Sandpit

Material

• Treated pine decking
• White "play" sand
• Shade cloth 
• Nylon nail wall anchors
• Small 90 deg brackets

Procedure

Base Frame

1. The base frame will provide a solid base for the sides to be connected to, and will help stop the sand pouring out under the side boards.
2. Measure out an area under a patio, in the shaded part, where the sandpit is to be located.
3. Cut off one length of decking board and attach down to the concrete.  Do this by drilling holes through the decking board and slightly marking the concrete with that drill through.  Swap to a masonry bit, then drill into the concrete, and then fit the nylon nail wall anchor and hammer in the nail.
4. Boards can be fitted down all the way around in a similar fashion.  On my one there is a brick wall on one side so I did not place a board on that side.

Side Boards

1. Cut the side decking boards to length and attach down using small 90 deg metal brackets (as shown below).

Small 90 deg metal brackets

Brackets used to attach the side decking boards to the brick work.  I've used a nylon wall plug and screw.

Add the Sand

Cats!!
To keep the local cats from pooing in the sandpit I made a covering out of shade cloth with two boards attached each end to weight it down.  The kids pull the cover back themselves when they want a dig.

Golden Treasure Hunt

I get stones and spray paint them gold and hide them in the sandpit.  The kids think they have found real treasure.  Some kids who have come for a play want to take their "gold" home with them.  We let them; I can always spray some more. 

See the Golden Treasure Hunt project.

Extension
With the water storage pipe near by, the kids make wet-sand sand castles.

See the Water Storage Unit project.

Play Time

More Project Ideas
How about a Creek and Water Storage project to go near the sandpit?