Playground Equipment That Makes Waves

After learning more about the needs of the parents and children that frequent the Windward Mall, Soft Play set out to transform the former play area. The new play area features a fun oceanic theme and is 100 square feet larger than the previous space, but it features familiar elements from the previous structure — like soft, carpeted flooring and climbable sculptures.

Vision

Streamlining play was one of the main drives of the new design for the Windward Mall play space. The previous Hokulea canoe-themed area had kids coming off the play structures and landing directly onto the path of other kids playing, which caused a higher risk for accidents. With the new structure, kids can go down the slides or jump into the main pathways on the sides of the play space without running into others.

Project Challenges

Soft Play identified and solved several challenges in creating an inviting and immersive space.

Capturing the Magic of Hawaii

At Soft Play, we wanted to capture the magic of Hawaii and the need to preserve its oceanic beauty by developing a Hawai’i Sea Treasures theme. This theme raises awareness for ocean protection and features elements such as coral stacks, dolphins and waterfall slides.

Creating Durable Interactive Elements

Since the audience of the Windward Mall play area is young kids, the team at Soft Play had to develop play elements to easily withstand heavy traffic. All structures have nonporous, naturally antibacterial finishes to make these elements easy to clean. We also use high-quality materials to ensure each structure remains in excellent condition for years.

Features of the Windward Mall Play Area

With a beach-inspired carpet and plush seating, the Windward Mall play area is a comfortable space for kids and their parents. Soft Play created seven unique structures for kids to enjoy:

• Waterfall slide
• Boat with dock slide
• Surf spot
• Honu
• Coral reef climber
• Dolphin slide
• Whale tunnel
• Soft Play is also in the process of designing and fabricating a LED rainbow element that will hang over the play space.

Results

Thanks to help from Soft Play, the Windward Mall play area saw a huge increase in popularity after completing renovations. Many local moms were quick to publish their praise of the improved play area as well. With the updated play space, kids have the opportunity to:

• Exercise their creativity through interacting with the play structures.
• Practice their critical thinking skills with fun games installed on the sides of the play area.
• Build muscles and enhance their balance and coordination as they climb on the structures.