Altos Del Mar Park
Superior Recreational Products and distributor Southern Recreation created a unique pirate ship themed play environment for Altos Del Mar Park in Miami Beach, Fla. Built on the last remaining undeveloped oceanfront parcel, their goal was to create a one-of-a-kind play space that added value and met the needs of the community.
“The pirate theme really sets it apart from the other parks throughout Miami Beach,” Neighborhood Affairs Coordinator Vanessa Vázquez said.
When President of Southern Recreation Terry Rogers was designing this project, the only directive he was given was that it needed to be both unique and one that nobody else had. After a number of community involvement meetings, the City Commission selected the pirate theme.
“The playground benefits the community by providing both a challenging play environment with an unmatched opportunity for imaginative play,” President of Southern Recreation Terry Rogers said.
The pirate ship theme was brought to life with two recycled play structures, clownfish and blue tang fish spring riders, custom octopus playhouse, and palm tree shade. It also provides a lot of play value with the pirate tower climber and climbing boulders. The play environment is completed with four triangle sail shades and poured-in-place safety surfacing.
“Like all new parks built by the City of Miami Beach, this park contains resiliency elements, both environmental and social,” Vázquez said.
Located a mere 100 feet from the beach, it was important to use durable playground materials because the combination of saltwater and sea air causes steel playgrounds to corrode. To ensure this playground was long-lasting, they chose corrosion-resistant recycled playgrounds that are designed to thrive in coastal areas.
The playground decks, posts, and barriers are 100% recycled from post-consumer plastic such as milk jugs. It’s reinforced with additional fiberglass elements for even greater strength that prevents deterioration. Not only is the recycled material beneficial for the environment, it also looks and feels like wood for a natural look without the unwanted maintenance.
“This playground is an excellent addition to the community, especially to children and families. The park looks beautiful. The playground demonstrates the city’s commitment to continue to develop and offer more resources to the North Beach community,” Vázquez said.
