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As a designer of play apparatus and spaces I try to ensure my projects will be of high value to children by including attributes that I have learned are required to create a great play setting. For example, does the environment link activities and allow …

I recently had the opportunity to hear Ken Dychtwald speak at the Athletic Business conference. The presentation completely resonated on the way we should be thinking for lifelong health. (Summary: You are never too old to take charge of your life and be …

Practitioners and parents have discovered that the use of LEGOs during play therapy groups for children with autism leads to improved social skills and play skills. Research confirms that this is the case. LEGO brand toy building blocks offer a highly …

There is no better place to understand and fully experience weather with all the senses than the great outdoors, making our Weather Station the perfect addition to your natural playground! Preschool weather activities are important to propel early …

Carter Park takes advantage of new trend in grandstand expansion PLANT CITY, Fl., November 4, 2013 — Architects and owners alike are ‘dressing up’ stadium grandstands these days while creating valuable new storage areas around athletic facilities.  A …

Too often when building an inclusive playground, the first thing that the planning group does is leaf through a variety of playground manufacturers’ catalogs. They start yelling out the cool things they have found. The entire planning of the playground is …

International Standards Addressing Playground Surfacing Compliance: Can we protect children against their own actions? I am flying back to home after two trips to Europe. These trips allowed me to follow my passion to play as an adult while observing how …

With Special Guest - Todd L. Seidler, Ph.D. University of New Mexico Basketball is big in America. Over 4 million children play basketball in competitive leagues every year. NBA team values rose 30% in the past year, to an average of $509 Million. The …

In a previous article, Play is Not Important, I proposed that we look at play as part of a continuum of learning from discovery to mastery. I recently had a wonderful experience playing with my granddaughter that gave me an expanded understanding I’d like …

In an age of tight budgets and funding cuts, obtaining private grant funding is more attractive than ever. But how does a group sort through the plethora of grant information and find the grant that’s right for them? It’s important to follow a …

I visited the Tumbling Bay Playground in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after my Open House Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park tour last weekend. A real inspiration for play ground design. No boundary fence, spiky planting used as part of the planting mix, …

Historically, free spontaneous play was tempered with physical work and set in the fields, barnyards, streams, countryside, and vacant city lands. Today, children are abandoning outdoor exploration, free play, and learning in nature for sedentary cyber …

It hardly seems possible that Fran has been gone for five years. The work she did during her lifetime is growing and expanding, and she has been chosen for another honor to recognize her service and her accomplishments. On October 9th, at the 2013 …

OK, here it is my favorite play project in the whole world: The Hands-on-Nature ANARCHY ZONE at the Ithaca Children’s Garden in Ithaca, NY. YES! I have always loved the concept of “adventure playgrounds” — designated play areas dreamt and built by …

When I was a kid, I’d be out the door first thing in the morning and back home when the sun set. I can’t even remember eating.  Not far from our home there was a foothill to the small mountain behind our house with an old growth pine forest covering the …

Recently, The National Institute for Play, with support from the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) published the first round of academic research surrounding the benefits of free play on the newly-created Encyclopedia of Play …

Playground designers and operators are constantly faced with the challenge of creating safe and attractive play areas. When it is sunny outside, no one wants to stay indoors, especially children. On hot summer days, young and old seek shade. Shade …

With Special Guest Duke DeFillippo – Creative Recreational Designs, Inc We have been designing playground sites for over 30 years, and it is one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of our jobs. We wanted to share with you some thoughts on key items …

Recently, someone asked me to recommend some playground equipment. They wanted to know which pieces are my favorites. Making my list was an interesting exercise. My favorite pieces say a lot about my philosophy of inclusive playground design. There is no …

I had the honor of attending the grand opening of Shady Lane Park in Houston, TX on Oct 10, an event which capped off the National Recreation and Park Association Congress. The project is the 4th in a series of “leave behind projects” designed to create …