Posted by Admin on 7/14/2025 to
Outdoor Recreational Products
Do You Need Concrete to Install a Lifetime Playground?
In this article, I want to tackle a question we get all the time about Lifetime® playgrounds:
Do you really need concrete to set them up?
Why playgrounds are often set in concrete
With many traditional playsets—especially those that include swings—people pour concrete around the legs to keep the whole structure from rocking or tipping as kids swing forward, backward, and side-to-side. The concrete essentially locks the posts in place so the set stays stable under load.
Why Lifetime playgrounds are different
Lifetime’s larger metal playsets have an enormous footprint and a hefty overall weight. Under normal use (and assuming you respect the age and weight limits) that sheer mass is enough to hold the set where it sits. In fact, the legs on a Lifetime playground end in flat “feet” that simply rest on the ground—there aren’t even sleeves for concrete. It’s what we call a freestanding design.
When you might still want anchors
There are two scenarios where you may need a little extra security:
High-wind locations
Clubhouses, towers, and slides can act like sails. If you live in a place where gusts routinely knock over patio furniture, strong winds could shift or lift an unanchored playset.
Bigger or rough-and-tumble kids
Older, heavier, or extra-energetic kids can nudge a freestanding playground a few inches over time, especially on slick or uneven ground.
For situations like these, Lifetime sells an anchor kit (usually a pack of four). Each anchor screws deep into the soil and connects to specific legs with a steel cable, adding just enough hold-down force to keep the playground steady—even in most extreme weather.
One thing to keep in mind: level ground
Because a Lifetime set sits directly on its feet, you’ll need a reasonably level surface to assemble it. We’ll dive into site prep and leveling tricks in another article, but the short version is this: if the ground is flat, concrete is almost never required.
Bottom line
Lifetime playgrounds do not need concrete and typically do not need to be anchored. An anchor kit can be useful or could be needed for high-wind areas or unusually rough play, and you’ll be good to go.
