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Unfortunately, it’s a scene all too familiar to parks and rec managers in cities and towns across North America: Parks and recreation budgets have been slashed, money is tight, employee furloughs are more common than ever, and yet the demand for city …

Playground installation instructions and technical drawings are the result of many hours of building, testing and re-checking to support the creation of a written document that can be used in the field by installers. Playground manufacturers only …

The commercial playground industry is in the midst of a paradigm shift that involves returning play to its roots in order to create the play spaces of the future. The playgrounds of the future are outdoor play spaces where children can play freely with …

When I am upgrading a play area because the play equipment is non-compliant, I usually require that the existing equipment be demolished and disposed of. I will allow the client to salvage some usable parts like the swings and some barrier panels that can …

Playgrounds are a place where children can grow physically, intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Unfortunately, they are also a place where germs can grow—abundantly—if left unchecked. Most agencies do a good job keeping their playgrounds …

Texas and hot. They just go together, like peanut butter and jelly or Donny and Marie or Tom and Jerry or milk and cookies or cat and mouse or burger and fries or, well you get the idea. It’s hot in Texas. And humid. So doesn’t it seem natural, just to …

Head entrapment on play equipment has the potential to be a life-threatening hazard so  Certified Playground Safety Inspectors  are instructed to test all completely bound openings for head entrapment. The phrase “potentially life-threatening hazard” …

Deciding what “brand” of play equipment to purchase for your project can be a daunting task. The International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) has more than 100 manufacturer members of playground or playground surfacing products. …

When you talk about Texas, everything is big. Opened in the summer of 2009, the Katy Play Station covers 15,000 square feet and can be found in the city of Katy at Avenue D and Franz Road in Katy City Park. The playground uses as a theme one of the unique …

As a culture, we are dedicated to rearing our children to be the best, boldest, and most educated kids on the block. However, this upswing in public achievement-based childhood development is driving an academic culture of “results above all else.”  While …

Today’s children with their wifi-saturated brains may not know the subtle calm that descends after relaxing near a stream in the shade of a hundred-year-old tree. Their collective experiences in our techno-frenzied society seem to have provided them with …

Unless your play area uses poured-in-place or tile surfacing that is at the same grade as the surrounding paved surface, you’re going to need an access ramp. ASTM and CPSC do not address accessibility except as it applies to safety inside the play area. …

Aquatic recreation is a very large part of our American society. We swim, we boat, we fish and we are captivated and energized by water in many ways. One way we enjoy our connection with water is through warm weather swimming  pools , and recently,  …

The economic, political and social changes confronting our nation are enormous and will challenge us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. They will require citizens to have the capacity and the determination to face up to the task at hand …

When it comes to designing the kind of playground that inspires kids, the hallmark of truly blissful child’s play will naturally encourage social and developmental play. If your goal is to create an ideal playground, keeping on top of the newest trends in …

Kids love to play on grass. It’s soft, inviting, and just plain fun. But if an ASTM 1292-certified safety surface is required, natural grass is not an option. That’s where synthetic grass comes in. With its lush, green, natural appearance, synthetic grass …

Critical issues today include the economy, environment, jobs, global conflicts, crime, and play. When one stops to think about all that is weighing on us all, it is devastating. The crushing load of attention paid to the negatives seems to have caused us …

There is a lot of talk in our society about “going green.” Going green covers a pretty broad spectrum when you think about it. It ranges from preserving green space in our cities, which the  parks and recreation departments  are commissioned to protect, …

Don’t let their signature slacker style and sneakers throw you off. Skaters are a passionate breed and their penchant for pushing themselves to greater feats of skateboarding prowess won’t let them settle for just any skatepark. Whether publicly or …