Backyard Trampoline Ideas
See how this trampoline was installed to maximize safety and not block views of surrounding hills.
A video transcript featuring Joseph Huettl, Huettl Landscape Architecture
The owners have a 10-year-old daughter, and they want to provide various opportunities for play, and in addition to the large lawn we did for kicking around a soccer ball, they also wanted to incorporate a trampoline. Early on, we said, "Well, we should look into an in-ground trampoline," because we're all about the visuals. They knew of some rectangular ones, and with a little bit of online searching, we found a manufacturer that makes a circular in-ground trampoline, and we were able to locate it right where we wanted to locate it.
If we hadn't had the circular in-ground trampoline, we would have had some other circular element in its place. Because at the arc of the walls, we really wanted a circle there, and then we framed that so that it would be kind of offset from the lawn with these low seat walls where people can sit around it as the kids play. It just sort of frames the entrance to the trampoline. In addition to the trampoline, the owner also provided a zip line for his daughter, among other things. We have the zip line, the trampoline, bocce ball court, and then the spa. So there are opportunities on this project for outdoor play.
Installing the trampoline
With the in-ground trampoline, luckily, we were able to start the project while the grader was still onsite with their heavy equipment. They provided the hole that was required for it, and one consideration is you have to have one. When you have this hole dug in the ground, you need to provide drainage for water to drain out of it. And, luckily, with our grade, we were able to get the drain in and drain out.
And then you have these steel interlocking pieces that create the perimeter that go into the hole, and then the springs and the trampoline get netted across that, so there's a 3-foot void underneath this trampoline. Around the trampoline, we didn't want to put in a regular lawn. Because of the irrigation requirements, you'd be throwing water on the trampoline all the time. So we went with native carex, Carex Pansa, and meadow carex - it's a sedge - and that provides sort of a lawn-like environment, but we have it on a drip system where we're not throwing water on the trampoline constantly.
