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They are happening around the nation and are music to your play. Sound gardens, or sound playgrounds, are chiming in and bringing a whole new dimension to play. Bill and Mary Buchen have collaborated in the creation of these innovative playgrounds that …

If you take a look around you today at all the relief efforts going on, you’ll find many organizations out there lending a hand for the greater good. This is happening in the Gulf Coast Region and in our own backyards and ranges from building homes to …

You may have heard this question asked: “Why does it matter what size structure my child plays on? Isn’t that how they develop?” Sure, it is, but imagine hanging your two-year-old on an overhead ladder structure and saying, “Ok, Jimmy, climb across and …

“I saw Mr. Fussler use his Board of Education,” boasts eight-year-old David, as he returns from taking the attendance sheets to the school office. “Freddie was in there screamin’ and cryin’ as he got his licks. And Mr. Fussler told Freddie that if he …

After the installation crew has completed constructing the play equipment and playground surfacing, there remains the task of checking the work that has been completed. The installation crew should have left a clean, undamaged job site. The installation …

The word green has taken on a whole new meaning in our society. Not that it was ever unfriendly, but it certainly has become a friendly term in a lot of respects. We hear of things “going green.” That can mean everything from recycling to environmental …

­Summer keeps heating up. July 2006 was recorded as the second hottest summer for the United States. In fact, overall, January through July of 2006 was the warmest seven months of any year since record-keeping began. More than 2300 temperature records …

I want to open up one of the great debates in the playground industry…safety. I’m doing this because of comments I receive, and I want to pose them to you, the reader. We know that it’s of the utmost importance to keep our children safe on the playground. …

Here are the basics an installer will encounter on an installation. After the size of the play area is determined, concrete borders are formed and poured. After the concrete dries, the forms are removed. Layout determines where upright posts that hold …

There are only two pieces of play equipment, which I am aware of, that are branded so dangerous they are actually outlawed. One is animal swings. You know, the rocking horses that move when you push your feet forward on the foot peddles. They were fun and …

Maryland has an abundance of state and county-owned parks that are just perfect for picnics and playgrounds. Greenspaces and regional parks are scattered strategically throughout the state and range in size from only an acre or two to those having a …

One could truly say that MaryLou Iverson is following in her father's footsteps. her father was a Park and Rec director in Battle Creek, Mich. She spent a lot of time as a child with her father, who was active on the ASTM Committees for Playground and …

We all know that fundraising can be one of the hardest parts of bringing your play space into being. Here are a few companies that can likely help out. When it comes to fundraising, don't rule anyone out. Begin at home with businesses and …

Each one of us has something within that compels us to enter the delightful world of play. Walk by a playground, pause for a moment, and awaken your senses to see and hear the squeals of delight, the darting from one piece of equipment to another, the …

Have you seen the series of Holiday Inn Express commercials that show people doing things they shouldn’t be doing, including performing medical operations? My favorite is the one where the man appears to be an instructor for skydivers. He instructs …

It's getting to be a bigger challenge all the time it seems. We just aren't regarded as a fit society. While it might seem a little utopian, wouldn't it be nice if we were all healthy and fit? That's not likely to happen, but we can at least try to curb …

Editor's Note: You may find this hard to believe, but there are people out there who actually will set a playground on fire. Whether it is for whatever kind of thrill they seem to derive from this or whatever reason, it doesn't make any sense that it …

Did you know that adults can play a significant role in children’s play situations? It can be more in depth than just catching a child at the bottom of the slide. You can help a child realize how valuable play is when you get involved. Here are some …

There are so many great play structures out there for you and your children, but what about for you and your pets? Until now, you may not have seen many structures geared toward our canine friends, but Contract Connection Inc. has brought this concept to …

We hear about illegal fundraising activity in the political system, and it seems there are quite a few rules they have to play by in that arena. But what about raising funds for the playground? What are the rules? Can you raise too much money? Can you …