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Enter the world of KaBOOM! , and you will be introduced to a very unique place. In fact, it might be well termed as one of the most playful places on earth. This organization was created after Darell Hammond heard about the death of two children who had …

In 2001, as the City of Detroit celebrated its 300 th birthday, the Nortown Community Development Corporation (CDC) became a member of the “Detroit 300 Partner Program.” With this program’s funding, as a nonprofit corporation, the CDC was not only able to …

The current erosion of free, spontaneous outdoor play and recess is fueled by a widespread misunderstanding of the differences between free, spontaneous play and structured play including sedentary electronic entertainment. Free play is a play that is …

Concrete footings for playground equipment are one of the most important issues when constructing play equipment. The United States Consumer Safety Commission’s Handbook for Public Playground Safety notes, “When properly installed as directed by the …

How high can you fly? Well if you’re a child with an imagination – and what child doesn’t have one ­­– you can go very high. You can go at least as high as the top of that 12-foot deck on the playground, right?  As an adult concerned about children’s …

If you didn’t have the privilege of meeting Dr. Frances Wallach, it’s safe to say that you missed out on an incredible person. Even if you never met her, she was present in your life and the lives of countless children the world over as she spent much of …

"Playground” is a generic term, sometimes referring to any place where people play—indoors or outdoors, natural or built. Contemporary usage of the term usually refers to a place set aside and developed specifically for children’s play using manufactured …

It seems there are a lot of ideas going around about combating bullying, and it’s not just on the playground anymore. Adults even deal with it at work at times. It’s hard to say just what transpired in the life of a bully that makes them feel they have …

Behind his back, the children imitated Mr. Odom on playground duty:  “Keep playing like that, you guys. You make me feel young again!” “It’s fun to play with dolls, and it’s fun to run for a strong body. I saw you did both during recess. You know about …

NATIONAL PLAYGROUND Safety Institute’s (NPSI) Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Program and Exam has certified people throughout the world for just over 13 years. When this program idea was born just prior to 1990, it quickly became the main …

Cultural contracts comparing France and the USA abound, especially regarding childcare. After World War I, the French established nationwide well-funded “creches” for children birth - three years, which today are licensed and regulated by local …

Embedded within one of Brevard County Florida’s most popular multi-use recreational parks is also one of the nation’s most modern, age-appropriate playgrounds. Although owned by the city, it’s managed and maintained by the Brevard County Parks and …

Over the last 20 years, engineered wood fiber has been the most utilized surfacing in the commercial playground industry. It is very affordable, will last for years, and meets basic ADA accessibility needs. Due to its popularity, there are numerous …

Just last week, I was speaking to a parks director in the Northwest who was almost on the verge of tears. He couldn’t believe that his new skate park, which had been so carefully designed in the summer and so lovingly poured in the fall, was now showing …

I haven't thought of this old adage in years. You know, the one that goes, “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times... ” followed by a mother’s plea to a child to stay off the kitchen counter, put on his safety belt, look before he crosses …

Q. Today's fad is leaning toward rock and wall climbing. How do we complete an audit on this type of equipment? Many of the hand/foot holds protrude beyond the 3-inch gage; does this fail? Other hand/foot holds do not sit flush, creating a …

Someone once said, "One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in my bank account, nor what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because I was …

You've probably tried everything from cookie dough to selling discount cards to raise funds for your play space. They may have worked wonderfully, or maybe they weren't exactly what you needed for your area at the time. This seems to vary in different …