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Let’s face it, they aren’t just a fad; Outdoor Adult Fitness Parks are a fast growing trend that provide a great way to get in a workout. Adult exercise equipment installed in the great outdoors is usually free to use, promotes fresh air and Vitamin D …

Bike trails offer citizens a multitude of valuable benefits. They act as corridors that wind through our communities connecting neighborhoods, attractions, business districts, and landscapes. Bike trails are a critical element of a comprehensive …

Playgrounds don’t improve themselves—they need love and care to thrive. If you’re lucky enough to have a playground within walking distance of your home, here are seven ways to ensure that it stays safe, well-maintained, and most importantly, played on by …

Residents of Mesa, Arizona and the surrounding region recently enjoyed the long-awaited grand re-opening of  Riverview Park . The City of Mesa offered a day of spectacle as they unveiled the completely new park and sports facility including wide open …

Across the United States, playful trails and pathways are being added to both urban and suburban neighborhoods. Trail owners are increasing community capital, encouraging active lifestyles, and utilizing infrastructure that is often already in place by …

The Sport and Recreation Alliance has searched high and low for the 10 best free adventure playgrounds in the UK – and boy do we have some crackers! After signing up to the  Wild Network  and showing you  what activities are perfect for kids are parents …

Charles H. Pajeau and Robert Pettit created the popular child construction toy set,  Tinkertoys , in Evanston in 1914. This is the 100th anniversary and Robert Pettit's grandson, Bob Martin, shares the history of the creators and their legendary product.  …

Happy New Year! Last month I ended my column with the following statement: “Assuming the ISO TC 83 terminology paper “ Injury and Safety Definitions and Thresholds” is approved and published, I intend to discuss the definitions for different types of …

It is the time of year for award shows. The People’s Choice Awards and the Golden Globes have come and gone. The nominations for the Oscars were announced this week and will be awarded in March. And today I am announcing my first Inclusive Playground …

I have recently been lucky enough to be chosen to work with the National Recreation and Park Association’s ( NRPA ) Certified Playground Safety Inspector Exam Review Committee and NRPA staff member Caroline Smith. I found these people to be caring, …

Did you know that there is an Adventure Play Renaissance happening worldwide right this very minute? Yes! How exciting is that? People everywhere are being inspired and empowered to create new versions of the classic Adventure Playground model: a place …

Admit it, when you read “more” in the title, your first thought was in regard to the number of resolutions, right? On the contrary, when we say “more” we don’t mean make more resolutions, we mean get more people involved. The more people you involve in a …

With Special Guests  Janet Sanchez, Jane Nowell, Cristina Brandon  and their wonderful Fourth Grade Students Our profession works very hard to make playgrounds safe, enjoyable places for children to grow. To bring in the New Year, I have asked an …

Play without risk is like a hotdog without mustard. It’s better than nothing but so much tastier when the two are together. Play without risk still has some value, but it quickly becomes rather boring.  In play children continually extend their boundaries …

According to second grader, Allison Rincand, her favorite activity at school is, “Recess because I get to play with my friends.” Her response mirrors the majority of children in elementary school where over 80% of students rate recess as their favorite …

In observing children in my neighborhood and many other neighborhoods, one may assume that few children live there. Along almost all the sidewalks and walking, jogging, and cycling trails that I commonly see in Austin and other cities, the number one …

A World Fit For Kids! www.worldfitforkids.org 678 South La Fayette Park Place Los Angeles, CA 90057-3206 (213) 387-7712   Active Living Research activelivingresearch.org University of California, San Diego 3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310 San Diego, CA 92013 …

This year nearly 600,000 guests will visit The Strong and its National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. With plenty to delight the senses and exercise the muscles they won’t have a passive experience. The museum offers opportunities to climb, to …

The Alliance for Childhood collaborates with parents, professionals, and like-minded organizations representing a broad spectrum of interests. We are committed to a healthy and creative childhood for every child and are deeply concerned that modern life …

Free-Range Kids www.freerangekids.com The blog, Free-Range Kids, is written by Lenore Skenazy, a syndicated columnist, who was dubbed “America’s Worst Mom” by the media for allowing her 9-year-old son to ride the subway in New York City alone in 2008. …

A couple of weeks back I attended the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC. The conference is one of the largest in the field of education and focuses on the …