How to Make a Play Yard at Home

Sketch out a design of the play yard you wish to create on a piece of paper. Use the drawing to help determine the proper positioning of the playground equipment you wish to incorporate into the space.

Use spray paint to mark the area of your lawn that you wish to use for your play yard, recreating the design you developed in Step 1.

Remove the top portion of your yard by vertically inserting a shovel into the ground, following along the line you marked with spray paint in Step 2. As you bring the shovel up, ensure that you remove only the top 4 to 6 inches of turf. Work in small sections, making an effort to keep the ground as level as possible.

Level the play area by filling it with sand and dragging a 2-by-4 over the play area to evenly spread the sand.

Pack the sand with a hand tamper and use a level to ensure it is even before moving to the next step.

Install a fabric weed barrier over the entire area. Use scissors to cut the weed barrier material into the size needed to cover your play yard. Allow the individual pieces of barrier to overlap, and then secure them in place with landscape anchor pins. The weed barrier will make maintaining the play yard easier by preventing weed growth.

Cover the weed barrier with mulch. You may use other materials to cover the weed barrier, but keep in mind that it should be safe for children and provide cushioning if they happen to fall.

Position the desired playground equipment in your play yard.