More Than Just Play Today's sophisticated swing sets are a valuable investment in your family. by BILL STEINBERG s a child, I played with my best friend at the top of his hilly backyard on a shiny red metal swing and aluminum slide set. It was the center of our small universe. The swing set was a spectacular gift from one of his relatives, and one that was shared completely with me, without a single restriction or reservation. In the early Sixties, this was state-of-the-art playground equipment. The support legs were sturdily anchored into the ground with concrete. There was even a built-in reminder when we were pushing the envelope by swinging too high, as the setup would start rocking up and out of the ground with an unforgettable series of thunks that were amplified by the hollow metal tubing of the support structure. If I close my eyes, I can still imagine the magnificent view in motion from the top of the swing set on a perfect afternoon. With those childhood memories still reverberating within me decades later, I went about a parent's sacred task of buying a playground set for my young daughter and her playmates. Clearly, the best values offered in this market niche occur during the cold weather months, in a time frame between Labor Day and Memorial Day. As we began our search, we side-stepped the bargain-priced, old-style metal units, like the kind that are perennially displayed outside stores like Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us. Aside from some genuine aesthetic concerns, the inherent structural limitations of these swing sets not only precludes parents from actively playing with their children, but it also virtually guarantees that once the kids reach weights of 60 to 80 pounds, they will have outgrown it. There appears to be a growing concern for the physical safety and security of children at public playgrounds. Many parents who prefer to supervise play in their own backyards may opt for a larger and sturdier swing set, because the set will last longer and the kids won't outgrow it so fast. Some would argue that in addition to being a formidable "anti-couch potato device," a backyard play system can be, relatively speaking, an extremely cost-effective home improvement as an outdoor room addition. The new-generation, truly sturdy modular units are made of wood with UV-stabilized polyethylene attachments. They are semi-portable structures, so theoretically you can take them with you in case you move. Most are so well engineered that they require no cement anchors for stability. Parents can truly swing, climb, and slide right alongside their children. Entry-level prices for a reasonably equipped, quality redwood set, including swings, slide, monkey bars, and a playhouse, cost about the same as a mid-level home computer (in the $800 to $1,500 range). Be forewarned, however, that the price tag on some manufacturer's larger beamed and more fully equipped designs can exceed the $2,000 to $3,000 price range. Some modular units have spectacular canopy-covered playhouses as tall as 15 feet above the ground. Locally, there are four manufacturer's products that deserve serious consideration. Ken Rash's (3686 Summer) features "ChildLife," which is constructed of chemically treated green-painted pine. Another sturdier chemically treated pine offering, with redwood available as an option, is "Play Nation" at Your Back Yard (5684 Summer). The two distributors of chemical-free, all redwood swing sets in the Memphis area are "Heartland Playground Systems," a relatively new offering from a company (at 5331 Summer) that primarily builds barns and sheds, and "Rainbow Play Systems," sold by Superior Play Systems (6484 Winchester). Of the two attractive, exclusively redwood product lines, Rainbow Play Systems offers larger and sturdier designs with a tad more attention to detail. Both manufacturers boast lifetime warranties as long as the original owner owns the play equipment. "With the chemical preservatives in the pressure-treated pine, they stand every chance of lasting as long as the chemical-free redwood play sets," according to Chris White, manager of Superior Play Systems. "Customers tell us they prefer redwood because it's aesthetically more appealing, will splinter and crack less than all other woods, and is naturally insect and rot resistant." White knows that parents can get away with spending as little as $500 on a play set, but he insists they should be aware of the sacrifices they are making in the critical areas of quality and safety, particularly if they buy sight-unseen from a catalog picture. He urges the entire family to spend ample time romping on actual display models before making a decision to buy any manufacturer's product. Only with that unhurried, up-close-and-personal, hands-on experience, will buyers begin to see the value in the long-term purchase of a premium-quality play set. Having made our Rainbow purchase last winter, our playground was professionally installed in our backyard at the beginning of the spring. My daughter, now 3, made a remarkably instant transformation from a full-time stationary video watcher to an athletically confident, jungle gym tyke. Her friends love to play on the setup, as well, and she is rarely short of visiting playmates. Particularly after enhancing the beauty of the natural redwood with a recommended stain, we have received numerous unsolicited compliments from both our neighbors and people just strolling by the house. Most importantly, in light of how quickly our daughter's formative years are passing, we get to play together creatively as a family. The tall and airy shaded playhouse is large enough for an adult to stand up in and will support more than 1,000 pounds. This fall, once again taking advantage of off-season pricing, we will add the final two modules to complete the set for the long run. It seems like we spend at least a little time in our backyard each day now. And I know it won't be long before my daughter only wants to play with her friends. What a rare thing it is to feel like you received more than your money's worth for a major durable goods purchase. (William I. Steinberg, CFP, is an advisory associate at the Memphis financial planning firm of Kelman-Lazarov, Inc. His e-mail address is bill@kelman-lazarov.com.)