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Before any crew arrives on the job site with shovels and wrenches, many pre-construction issues need to be addressed. The 5 Ps of playground construction — Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance — will help uncover potential installations issues that …

On a summer evening early in July, our friend and neighbor reported their ten-year-old boy was missing. Twenty-four hours later, the county search and rescue found the boy dead. He was hanging by a rope inside a homemade tree house. Initially, we were …

One thing I have noticed about the playground industry is the many abbreviations floating about. We have the NRPA, ASTM, IPEMA, NPSI, NPCAI, NPPS, and the list goes on. They all stand for important organizations and regulations concerning the industry, …

Want a place to play a game of Soldiers or Cowboys and Indians? The playground at Fort Christmas, Florida just might be the place you’ll want to go. The PVC log look-alike playground structure in the Fort Christmas Historical Park in Christmas, Florida is …

A new theme-oriented children's playground has become the crown jewel in a major redevelopment of a little used recreational resource in the Borough of Seaside Heights, N.J. Long known for its famed boardwalk and white sand of the Atlantic Ocean beach, …

Skateboarding is not often thought of as a family activity, but Tee’s Golf Center in Conshohocken, Penn., recently added Ollie World, an extreme skatepark, to its family entertainment complex which already included a driving range, a miniature golf …

There’s a new way to get wet at the Buffalo Grove Park District. Last summer, more than 500 people were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of “Spray ‘N Play,” the colorful aquatic playground addition to the Busch Grove Community Park in Illinois. …

A unique and innovative design is being introduced to the industry and soon other manufacturers might be following along. BCI Burke’s Circuit Play in an exclusive new concept that combines the fun of the playground with the challenge of an obstacle …

We all want to promote healthy, inspired, well-rounded children, and it only makes sense that to accomplish this goal, a quality play environment must offer a well-rounded selection of play opportunities. To accomplish this, first seek out an innovative, …

We don’t have the privilege of actually meeting Lt. Robert Brice face to face, but his heart and efforts live on at Brice Park in the Township of Wall, N.J. The park was dedicated originally on May 28, 1973, after the loss of Lt. Brice to a bout of cancer …

Ok. So, you are the new parent group leader for your school and you have been given the charge to raise some funds for a new play structure. Now, what do you do? Well, keep your eye on this column every issue for tips and tricks regarding all aspects of …

It's back to school time. Is there a better time to assess how your children are eating and make any needed changes in physical activity level as well? Nutrition and play…a good combination for good health. Think about it. There are some direct …

A medical resident in Oakland, Calif., recently did an unusual study and it was published in a major health care journal. She did a tally of records from the emergency room that sees most of the seriously injured children in that area. She found that a …

Certainly, one attribute of an effective playground structure is that it captivates a child’s interest, but any discussion about the value of play quickly discards this as an over-generalization. Playgrounds do and should serve that purpose, but they can …

Truly understanding children and playgrounds is not as easy as one may think. The way adults perceive playgrounds can be vastly different than a child’s perception of a playground.  For example, recently I helped a school district in a large urban area …

Without the conductor, the orchestra might never find the tune; without the teacher, the students might never read more than cereal boxes; and without a director, the actors might change their lines to whatever, whenever they like.   Those who coordinate …

This all depends on your perspective of this multi-faceted place. What’s your point of view? I want to be a child today and have what they have. I don’t know how many times I have said “We didn’t have that when I was a kid.” We played Planet of the Apes …

“Do you double-dog dare me to slide down this hill?” “Yes.” “Ok, then you go first.” “Who dares walk up our hill? We are giants!” Out of the mouths of children at play come the most entertaining conversations. These children were enjoying a day at a …

Think about it...what doesn’t go with water? Even a certain percentage of the human body is water, it helps to quench our thirst as well. But have you thought about how it quenches our thirst for play? How do you know what kind of components you want to …

The giant is patient, lying still, while sneakers trample and kick him, hands pull his beard and fingers, and endless photos are snapped of him. Three-year-olds climb into the giant’s mouth and curl up on his tongue. Older kids climb the giant’s foot, …