How To Manage Bats And Balls At A Public Outdoor Ping Pong Table
“How do we encourage spontaneous play and manage racquets and balls?” – a frequently asked question we receive from councils, landscape architects and community members alike. Well for starters, each and every POPP table is delivered with a starter pack of racquets and balls to ensure that the table is 'ready to play' as soon as it is installed. This equipment can be also stored in the welded equipment holder - so that as the community is getting familiar with the new placement, there is always some equipment on hand for them to use. We have seen great success in past installations where this initial equipment can last for months to years at a time which is a testament to local communities and the sense of pride and ownership they take in their shared spaces. In addition to this, we have strategies to help councils manage bats and balls – one of the most popular being the addition of a small sign or artwork placed on the table that directs people to a local business, cafe, library or community center who can be engaged to store equipment for the community's use. (a great way of also connecting local businesses to the space too!) Image Credits: Nude Design Studio "Spontaneous play, social interaction and community engagement are central to outdoor ping pong"
Over time, as people come to know about the table, they will start to bring their own equipment to the game, and ultimately the goal would be to achieve a culture of B.Y.O.B.B. (bring your own bats and balls!)
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