Entertaining kids outdoors while social distancing isn’t easy, and parents can also get a hefty dose of cabin fever. For anyone whose sports skills are languishing because gyms and athletic facilities are closed, a great solution could be incorporating game courts and putting greens into the rest of your Huntington, NY, landscape renovation plans. With smart planning, your gaming and patio designs can lead to a backyard that always gives you ways to be entertained outdoors and spend time together as a family.
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Game Courts
Many game courts are surprisingly large and not designed for the backyard. The first consideration is the available space. If the backyard is just barely large enough to accommodate a game court of your choice, you may end up crowding out other activities or landscaping. If you anticipate very frequent use of the game court, and if you have the space and this sport is a real priority, then likely want to opt for full size. If you anticipate using it less frequently, you don’t have the space for a full court, and the family has multiple interests, consider going half-size. A patio nearby to watch all the action could be included in the overall landscape design. Half-size tennis and basketball courts are large enough to hone your skills and have a great time—and still leave space for other activities.
If your family’s outdoor activity preferences are shared—for example, everyone loves tennis or swimming—then installing a tennis court or swimming pool could be an obvious choice. However, if your interests are more diverse, then multi-sport courts may be the way to go.
Multi-sport game courts can include any sport you and your family enjoy: tennis, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard, and street hockey. Add a table for table tennis or ping-pong, and you’ve got a recipe for all-day fun, all summer long! Multi-colored lines indicate the various zones used in each sport. Their specialized materials make for a safe and durable surface that will withstand years of active play and weather.
Narrow side yards could also be transformed into game areas that can morph between horseshoes, bocce, lawn bowling, lawn darts, or even archery just by swapping out a few elements.
You will want to enclose your game areas with netting to prevent stray balls or shuttlecocks from landing in the neighbors’ yards. Also consider adding landscape lighting so that you don’t have to call a game just because it’s dark. Add a shady pergola with comfortable seating and a beverage/snack fridge, and the whole family may just stay outside until after sunset!
Many game courts can be transformed into a year-round fun center. A durable waterproof liner and boards would turn your game court into a backyard ice arena.
Putting Greens
The beauty of a putting green is that it can be tucked into any awkward or narrow space like a side yard or a corner of the yard. You can choose between natural and artificial turf, add comfortable seating for impromptu “tournaments,” and even turn it into a miniature golf course with the addition of a few portable obstacles. Although the ideal size for a putting green is 600-1,800 square feet, it doesn’t have to be large and it can be worked to fit around a game court and patio. You can work with the topography if your backyard is sloped while creating the kind of challenging putting green that will test your skills!
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