Columbia Association’s new play area upgrades, explained
Columbia Association (CA)’s play areas are getting an upgrade as the result of a policy shift set in motion a few years ago to better meet the evolving needs of the community.
The biggest change? Play areas are no longer designed just for toddlers. CA expanded the focus from ages 0–5 to 0–12, creating spaces that serve a wider range of children. The name change from “tot lots” to “play areas” reflects that broader intent.
CA has also moved away from maintaining a large number of small, wooden play areas and toward creating sustainable, higher-quality and more diverse play areas within each village.
What inspired this change?
In February 2023, CA’s Board of Directors approved a set of actions that guided this transformation, including the development of a strategic plan. A Play Area Work Group – made up of CA staff, board members and residents – then took a deeper look at how play areas should evolve. Through surveys, community input and best practice research, the group helped shape what is now the Cluster Play Area Program Policy.
Instead of treating every play area individually, CA uses geographic information systems (GIS) takes a complete view of available play areas within a certain radius and analyzes them as “clusters.” The goal is to make sure every resident has a play area within about a 10-minute walk, while also offering different types of play experiences nearby.
Putting sustainability first
Under this approach, not every play area is automatically replaced. Some are repurposed if they no longer meet safety or design standards, becoming other community amenities such as pollinator gardens, meadows, seating or picnic areas or reforestation spaces.
When CA redesigns play areas, the process is strategic and coordinated:
- Designs are planned across the entire cluster, not one site at a time
- Equipment is more varied and inclusive of a wider age range
- Durability and long-term maintenance are key considerations
- Every play area is still inspected annually, and repairs are prioritized based on condition and need (not location)
- Sites may include climbing structures, shade, expanded seating and more flexible play features to engage older children while still accommodating younger ones
What this means for residents
Changes to play areas are starting to be noticed in the community. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 alone:
- 7 play areas have been replaced into alternate community amenities
- 6 additional sites have been reimagined (with some still in the pipeline for construction)
These projects reflect the new direction: Fewer outdated play areas, and more thoughtfully designed play areas that serve broader age groups and offer varied play experiences within each cluster. We recently caught up with Columbia’s biggest play area critics: kids. See what young Columbians playing at Kings Contrivance had to say about the new play area in that village.
As more projects move from planning into construction, residents will continue to see play areas that are more accessible, more engaging and better suited to how families use them today. You can explore CA’s 164 play areas here, and check out some of the newly reimagined play areas at: