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Temporarily we do not offer metal slides. Please check back soon. Browse any of the following categories for available slides.

The metal playground is a staple of classic Americana, a symbol of a lifestyle driven by industry and recreation, and the centerpiece of this Rockwellian portrait of childhood is typically a glistening metal playground slide.  

History of Metal Slides

​The Playground Movement kicked off in Boston right before the turn of the century as a response to the overcrowding and work fatigue brought on by the industrial revolution.  Inspired by German 19th century “sand gardens”, the earliest playground pioneers sought to socialize the next generation as healthy, cooperative citizens in a utopian society.

Historians trace the world’s first slide to Wicksteed Park in 1922, an attraction that essentially amounted to giant slabs of wood propped at an angle for children to ride down.  A few hundred splinters later, the idea surfaced to make these wooden playground slides metal.  

By the 1950s, there were metal slides for sale all over America.  Although many of these distributors have transitioned to plastic or other material, companies like American Playground still manufacture and sell metal slides today.

Benefits of Metal Slides for Playgrounds

Why have metal slides always been so popular over the decades.  There are a number of benefits to using the steel surface as opposed to other materials.  
Most notably, a metal slide is:

Highly Durable - Wood wears from use and decays over time.  Metal can withstand constant use as well as all types of inclement weather
Easy to maintain - Wood rots and plastic gets dirty, but metal shines on.  You’ll save loads of money by investing once in a metal playground slide.
Conducive to speed - Any child who’s visited his or her fair share of playgrounds will tell you, always go for the metal slide first.  It’s no secret the ride is slicker and quicker. 
Aesthetically pleasing - Wood can look decrepit and plastic can look cheap, but metal has a slick, sporty feel to give your playground a classic look.

For these reasons and more, businesses, homeowners, and school districts have been shopping metal playground slides for sale with great satisfaction, but is the era of metal playground equipment losing it’s shine?  The last few decades have seen the rise of a new question in the playground market.

Should We Have Plastic or Metal Slides for Kids?

While metal slides are classic and fun, at PlaygroundEquipment.com, the most important thing is child safety.  It’s no secret that metal slides get very hot, and while there are tips to remedy this hazard, the most foolproof method to keep your child safe is to go plastic.  Rounded edges, temperate materials, and less slippery surfaces work together to provide a safe and stress-free experience for children and their caretakers.

In addition to being safer for children, plastic playground slides provide a healthier alternative for the planet.  Many plastic structures are fashioned from recycled material, and in turn, can be recycled again at the end of their use.

So the next time you’re searching for a metal slide for sale, consider where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we’re going.  Maybe it’s time our kids deserved a new approach.

Learn More About Playgrounds from PlaygroundEquipment.com and Around the Web

 

This page was edited by: Kim Hart