How Playgrounds Help Increase Foot Traffic in Retail Spaces

NEW JERSEY, July 25, 2025 — Retail spaces have always been a staple in cities, and it’s vital to maintain that same level of relevance in spite of digitization. Playgrounds can be an asset that attracts families and raises foot traffic in the long run. How can playgrounds help enhance foot traffic in retail spaces? Find out here.

The Role of Playgrounds in Retail

Playgrounds can serve as an incentive for retail customers. Nowadays, people have numerous shopping options. Some resort to researching and buying online rather than visiting brick-and-mortar stores for the peace and convenience that it brings. Approximately 15,000 store closures are expected to happen in the U.S. this year due to these circumstances.

That’s not to say that retail has lost its appeal. Numerous shops are still keeping their doors open, with a projected 5,800 store openings this year. It’s just important to lean into providing a fulfilling shopping experience to customers.

Playgrounds gain a lot of traction, especially from families with children keen on exploration and play. Adding them can increase foot traffic for customers who want to shop while letting their young ones have fun.

It can also positively impact a family’s customer satisfaction in your retail stores. If the space makes kids happy, their parents will feel the same. They may even become repeat customers.

Seeing the Science in Action

Soft Play has more than 40 years of experience bringing the power of play into numerous spaces. It creates playground equipment that nurtures children’s physical, mental and emotional needs, allowing businesses that install it to reap the benefits.

Soft Play has installed over 40,000 playgrounds in over 60 countries, and the shopping industry is a tried-and-true beneficiary of these moves. Learn how playgrounds can help increase foot traffic to retail spaces.

Fast Food Services

The fast-food market is often categorized as retail since it has the same principle of distributing products quickly and efficiently, often through drive-thru or walk-up service. Soft Play is responsible for curating the unique play experiences at the iconic McDonald's PlayPlace, captivating generations of kids for 30 years and counting.

It also worked with Burger King through the interactive BK Play Solutions. Emphasis was placed on creating fun structures while ensuring they had antibacterial properties. These areas provide a healthy and imaginative space that improves locations and boosts family visits.

Shopping Centers

Shopping centers are the heart of retail, but they can occasionally have several unused spaces. Soft Play took advantage of these gaps at the Burbank Town Center in California and created unique climbers and slides. Comfortable seating was added for parents to encourage observation while their kids had fun.

Meanwhile, in Aventura Mall in Florida, contemporary artists Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III created a Rainbow Valley play area that Soft Play helped bring to life. The art installation was added to enrich customers’ shopping experiences.

Experiential Retail

Experiential retail businesses like cinemas are geared to giving patrons a memorable time. Soft Play partnered with B&B Theatres to create an innovative theater room that appealed to families with small children. While it’s mainly made for 2- to 8-year-olds, kids big and small will remember the full-size climbing playground, vibrant seats and wide movie screen.

Another similar example is the installation at the Calgary International Airport in Alberta, Canada. Soft Play also designed and installed aviation-themed play areas near the airport's retail businesses to encourage interactive play.

Themed Amusement

Soft Play has even gone as far as appealing to the retail side of amusement centers. For instance, Planet Play in the Kennedy Space Center is an immersive installation where kids play in different worlds. Parents are encouraged to grab a drink at the bar while watching their little ones.

The company is also responsible for some play areas at Lotte World in Seoul, South Korea. Some zones are centered on iconic stories like “Cinderella” and “The Jungle Book.”

What Makes a Retail Playground Effective?

Playgrounds can help increase foot traffic within retail spaces, but success still depends on various factors. Safety, inclusivity and more can make a big difference.

Safety and Accessibility

Playgrounds should be secure spaces for children to socialize, interact and explore. Safety standards are used to prevent accidents, typically covering design considerations like rounded edges, soft flooring and more.

Safety should also include accessibility. Prioritize adding inclusive features like ramps and adaptive play equipment. Even subtle additions like wider pathways can benefit children of all abilities in terms of entering and exiting the play area.

Audience Appeal

A retail playground will be especially effective if it matches your target audience. If your store’s demographics include families with older children, installations for toddlers and preschoolers may not provide as attractive an experience.

Try to observe the gender of your visitors, as well. One study found that boys are much more active than girls at the playground, suggesting that businesses need to try different approaches to boost this demographic’s usage.

Compatibility With Retail Layout

Explore all kinds of playground equipment categories, from indoor to outdoor installations. There are even aquatic-based play areas, though these may be less suitable for malls and other regular retail establishments.

Assess what solutions would best suit your retail area, from choosing the available space to determining how much will be allocated for the play area. Remember that you can also use it for community events and engagement.

Creative Appeal

Grow from the notion of building a playground just to have a children’s area at your retail space. Instead, get creative when designing and building these installations. One study found that innovative playgrounds saw 43% more visitors compared to traditional ones.

You can take inspiration from your brand’s aesthetic and theme. This move can seamlessly integrate with your interior or exterior design and position your retail store as a fun and family-friendly place.

Additional Concerns to Keep in Mind

There are specific challenges to conquer while conceptualizing the retail program. Here are other common concerns store owners may face:

Liability and insurance: Child safety is paramount in play spaces, and playground liability is a step toward taking responsibility for those injuries. Provide compensation while protecting your financial interests.

Maintenance and cleanliness: While the play area is for fun and games, it’s essential to inspect and clean it regularly. Prevent sweat and other contaminants from lingering on the equipment. Using antibacterial playground equipment can create a healthier environment for children.

Noise management and crowd control: Playgrounds will see plenty of foot traffic, especially at the beginning. It’s essential to manage these surges to ensure regular customers have a pleasant shopping experience.

Measuring Playground Impact in Retail Performance

It helps to have a set of metrics as a game plan for gauging impact on retail performance. Here are suggestions to include on the list:

Time spent in the retail business: Have more customers visited the store since the playground was installed? How many hours are kids spending in these play areas, and how often do parents come in to shop?

Interactions with equipment: Do all families have members who want to use the playground? Learn what installations work and what needs improvement.

Sales per visit: How many visits influenced by the playground have converted into actual sales? An increase is a telltale sign that you’re heading in the right direction.

Social media mentions: Check if your retail business has been getting more traction on social media. You can also run specific searches to see if customers mention the playground.

Overall feedback: Use surveys to learn what customers think about the playground installation. You can also conduct interviews to gather more qualitative data to reference for future decisions.

How You Can Get Started

Now that you know how playgrounds can help increase foot traffic to retail spaces while building communities, it’s time to get the equipment. This can be a meticulous process that requires plenty of thought to ensure the best chances of success.

Assess Your Space and Audience

Analyze the establishment you’re working with, from weather to business demographics and more. This will help you narrow down critical choices, like what kind of play area to build, where to place it and how to make it more appealing to your clientele.

You can also create a playground on the premise of having a passive channel for profit. A larger recreational area can be the ideal rental space for birthday parties, class outings, community gatherings and other kinds of events while boosting daily visits.

Conceptualize With Playground Designers

Playground design should mainly focus on practicality and creativity. It’s important to consider safety, inclusive amenities and general upkeep. Certain decisions can be beneficial in the long run, like spacing out the equipment and choosing easy-to-clean materials.

Meanwhile, fitness, fun and variety are critical factors that make up the creative aspect. For example, choose colors that stand out and attract attention while staying cohesive with the rest of your retail space’s interior or exterior.

Sort Out the Budget

Your choices will influence what budget the project requires. The average installed cost for inclusive playgrounds that accommodate 50 to 100 children is $150,000 to $500,000 due to the specialized equipment.

If an estimate seems too high, it’s worth tweaking a few details or exploring financing plans. Fundraising efforts like selling advertising space and hosting a tournament can also create plenty of buzz about the upcoming playground while building relationships with the community.

Greenlight Construction and Installation

Once a design has been created, it’s time to greenlight the project and start manufacturing. Visit the local planning department in your community to obtain the right permits to prepare and improve the planned sites.

Establish a definite timeline for the installation and determine what areas need to be closed for operations. Customers must be informed about these conditions before or during shopping and know when things will go back to full capacity.

Reap the Benefits of Playgrounds for Businesses

Playgrounds can improve foot traffic and give life to retail spaces, especially when they’re well-designed and inclusive. With Soft Play, you can turn your visions into reality and create a long-lasting structure for families everywhere.

Playgrounds are becoming key strategic assets in retail, promoting longer visits, driving recurring foot traffic, and creating a more welcoming, family-oriented shopping environment.