At a modern holiday park, the most popular play facilities are those that appeal to multiple age groups simultaneously: climbing frames and trampolines for young children, multi-sports courts for teenagers and young adults, and increasingly, asphalt pumptracks that cater to everyone from toddlers to adults. Recreation parks that invest in a wide range of active outdoor facilities clearly see more repeat visits and higher guest satisfaction. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about play facilities at holiday parks, from costs and maintenance to the latest trends for 2026.
Which play facilities attract the most visitors to a holiday park?
The play facilities that attract the most visitors to a holiday park are those that cater to a broad audience: from young children to teenagers and adults. Think of multi-purpose sports fields, water attractions in the summer, and active outdoor play areas that encourage physical activity without the need for an instructor.
What stands out in 2026 is that guests are increasingly searching for active experiences outdoorsPassive entertainment such as arcade games and indoor playgrounds is losing ground to outdoor sports and physical activity. Holiday parks that capitalize on this distinguish themselves from the competition. The most successful facilities are those that encourage spontaneous use: you walk past, see others having fun, and simply join in.
Specifically, the following facilities score best in terms of visitor numbers:
- pump tracks: accessible for bicycles, scooters, skateboards and inline skates, for all ages
- Multisport fields: basketball, football, and beach volleyball combined on one court
- Climbing structures and adventure courses: popular with children aged 4 to 12
- Skate park: popular with teenagers, but less suitable for younger children
- Trampoline parks or jumping pillows: high appeal, but seasonal use
What's the difference between a pump track and a skate park?
A pumptrack is a closed circuit of hills and curves that you ride using your body weight, without pedaling or kicking. A skatepark consists of individual elements such as rails, kickers, and bowls that require specific skills. The biggest difference lies in accessibility: a pumptrack is immediately usable for beginners, whereas a skatepark requires more practice and technique.
For a holiday park, this distinction is very relevant. A skatepark primarily attracts teenagers and young adults with some experience. asphalt pump track is suitable for anyone with wheels: a toddler on a balance bike, a child on a scooter, an adult on a mountain bike, or someone in a manual wheelchair. That makes the reach of a pumptrack significantly greater.
In terms of construction, a pumptrack is also lower-maintenance than a skatepark with wooden or concrete elements. Asphalt lasts longer, is less susceptible to weather conditions, and requires less frequent repairs. For recreation parks counting on a long lifespan for their investment, this is a significant advantage.
Which play facilities are suitable for all ages?
Play facilities that truly cater to all ages are scarce, but they do exist. An asphalt pump track is one of the few sports facilities where a four-year-old on a balance bike and a fifty-year-old on a racing bike can use the same space simultaneously, each at their own level. Other facilities that score broadly are multi-sport courts and adventure courses with varying difficulty levels.
The key is in scalable challengeA facility must have something to offer both beginners and advanced users. Many traditional playgrounds are designed for children up to twelve years old and then no longer attract users. That is a waste of space and budget.
See our completed projects for concrete examples of how recreation parks and municipalities tackle this. There you can see how a pumptrack works in practice for a broad audience.
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How do you choose the right play equipment for your recreation park?
You choose the right play facility for your recreation park based on four factors: the available space, the budget, the target audience of your guests, and the desired lifespan of the investment. Start by asking which age groups you want to serve and what usage you expect on an average day.
Take the following into account when making your choice:
- Target group breadth: the more age groups a facility serves, the higher the return per m²
- Safety and certificationPlayground equipment in the Netherlands must comply with WAS legislation and NEN-EN 14974. This also applies to pumptracks and skateparks on recreational sites.
- Space use: a 200 m² pumptrack offers more usage possibilities than a traditional playground of comparable size
- Seasonal sensitivityWater attractions are popular in the summer but stand idle for the rest of the year. Asphalt surfaces are usable year-round.
- MaintenanceAlways ask about the total costs over ten years, not just the construction price.
Parks that opt for proven concepts with a long track record run less risk. Look at what comparable parks have already realized and which facilities are used most there.
What are the maintenance costs of playground equipment at a holiday park?
The maintenance costs of playground equipment at a holiday park vary significantly depending on the type of material and construction. Wooden play equipment requires an annual inspection and regular repair of wear, paint, and joints. Asphalt pumptracks have a minimum lifespan of twenty years and require significantly less maintenance than wooden or metal structures.
For a realistic picture of the costs, calculate with the total cost of ownership: construction costs plus maintenance over the entire lifespan. A cheap wooden playground that needs to be replaced after eight years is more expensive in the long run than an asphalt pumptrack that lasts twenty years with annual inspection.
Concrete guidelines for maintenance:
- Wooden playground equipment: annual inspection required, repair costs can add up with intensive use
- Metal structures: corrosion-resistant but susceptible to vandalism and wear at connection points
- Asphalt pumptracks: annual inspection recommended, minor repairs are simple and inexpensive to carry out.
- Artificial grass on sports pitches: replace every five to eight years, depending on usage
Ask about a maintenance contract and what is included in it with every quote. This way, you avoid surprises afterwards.
Which play trends will dominate recreation parks in 2025 and 2026?
The dominant play trends at recreation parks in 2025 and 2026 revolve around active outdoor movement, inclusivity, and multifunctional use of space. Guests want more than passive entertainment: they seek facilities that get them moving themselves, together with others, at their own level. Urban sport is the fastest-growing category within this.
The trends you see now at modern holiday parks:
- Urban sports and active outdoor spaces: pumptracks, parkour elements, and calisthenics equipment are gaining ground on classic playgrounds
- Including design: facilities that are also accessible to children and adults with disabilities, such as wheelchair-friendly pumptracks
- Year-round use: parks invest in facilities that attract visitors outside the summer season as well
- Technology in sportsTimekeeping systems and digital scoreboards make sports more competitive and fun
- Sustainability: longer lifespan and less material waste are increasingly weighed in purchasing decisions
Recreational parks that invest in extensive, active outdoor facilities in 2026 are positioning themselves strongly for the coming years. Guests are consciously choosing parks that offer more than a standard playground.
How Velosolutions Pumptracks helps you choose the right play facility for your holiday park
We at Velosolutions Pumptracks have been building asphalt pumptracks in the Netherlands for over twelve years and are now the market leader with more than 100 completed tracks. We operate worldwide through 35 partners, which means we work with proven knowledge and international experience that directly benefits you.
What we can do for your holiday park:
- Consultancy: together we look at the available space, the budget, and the target group of your park
- Completely unburdenedFrom design and construction to certification and annual maintenance, we take care of everything.
- Certified and safe: all tracks comply with WAS legislation and NEN-EN 14974, including a five-year warranty
- Widely applicable: suitable for bicycles, scooters, skateboards, inline skates and manual wheelchairs, for all ages
- Long lifespan: minimum of twenty years with limited maintenance, including maintenance contract on request
Are you considering installing a pumptrack at your holiday park or recreational site? We would be happy to discuss the possibilities, design, and available space with you. View our completed pumptracks of contact us without obligation to discuss the options.
