Search Playground Professional's Archives

Marissa races to escape her pursuers on the playground. She quickly ascends the steps, darts across the bridge and heads for the opening at the zipper climber (or any of a dozen other similar play events). She knows she is about to be captured so she …

Ah, Spring! The happy sounds of children returning to playgrounds are everywhere and you’re working to ensure that the children have what they need to have a fun and enriching play experience—a stimulating and safe space, proper supervision and the energy …

In an attempt not to insult any of my fellow child development experts, landscape architects, playground equipment manufacturers, park planning professionals, my mother or father and anyone else who may take offense to what I am about to share, I would …

Who better to take care of the play area than those who actually use it? You might be one who picks up the stray paper or pop can on the playground to help out, but did you know that you can help beyond that with other maintenance issues? This can be a …

Myrtice loved watching her 5 -year-old daughter Marcy on the playground. She zipped down the slide, invited others to climb into the fort with her and arched her back on the swings to allow the wind to flow through her hair. “What a change over the years …

Playground awareness has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. A focus on the value of play, safety and the Americans with Disabilities Act led to the creation of written guidelines for playgrounds and playground equipment. This valuable …

Before you send those drawings out for bid, take another look. It's true you've included the resilient surfaces, swings, climbers, and slides. These are all big-ticket items and they've been designed with safety in mind. So if you've included such items …

Playgrounds symbolize childhood and a yearning for freedom to explore, learn and understand the world around you. As my children have grown—all in their teens now—their playgrounds have developed into more complex forms of recreation. The backyard toy of …

When do civil rights become “interim?” Seems an odd question, I know. Did you know that it’s possible for a child’s civil rights to be deemed “interim” when dealing with accessibility issues in the instance of, say, a differently-abled 11-year-old child …

Clarification of terms: The CPSC Handbook uses the term “guidelines,” ASTM uses “standards,” and states use “regulations.” All three terms essentially mean “requirements” because of their legal status and/or their influence in litigation and may be used …

First of all, there are a few things to consider. Creating a playground is not as simple as just driving to a vacant lot, throwing a few two by sixes and a swing up and calling it a play area. Every play space is different, and all children are …

Before we go any further, let’s clarify what I am talking about. It’s not your school work I am offering to help with. I’m talking about designing and building a playground—taking your ideas from the drawing board and making a good solid plan for your …

In 1983, Donald Strickland and Anthony Strickland began producing see-saws and swing sets in a make-shift shop consisting of a converted mechanic's garage. It was truly a family effort with this father and son duo not only producing the structures but …

What does it take to have the ultimate ride without breaking the bank? Sk8Parks International may have what you’re looking for. With their modular, you are able to either choose a pre-designed skate park or get outside the box and design your own to fit …

There’s a new playground sanitization service on the scene. It‘s the Playground Patrol, based in Minneola, Fla., and it is dedicated to helping you keep your playground sanitized and safe for children. After seeing the need for cleaner playgrounds, David …

There’s an elephant in the room, and nobody’s really talking about it. We all know it’s there, but sometimes nobody really wants to acknowledge its presence. Some would like to just leave it alone and hope it leaves them alone. It’s a stranger on the …

What more could you possibly add to a Jimmy Carter Work Project, a “blitz build” of 30 homes in one week, to make it even more complete? A playground, of course. You can’t have such a spectacular new place in the works without considering where the …

A­ddleman, the vice president of Recreation Creations, Inc., a playground equipment company based in Hillsdale, Mich., had heard the family story many times before. In 1936, an uncle bearing the same name had accidentally died while playing football in …

After nearly five years of planning, fundraising and coordinating, Billie Patton’s dream of making over the playgrounds in the Village of Blissfield, Mich., is nearly complete. The working mother of three children found the time to help organize the …

The first school day back from summer vacation validated the long hours invested over the past 18 months by the playground committee. Teachers and students alike either stood in amazement of or climbed on, over, under and around the newly installed …

Mia Miseria, a spinster aunt, lived on a sweet spot of country land. Every day she would sit on her porch, read a good book, and sip her tea. Her life would have been perfect had she not had to endure the torment of those Bully Boys . Every day after …