University Park United Methodist Church

Creating a Multi-Age Church Play Area That Brings Community Together

At Tigerplay, every project begins with understanding how a space will be used both today and for years to come. For University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, the objective was to create a flexible indoor play environment that would serve multiple groups within the church community while complementing the existing architecture.

This project demonstrates how thoughtful indoor playground design can balance safety, functionality and visual impact within a complex architectural setting, making it an excellent example of modern Church Play Areas in the USA.

The Brief

The church required a premium indoor play space that could support two distinct user groups.

During weekdays, the area would be used by the church’s daycare children, aged 9 to 30 months. Outside daycare hours, the same space needed to accommodate children up to 11 years old, creating a versatile environment for families and the wider church community.

Visibility and accessibility were central to the brief, allowing staff and parents to supervise children easily throughout the play experience. The client also wanted to make full use of the impressive atrium height by incorporating a multi-level play structure, while creating a bespoke arched entrance to the children’s chapel that felt fully integrated into the building’s existing design language.

Every element needed to sit comfortably alongside the church’s established interior aesthetic, creating a cohesive environment rather than a standalone play installation.

The Design Challenges

Delivering a flexible indoor soft play USA installation within an active church environment required careful planning and engineering.

City regulations stipulated that a continuous five-foot path of egress had to be maintained around the entire play area. This meant the play structures could only be positioned centrally within the atrium. As the atrium was also the only location offering sufficient height for a multi-level play frame, the available footprint became highly constrained.

Our design team therefore needed to maximise play value within a limited central space while still providing engaging experiences for both toddlers and older children.

Additional regulations prevented the installation of Tigerplay’s traditional role play huts. Instead, we designed a series of imaginative wall-mounted role play and creative activity zones that met the required depth restrictions without compromising the overall experience.

Another important challenge involved the operational requirements of the daycare. The upper levels of the main play structure needed to remain inaccessible during daycare sessions while being fully available to older children at other times. To achieve this, our engineers developed bespoke safety gates with secure locking mechanisms that allowed staff to quickly section off the upper levels while maintaining full compliance with child safety standards.

The bespoke archway leading into the children’s chapel also required careful engineering. The client wanted the finished feature to appear seamless, despite the practical constraints of manufacturing, transportation and installation. Every component was designed to ensure the finished installation delivered the desired architectural appearance while remaining practical to install on site.

The Solution

Tigerplay designed a flexible play environment that successfully serves children across a wide age range while integrating naturally into the church’s existing interior.

The completed installation includes:

• A dedicated toddler play frame featuring a twin-lane slide.

•A three-level play structure reaching approximately 5 metres (16 feet) into the atrium, complete with a dramatic spiral tube slide.

•A vintage-themed car track with ride-on vehicles, fuel stations and electric charging points.

•Creative role play and activity zones positioned around the perimeter.

•A bespoke architectural arch connecting the children’s chapel with the play environment through matching forms, graphics and a coordinated colour palette.

A Stand Out Feature

The main play structure extends into the full height of the church atrium, creating an immediate visual focal point upon entering the space. By embracing the building’s vertical architecture, the installation delivers a genuine sense of scale while making efficient use of the available footprint.

The bespoke chapel archway provides another defining feature, creating a seamless visual connection between the children’s ministry spaces and reinforcing the overall design concept.

The Outcome

The completed installation provides University Park United Methodist Church with a highly adaptable play environment that supports everyday daycare activities while transforming into an exciting destination for older children during church events and family gatherings.

Through careful planning, innovative engineering and a collaborative design process, Tigerplay delivered an indoor playground design that satisfies operational requirements, meets local regulations and creates a memorable experience for every visitor.

As specialists in indoor soft play USA projects and bespoke Church Play Areas, Tigerplay continues to design environments that combine creativity, engineering excellence and long-term value for faith communities across the United States.

Get in Touch

Contact our dedicated team today to discuss your ideas with us.