­­New Steps for Backyard Playsets

CedarWorks

Swings, slides and sandboxes always have been a staple of backyard playgrounds. But it’s not a reach to say that climbing walls take the latest residential playsets to … well, new heights in fun.

Of course, these walls aren’t the towering rock-like structures that you might find at climbing centers or even in large sporting goods stores. In general, they’re no more than 10-foot-high wood walls that have small rock-like grips attached. Nonetheless, they now stand behind only slides and swings as the most desired feature, manufacturers say. Twenty playset manufacturers offer climbing walls as standard or as an accessory on at least one of their models, compared with just eight manufacturers 4 years ago. Expect to pay at least $1,000 for a playset with a climbing wall as a standard feature. Climbing walls sold as an accessory tend to increase the price of a playset by at least $150.

As a result, more playsets that have walls mean more new things for you to consider. For example, if you want the wall to remain age-appropriate over time, make sure that you purchase a playset that allows you to swap out the standard wall with a taller wall that’s steeper or to adjust the wall’s pitch or angle, so the wall is still a challenge for your child as he/she grows. Also, be aware that plastic climbing grips come in essentially two grades, and the ones made of what manufacturers tout as composite materials can be a better option, although they cost more.

But the news with backyard playsets doesn’t stop with the wall. For instance, one manufacturer is touting an easier way for you to assemble its playset. Other manufacturers pitch the environmentally friendly qualities of the wood in their products to catch your eye.

WALL WONDER. Most rock walls are one piece and are designed to match the standard heights of playset tower decks (typically 5 to 7 feet). The pitch of the wall depends on the length of the wall and where you attach the wall. You can purchase a playset that has a wall at a dedicated vertical incline, but that might require some supervision on your part for the first year or two until your child can climb alone. Or you can buy a playset that has multiple decks and purchase a taller wall (which creates a steeper incline) later when your child is older.

Three manufacturers have playsets that have a wall that you can adjust to different heights. For example, CedarWorks’ Serendipity Walla Walla cedar climbing wall ($395) comes in two parts. When the parts are installed one way, the wall is vertical and presents a challenging climb for children who are, say, 5 or older. When the parts are reversed, the wall slants to a 25-degree angle for beginning climbers.

Bears Playgrounds has an 8-foot Baby Rock Crawl wall ($449) that is designed for mounting at a 30-degree angle to a 4-foot deck for young climbers. (It also includes small guard rails.) But the wall can be reinstalled at a steeper 61-degree angle to a 7-foot deck as your child grows older.

Bears Playgrounds also has a 10-foot vertical wall ($499)—the tallest that we found among residential manufacturers. But beware—the manufacturer’s Web site notes that “falls are inevitable” and that you’ll need to put at least a foot-deep patch of playground mulch below to cushion the fall of any wayward climbers. The manufacturer adds that children should be at least 5 years old to use the wall.