As your neighbors serving Southern Texas, the team at fun abounds knows exactly what Texas weather throws at playground equipment – from those sizzling summer days to sudden storms. In fact, our unique climate has caught the attention of major manufacturers – they’ve actually chosen us as a product testing partner because if playground equipment can thrive in our weather, it can succeed almost anywhere! We’ve learned a thing or two about building play spaces that handle it all while keeping kids smiling.
Living with Texas Weather
Let’s talk about what makes our Texas weather unique! During summer, surface temperatures can climb above 120°F (we’ve measured!). While our coastal friends deal with salty breezes and high humidity, inland, those temperature swings keep everyone guessing. At fun abounds, we love putting our local expertise to work solving these playground challenges.
Take Brazos River Park in Sugar Land – it brings together everything we love about creating community gathering spots in Texas. Working with the City of Sugar Land’s parks and rec team, we helped create a vibrant play area that includes something for everyone: Burke® playground equipment, shaded pavilions with plenty of seating, BBQ grills for family gatherings, and scenic concrete trails that connect it all together.
Even with our intense Texas weather, this play space keeps families comfortable and happy thanks to thoughtful design choices and careful planning. The shaded areas provide cool spots for parents to watch their little ones play while the equipment is built to endure sun and storms. It’s exactly the kind of project that makes us smile – seeing local families out there making memories, knowing we helped create a space that truly serves the community’s needs for active, outdoor living.
Choosing Materials That Love Texas
We’re pretty excited about the materials Burke® has developed specifically for conditions like ours. Their Nucleus Evolution® play systems include:
- Stainless steel hardware and rust-resistant components that laugh at coastal humidity, plus Burke®’s special Coastal Package powder coat finish provides extra protection against salt spray and intense UV exposure
- Colors that stay bright and beautiful under our Texas sun
- EcoIPEMA certified materials that handle our temperature extremes like champs
Speaking of our Texas sun – shade structures are crucial! Playground shades from Burke® and Shade Systems that stand up to high winds while keeping both equipment and families cool during those peak sunshine hours.
For safety surfacing (the stuff under your feet), we recommend different options from leading manufacturers including Burke®, SpectraTurf, and ForeverLawn, based on your specific location and needs:
- Engineered wood fiber (EWF) with proper drainage for inland areas
- Poured-in-place (PIP) rubber surfacing where flooding might be a concern
- Synthetic turf systems when you need maximum drainage
Designing for Our Climate
Scroll through our recent installations in South Texas to see how smart design makes playground fun last longer, even in our dynamic climate. When we work with our partners to build a playground, we think about:
- Designs that let air flow freely and keep water moving
- Strategic equipment placement to work with the sun, not against it
- Shade structures that protect both the play space and the people enjoying it
- Smart drainage systems for those surprise storms
When we’re planning your playground equipment, we consider:
- Tree coverage and shade opportunities
- Smart water management
- Easy access for maintenance
- Materials that work together to keep things comfortable
Installation & Care
Our professional installation teams know our products inside and out, and they understand our local weather challenges like only fellow Texans can. To keep your play space in top shape, we recommend:
- Checking all moving parts every few months
- Looking at drainage systems monthly during storm season
- Making sure shade structures are stable and doing their job
- Keeping good records of how weather affects your equipment
Every inspection is done by our Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI), who understand both quality standards and our unique Texas climate.
Creating Memories That Last
At fun abounds, we love combining innovative playground equipment with our local know-how to create play spaces that bring joy to Texas communities year after year. From picking the right materials to ongoing care, we think about the long-term success of your play space.
Ready to create some playground memories filled with fun? Let’s talk about your project! Give us a call – we’d love to show you how we can help build a play space that your community will enjoy for years to come, no matter what weather Texas sends our way.
