Search Playground Professional's Archives

The first project I did when my wife and I bought our first house a little over a decade ago was to build a sandbox for our two children, Sofia and Andreu. It was a pretty simple thing, some landscape timbers, about a ton of sand and a little bit of sweat …

My comments are in response to an email received from a CPSI and some confusion regarding inspections of play areas and the objectives or purpose of the inspection. I learned a long time ago that “one size fits all” does not work when it comes to …

With Special Guest Craig Kelsey Ph.D. We all agree that playground equipment is needed in all our communities. Playgrounds are located at schools, government locations, and at private facilities. Local decision makers have many ways to proceed when …

According to Shakespeare’s famous quote, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Not so a column. While “auditioning” monikers for this storyline I wavered between choices like a girl in a shoe store, considering options from clever and catchy to …

Yesterday my son and I happened upon a large park in our town. His immediate focus was about the group of kids gathering in the open space for boffing, “fighting” with padded swords, shields, and spears. We stopped and he found out they meet there every …

Many people have questions about what a designated play surface is and why it is important to playgrounds. As with many playground questions there is no simple answer. The ASTM International Standard F1487, Standard Consumer Safety Performance …

(Oh the possibilities, when we visited with Jeromy Morningstar, he asked if he could take a different twist to the story idea. We agreed. Here is what he wrote.)  Kate’s Kause (www.kateskause.com) is a charitable, not-for-profit organization inspired by …

Atlanta, GA—While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under five play outside as much as possible, an April 2012 study led by Seattle Children’s Research Institute found that nearly half of U.S. preschoolers did not have even one …

If ever there was a lesson in the value of good communication, the Agawam School District playground construction project is it. Located in Agawam, MA, the district recently invested in an overhaul of three playground sites totaling more than 18,500 …

We’ve all seen the headlines about childhood obesity. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that obesity rates among children under age five have doubled over the last two decades to speculation pint-sized reality star Honey Boo …

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) curriculum states more than one in three playground injuries are alleged to be a result of a lack of maintenance or improper maintenance. This is one area …

Chattanooga, TN (PRWEB) February 12, 2013—PlayCore, the leading brand of play and recreation equipment in the US has partnered with Brooke Pancake, who begins her first year as a professional on the LPGA Tour this year, to promote play, recreation, and …

A measure encouraging school districts to open up recreational facilities to the public sailed through its first House committee on Tuesday. Bill sponsors say it’s aimed at fighting childhood obesity. The idea is to make it easier for organizations like …

Congratulations on becoming a CPSI. This was no easy task. (See hints for taking the CPSI Exam if you are planning on becoming a CPSI) This article is primarily for those who are interested in going into business for themselves as  playground inspectors . …

We all know that public playground safety has significantly improved in the last 30 years. Today’s playground manufacturers, designers, and installers are held to detailed safety performance requirements that have all but eliminated some of yesterday’s …

I recently read an article on unsafe playgrounds in the city of Chicago by Serena Gordon a HealthDay reporter titled, “Poorer Neighborhoods Often Have Less Safe Playgrounds.” In it she states, “Most playgrounds are safe for children, but many of them -- …

Welcome to the PlaySafe and Live Well informational column. Every month I will work hard to provide you with up-to-date information on topics related to parks, recreation, health, wellness, and physical education. My hope is that by providing you with …

GameTime recently completed a custom playground in Arlington, TX, at River Legacy Park and it’s unlike any other playground in the country. The city of Arlington wanted a unique play space that was fun and exciting. They also wanted it to look like an …

BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers designed the two-acre Let All The Children Play playground at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, NY, to accommodate children with limited physical and mental abilities as well as to preserve the old trees …

Last summer, in this space, I talked about how every playground has its own story (Playground, Summer 2011, page 6). Since then, I’ve been to or seen many more playgrounds, each with its own story. There are stories, however, which I, along with most …

Every time I turn around, this subject rears its pretty/ugly head. That’s right, signs and labels can be “pretty” and “ugly.” Let me explain. The recommendations (laws in many states) have changed drastically. If you have the right combination of signs or …