We are looking at getting a swingset/climbing frame for our kids but the nice ones are really expensive, particularly the wooden ones. I reckon this is something we could do ourselves with the proper plans.
Anyone had experiences building a children’s play area? Any tips on where we can get plans?
have you looked on www.diynet.com for ideas? It is the website for DIY network (do it yourself tv channel) and they might have some tips or ideas. I have not looked there myself…
hope this helps some 
Heres what I’m doing: I went to the local utilities yard and they let me have all the old utility poles I could cut and carry. I have a massive pile of redwood lumber from my brother-in-laws deck (had his house foreclosed on, and damned if he was gonna let them take his lumber!) that I will use in conjunction with the poles. I’m planting the tallest in the center, then putting 3 or four in a semi-circle around them. (picture a clock, with the tall poll in the middle, and other poles at say 2 o’clock, 4 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 8 o’clock) I’ll build three seperate platforms at different levels between the triangles (example between center, 2 and 4) with different stuff to do on them (slides, poles, rope ladders) and a nice enclosed “fort” on top. Underneath, there will be a sandbox.
I dreamed that up all by myself! 
My wife wants me to find one of those old “rocketship” things like they had when we were kids. That would be too cool!
I see you can get componants (swings, slides and other stuff) of the pre-fab playsets at places like Lowe’s and Home Depot. Check that stuff out and get the brandname off the box. I would guess they have websites and possibly plans (that no doubt incorparate lots of their stuff!)
Good luck!
We looked into doing a playset ourselves, but grandma came through with a super duper Cedarworks set instead.
A key factor is obtaining the right lumber for a reasonable cost.
Ignoring the illegal and evil treated materials that were popular until very recently, it seems like redwood and cedar are the primary choices. Both are expensive and the problem with red cedar is that it gives off little splinters that are especially problematic for young hands and legs. Cedarworks uses white cedar which is harder, weather resistant, splinter-free, and very expensive.
Do carefully investigate any recycled materials that may be bargain priced. A lot of those old telephone poles and railroad ties are saturated with creosote–a toxic foul substance.
As far as specific plans, grab a catalog from Rainbow or Cedarworks and see if you can get some ideas. A basic set is not all that complicated. You can buy the accessories from dealers. Consumers Reports rated playsets about 6 years ago–the value of the story is their findings about which accessories kids grow out of and quickly tire of.
If you change your mind I recall Costco selling a basic set for a nice price too.