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When people think about the Riverwalk in San Antonio, they usually think about big glasses of frozen margaritas and plates of enchiladas. Certainly if you were a tourist in San Antonio, that is where you would head for first. On the other hand, San …

Let’s be frank. Today’s kids face two situations that are unprecedented in human history. First, for the most part their movement and activities are highly constrained. We know that the distance they can travel unsupervised away from their homes has been …

For years KaBOOM ! has talked about ensuring that every child in North America has a playground within walking distance of their home. While this still stands as an important goal, the KaBOOM! staff has spent the last year doing research and examining a …

One of the greatest gifts we have been given as Americans is our freedom to pursue happiness. Happiness comes in many forms and one of the “newest” forms of finding happiness and enjoying ourselves is using a trampoline at a commercial facility – the …

You’ve heard the saying, the best things in life are free? Turns out it may just be true. Nature; fresh air and the life giving oxygen it provides; and disengaging from our hectic, scheduled lives are all available to us at no charge, but too often we …

Whether you agree with the science behind the predictions for global warming or not, most governmental agencies will base policy and financial institutions will make investments based on the best information they have about the future. Simply put, it …

City design in many places is based on the idea of a central plaza. A plaza is usually a commercial space, often government buildings, an open space, and most of all a place for people to gather. It is the place where the populace of the city can meet and …

I had the pleasure of visiting England with my husband this summer. Because this trip was about “playing” for us, and taking time off from work, we went to more history museums and WWII memorials than we did playgrounds.  Before leaving, I had asked …

Where is the playground surfacing industry going in the near term? I wish I could give you a definitive answer. I will attempt to enlighten you, but what I will not do is give you the answer you all need. It is time to roll up your sleeves and do some …

With Special Guest Andrew Sanchez Every day of the year, American families visit parks, playgrounds, parades, concert halls, multiple purpose rooms, or sport facilities where they sit and enjoy watching games, concerts, or special events. The following …

I’m oceans deep into a project about obesity . Deep as in the water-pressure-is-crushing-my-sub deep. I’ve read so many reports, papers, and dissertations on our overweight world that with so much attention, it’s almost amazing that obesity is still an …

Throughout my nearly 5 decades advocating for kid’s play I have tried to convey the message that play is critical to all social creatures, and especially children. My message has been “The Importance of Play.” I am now of the opinion that this was the …

My last two columns came about as a result of some recent developments related to the ASTM Standards Subcommittee meetings in May. I intended to start this discussion based on a couple of articles I read via my LinkedIn online discussion groups. Instead, …

As any parent knows, children love to climb , anything. From the dresser drawers to the first time they awkwardly wrap themselves around a tree trunk. Teenagers scale walls and adults seek out remote mountaintops. When we are at our strongest and most …

A reputable playground designer or architect can assist in selecting a brand of rope-based playground equipment . However, not all rope-based equipment is created equal. Here is a short list of things you will want to require and some things you may want …

Many community leaders at schools, parks departments, child care centers, and other agencies often wonder if they should rally resources for new or improved playground areas. Of course their concern is for students or young people who need a safe and …

The summer is a great time for a road trip. So I’ve devised five fun itineraries in different parts of the country that will take you to see amazing inclusive playgrounds. These are not short trips — they will take you days. But I think they demonstrate …

Like many kids, I used to pretend all sorts of things. I would climb into a tree and imagine that I was on an island, that the grass below me was an ocean, that the leaves were the fins of sharks. Perhaps unlike many people, I never really stopped. I …

A few years back, I had the opportunity to take a nature walk with a group of preteen boys and was completely unprepared for their reaction. As a girl who grew up in the Pacific Northwest, the woods behind our house was our playground, with crossed log …

Before reading further, take a few moments to answer this question: What Are Your Most Memorable Play Experiences? That’s OK … I’ll wait. In my work with clients over the past fifty years I have made it a practice to ask them this same question. The vast …

I am often asked to recommend equipment that will help make a playground more inclusive. While I can certainly talk about pieces that I love (in fact, I will do this in another column), I think there are design elements that are more important. “More …