About the Challenge

 

The Playground Hackathon is where the boundless creativity of play meets the power of practical innovation. Forget the cubicles and sterile conference rooms—we’re turning a space dedicated to fun and growth into a lab for real-world solutions.

Your mission is to design, prototype, and pitch digital or physical solutions that address a core challenge facing community spaces, schools, or public areas. Whether it's an app to manage playground overcrowding, a sensor system to monitor equipment safety, an educational game for recess, or a new piece of low-cost equipment—the only limit is your imagination and the 48-hour clock.

Come ready to play, collaborate, and transform recess-level ideas into launch-ready prototypes.

 

Get Started

 

Ready to jump into the sandbox of innovation? Here’s what you need to do to get your project off the ground:

  1. Register Your Team: Have a team of 1–5 hackers ready? Secure your spot now! Solo participants are welcome and will be matched with a team on Day 1.

  2. Scope Your Problem: Start thinking about a specific, tangible problem you want to solve. Browse the event's suggested themes (e.g., Safety, Inclusion, Education, or Sustainability) to focus your idea.

  3. Gather Your Tools: This is a hardware and software event! Bring your laptops, chargers, Arduinos, sensors, crafting supplies, or any other materials you think will help you build your proof-of-concept. Basic power, Wi-Fi, and prototyping materials will be provided, but your specialty tools are your advantage.

  4. Show Up & Pitch: The hackathon officially kicks off with a brief orientation and a rapid-fire Idea Pitch Session. Even if your idea isn't fully formed, pitch it to attract team members with complementary skills!

Let the building begin!

Requirements

You're outlining the core mechanics of the hackathon! Here is the text for those final two sections, focusing on concrete deliverables and clear expectations.

 

What to Build

 

The objective is to create a tangible prototype or proof-of-concept that utilizes the spirit of play to solve a real-world problem. Your project should address challenges within a public space like a park, schoolyard, or community center.

We encourage both hardware and software solutions:

Focus Area Examples of Projects
Safety & Inclusion An app that translates playground sign language, a low-cost sensor system that alerts staff to dangerous equipment, or accessible play mechanisms for children with disabilities.
Education & Learning An augmented reality (AR) app that turns a basketball court into a giant math game, a physical installation that teaches basic coding concepts, or an interactive storytelling bench.
Sustainability & Environment A smart waste bin that rewards users for recycling, a self-watering urban garden system for a school, or an energy-generating swing set.
Community & Social A local event-finding app for park activities, a digital bulletin board for neighborhood announcements, or a tool to facilitate community clean-up efforts.

The key is to leverage the unique setting of a "playground" to inspire solutions that are intuitive, engaging, and fun.

 

What to Submit

 

To be eligible for judging, your team must submit the following items by the final deadline:

  1. Working Prototype: Your functional product, whether it's an app running on a mobile device, a piece of physical hardware, a functional website, or a detailed low-fidelity model. The project must demonstrate your core concept.

  2. Project Video (60 seconds maximum): A short, compelling video that introduces your team, explains the problem you are solving, and shows your prototype in action. This video will be used during the final judging and for post-event promotion.

  3. Project Documentation (Via Submission Platform): A brief written overview containing:

    • Team Name and Members

    • The Problem: What issue does your project address?

    • The Solution: A technical overview of how your project works (hardware, software stack, etc.).

    • Future Plans: How could this prototype be scaled or improved upon?

  4. Final Presentation Deck: A concise deck (no more than 5 slides) to accompany your live pitch to the judges.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

1 non-cash prize
Food Coupons
1 winner

This is a test prize

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Alejandro Sosa
One Card

Judging Criteria

  • Relevance & Community Impact
    How well the project addresses a real, defined challenge within a public space (playground, park, schoolyard, etc.) and its potential to foster community improvement.
  • Innovation & Playfulness
    The originality of the idea and the degree to which it incorporates the principles of fun, engagement, and creative thinking.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

Tell your friends

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.