6 Essentials For Any Recreational Trail

Enhance Your Community Trails with Durable Play Mart Benches and More

Play Mart is passionate about the idea that children and adults should spend as much time in mother nature as possible! While we have an extensive selection of quality recycled plastic playground equipment, our products don’t end there. We offer a full line of outdoor furnishings perfect for parks and recreational trails.

There is a lot more to recreational trails than just a cleared pathway. If you are considering adding a hiking or biking trail to your area or renovating an existing recreational trail, it needs to be outfitted with the right furnishings. Here are 6 essential elements to get your trail on track for success!

Essential #1: Park Benches

Providing rest spots along outdoor trails and paths is not only a matter of convenience for hikers and bikers; it is also a highly appreciated amenity that enhances the overall experience for all visitors. Trail benches are one of the best ways to provide this comfort without compromising the natural beauty of your outdoor environment.

Heavy-Duty Materials

When selecting materials for a park bench, consider durability, maintenance, and aesthetics. Play Mart’s exclusive Recycled Structural Plastic (RSP) is an excellent choice as it is graffiti-resistant, requires minimal upkeep, and is designed to mimic natural tones that blend seamlessly with the environment. Unlike traditional wooden benches, those made from recycled plastic are moisture-resistant and will not rot, rust, or splinter.

Our recycled plastic benches offer versatility in mounting options. Trail benches can be surface mounted, but many recreational trails choose in-ground park benches to thwart theft and vandalism.

Variety in Design

The choice of recycled plastic does not limit design possibilities. In fact, benches from Play Mart come in an array of styles and colors, making it easy to match your trails’ aesthetic and budget. These include:

Leaving a Legacy

Besides providing rest and relaxation, these benches can also function as dedications or memorials. They can be engraved to feature business and personal donors or loved ones who have passed.

Essential #2: Picnic Tables

Play Mart’s recycled plastic picnic tables are the perfect spots to rest, refresh, and reconnect with nature for solitary adventurers or families and groups.

Our extensive range of quality picnic tables are designed with finesse and functionality at the forefront. Built to be sturdy and low-maintenance, our outdoor picnic tables ensure durability, making them an excellent addition to your recreational trails.

We believe in inclusivity and ensuring that recreational activities are accessible to all, regardless of physical ability. We are proud to offer a range of ADA-compliant picnic tables. Play Mart’s accessible picnic tables meet or exceed the ADA regulations, ensuring accessibility for everyone. The tables feature an extension at one end that makes them wheelchair-friendly.

Our styles include:

Each size is available in two color schemes: Mist tops with Latte supports or Latte tops with Chocolate supports.

Essential #3: Outdoor Trash Cans

We clearly care about preserving our planet at Play Mart. (See a video How We Turn Milk Jugs into Playgrounds.) We believe that enjoying nature’s beauty along hiking and biking trails should be a clean and refreshing experience. Unfortunately, the activities of our fellow outdoor enthusiasts can sometimes leave a trail strewn with litter and unwanted dog waste, diminishing the natural beauty of these places. One excellent solution is our RSP outdoor trash cans and waste receptacles.

Strategically placed trash cans help to maintain a clean and orderly path. When trash cans are easily accessible, trail users are more likely to dispose of their waste correctly instead of leaving it on the ground. Place them on bike paths next to picnic tables and benches, where visitors can relax and have a handy place to dispose of their waste responsibly.

Our durable plastic trash receptacles come with heavy-duty molded weather-resistant lids. These specially designed cans are a reliable and convenient means of trash disposal, able to stand up to the elements and rougher outdoor environments.

Essential #4: Dog Waste Stations

A walk or bike ride along a nature trail is even more fun when you can take along your furry best friend. However, this brings along the pesky nuisance of dog waste.

According to an environmental study by the EPA, the effects of dog waste on our environment are surprisingly severe. There are an estimated 72 million dogs in the United States, resulting in around 11 million tons of dog waste left behind every year.

And it’s not just unsightly. One gram of dog waste can contain up to 23 million fecal bacteria, and just 100 dogs can produce enough bacteria to close a beach to swimming and fishing. When dog waste is left on trails, it washes into our sewers and rivers and even contributes to harmful algae growth.

Yet, astonishingly, 40% of dog owners don’t pick up after their pets. This unfortunate habit leaves our trails polluted, affects our native wildlife, and poses a significant health risk to both humans and other dogs.

Strategically placing dog waste stations along hiking and biking trails is a simple but effective solution. Convenient access to waste bags and disposal options will likely encourage more dog owners to adhere to good practices, which can help keep your trail cleaner and safer.

Essential #5: Bicycle Racks

Single Loop Bike RackCycling through nature can be a wonderful experience, so having a place to take a break and securely park your bike is essential. That’s where Play Mart’s commercial outdoor bike racks come into play.

Constructed from triple-coated galvanized and stainless steel, Play Mart’s commercial bike racks are robust and designed to withstand the elements and deter theft and vandalism. Plus, our meticulous welding process ensures these racks are rust-resistant and super smooth, eliminating any jagged edges that could cause potential damage to bikes.

Bike racks are ideally installed near restrooms, trailheads, and parking lots. This strategic positioning not only offers users easy access but also deters them from locking their bicycles onto other structures, such as benches, preserving the integrity and aesthetics of the site.

One key benefit of our bike racks is their versatility. Available in several shapes, sizes, and weights, our racks can accommodate any type of bike path at your ideal price point. Whether your trail’s users are riding mountain bikes, road bikes, or touring bikes, they’ll always have a secure place to park.

Essential #6: Trail Signs

Navigating through the serenity of rural areas while hiking or biking is an exhilarating experience. However, without proper guidance, the adventure can become confusing or even dangerous. Trail signs and markers play an essential role, helping nature lovers and adventure seekers explore and navigate paths safely and conveniently.

Trail Markers

A well-marked trail is the thumb rule for any hiking or biking path. A clear and visible hiking sign will guide hikers toward their destination and prevent them from getting lost. Our high-quality signs manufactured with heavy-duty RSP materials are the best way to mark trails for the safety and convenience of all users. Play Mart’s trail signs use engraved wording that stays visible for years. That means no worries about paint fading or symbols wearing off over time.

Fitness Trail Signs

Fitness trails are another innovative way to promote health and wellness at your local park. By installing Fitness Station Signs along the trail, hikers can enjoy the added benefits of outdoor workouts. Each directional sign offers beginner and advanced instructions and is made from our proprietary RSP that outperforms traditional wood signs. If you are interested in making an outdoor fitness course, look at our article on how to incorporate outdoor fitness in your community for guidance.

In addition to facilitating information on fitness and directions, Play Mart recreational signs are ideal for marking outdoor campsites, educational areas, water stations, and landmarks in local and national parks with custom symbols.

Message Centers

Play Mart also offers convenient message centers to post notices and other information for trail guests. These message centers are low-maintenance, weather-resistant, and provide plenty of space for park communications. UV resistance and vandalism resistance are added benefits.

Get on the right path with Play Mart!

Well-equipped walking and biking trails are a great way to attract local residents and visitors from afar. Shop Play Mart’s catalog of park amenities to make your recreational trail a highlight of your community. Get your trail up and running with Play Mart!

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Testimonials

"Play Mart Inc. is truly the company you want to do business with when looking for commercial grade playground equipment.

Lesson learned: not all playground equipment is compatible with other equipment. Our HOA had a Play Mart set that was purchased in 2005 it was needing to be refurbished. Ryan Williams contacted me right away asking what he could do to help. Records hadn’t been kept so I was having difficulty finding what we had and what we could do. After sending pictures from my phone, Ryan took over giving us the original design blueprint! A detailed report on what we had and what needed to be replaced was soon in my hands.

We were elated to learn that some of our stuff was still under warranty! Options of what could be done and what must be done to ensure the safety of our children were outstanding! We were so pleased that the nightmare of searching for playground equipment was now over! The equipment is made in the USA too.

While we wait for delivery we can’t thank Ryan Williams enough for the care he took in making sure that our playground is safe! They also offer installation if you need that! Everything ships with detailed installation instructions like a picture book! Thank You Play Mart and Ryan for all of your professional help!"

Jeanette Bowen

"I'm not sure whether the kids would have caused damage to the playset at some point, but the playground survived the hurricane. Your RSP™ is amazing."

Tim H. Gateway Services Community Development District

Ft Myers, FL

“I would just like to let you know Play Mart did a wonderful job on the packing/shipping and installation instructions. We have installed almost every manufacturer in the market and your company is the most installation friendly we have done in years.”

Playground Installation Crew

Kansas

“The contractor who assembled the set told me it was his first experience with recycled material in play sets and he was very impressed. He also told me it was very well packaged and user friendly for assembly.

It looks first class and blends in well with the wooded area surrounding our church. We like the fact we can accommodate so many kids with a set this size.”

Bruce P.

Topeka, KS

“This is cooler than big kids stuff!”

5 Year Old Child

Topeka, KS

“Congratulations on your extensive and impressive exhibit of your playground products. I was most impressed. If I were a child, I would spend a lot of time in the music section of your marvelous array of enticing things to do. But on the other hand, I could easily be enticed to the many other play opportunities for play and learning.

It is blatantly obvious that you have put a lot of careful thought into developing your engaging products for children. Congratulations and thank you for the tour of your exhibit at the trade show.”

Matthew Evans, FASLA Senior Landscape Architect & Horticulturist

US Capitol, Washington, DC

“It gives me great pleasure to be able to write a letter on behalf of Play Mart, Inc. On two different occasions in recent years, Play Mart constructed playground equipment on our school property. Play Mart representatives went out of their way to meet with the school playground committee so that we fully understand our options and the cost. We have been delighted with the equipment that Play Mart representatives recommended for our students. It is age appropriate and safe. We have had to make two minor repairs, which were quickly taken care of by the company.
In the process building the playground, we were very interested in using recycled materials. Availability of this via Play Mart was a big reason why we choose this company. Play Mart worked with us in obtaining exactly what we wanted. We were very pleased with the construction timeline and the value for the price. When we wanted to add more equipment, Play Mart was most helpful and made the changes cost effective for us. Our students spend many happy hours enjoying the playground.

We have been very happy with the entire project. It is with great satisfaction I write this letter on behalf of the company and their employees.”

Sister Laverne K., School Principal

Newark, DE

“We continue to be so pleased with our playscape! As soon as we open the door in preparation for outside play, the children head straight for the playscape. The teachers so enjoy watching the students play some of their favorite games which include: Pirate Ship (they all crowd on top of the playscape sailing off for adventure of the high seas), Shark! (similar to pirate ship but they all stand on top screaming “shark”), and Ice cream shop (sellers stand under the playscape and deliver ice cream cones to customers on the other side of the ‘counter’).
We thank you again for working so closely with us as we designed this safe and sturdy play area to fit the needs of our Nursery School. It has been one year and it still looks great, blending beautifully into our historic town green. Both our school and our community look forward to many, many more years of fun!”

Laurie H., Daycare Director

Washington, CT

“Our entire church is excited with the equipment and especially glad we saved 32,226 milk jugs from a landfill. We love the look of wood without the problems of termites and splintering.”

Joyce W.

Jacksonville, AR

“I wanted to drop you a quick note to commend you on your subcontractor’s performance…The combination of your quality equipment and the installation by Hammer Down has provided the staff, children and Marine Corp with an excellent play facility. The installation and application of the equipment has turned out superbly.  Hammer Down, Paul and his entire crew were pleasant to work with, knowledgeable of the equipment and codes and had an uncommon willingness to work well with us and other contractors. I commend them for an excellent install and terrific attitude.

As for the poured in place rubber; again a superb product paired with a great subcontractor. Clean Play, Allen and his crew provided a level of work that would be hard to surpass. The installation went smoothly and quickly. I appreciate their attention to detail and cleanliness. Though we may have stayed late, I never have an issue doing that for a contractor that works as hard and diligently as they did each and every day. There performance was outstanding and one I would look forward to seeing again.

I appreciate all of your help and you providing us with such high quality subcontractors. Thank you.”

Mike R., Superintendent

Sauer, Inc.