set, dubbed "swing city" by the kids (more for the capital sprawl of its 12' X 16' X 20' dimensions than for its hanging hardware), was a sensation even before bolt one was drawn tight.

Before breaking ground in your own yard, see if you have the room. Though the sandbox is less than 9' square, the top beam extends some 2½' and 5 ½' beyond either side. The slide projects nearly 12' forward of the sandbox.

If space isn't a problem, materials and tools should be a cinch. All the lumber and hardware you'll need are itemized in the materials list—nothing unusual, except perhaps for the galvanized slide surface, which any sheet metal shop should be able to fold up for about $40. An average collection of tools will get the job done, but in addition to a tape measure, claw hammer, large screwdriver, locking pliers and adjustable wrench, you should have a crosscut handsaw, a coping saw, a level and a protractor, a shovel, a rake and a 3/8” electric drill with 1/8" and 3/l6" bits and a long ½" spade bit. A circular saw can be used for the few rip cuts if you don't have access to a table saw.

Since the playground will constantly be exposed to the elements, pressure-treated lumber and galvanized or plated hardware are the best choices. Latex paint and other wood-surface sealers can and probably should be used, but it's a good idea to let the wood weather for at least three months before applying any sealer or paint coating.