by Deborah Edsall, managing director, Edsall & Associates LLC

May 2008 

One of the trickiest but increasingly important considerations for church construction is the design of outside play areas for children. This is especially true if a church intends to have a full daycare or "Mom's day out" during the week. Your church building program must give attention to "the little ones" using your facilities.

In addition, parents visiting your church will be comparing your indoor and outdoor childcare facilities to their kids' weekday daycare or the public parks in your area. It is natural comparison so be thinking how your design might speak about the beauty, creativity, and wisdom of God.

For this month's featured article, click on this link www.landscapeonline.com to get some great ideas. Then, you will need to check with any state or local agency regulations that apply to playground designs and usages in your community. 

Think of church recreation as a tool, method or support ministry, not as a separate program.  Guidebook for Planning Church Recreation Facilities (available from www.lifeway.com) will assist you as you consider if your church should have recreational facilities and help you to improve your plans.

Our signature publication The MasterBuild Process will help you avoid congregational conflicts, money-wasting  mistakes, and frustrating hours of meetings. These information-gathering and decision-making steps will help your building committee more effectively work with architects, builders, or church construction companies.