Search Playground Professional's Archives

Remember when miniature golf was the rage? There’s a new rage in town that is “climbing” steadily in popularity, not only with children but adults as well. Climbing walls and boulders are “in” even if they are outdoors.  The popularity could very well be …

Full-fledged skateparks certainly have their place, but often communities find themselves in a pickle when it comes to deciding between a skatepark OR a playground. One often overlooked alternative is to have your cake and eat it too. There are a number …

A huge rubberized vegetarian pizza makes an exciting new children’s playground at the National Zoological Park in the nation’s capital. It’s far too large for the typical home delivery truck, but the 22-foot diameter structure comes complete with a foam …

What more can we do to reduce playground-related injuries? This should be the most important playground safety question that we are asking today. And to answer this question a battle must be waged on two different battlefields.  First, we must conquer the …

The National Playground Contractors Association (NPCA) has developed the first independent playground installer training course. The debut of the Playground Construction School was this past February in sunny Orlando, Fla. A second course will be held in …

Four-plus years ago, we started this magazine with a tight editorial focus on—you guessed it—playgrounds. From its inception, Today’s Playground has always aimed its collective antenna at specific trends and topics that affect an equally specific …

Last summer I spent a few days photographing playgrounds. I was unfamiliar with this particular city, but despite getting lost on several occasions, I still managed to locate quite a few. It didn’t matter who the manufacturer was, all I was looking for …

There’s no fun in exercise. If you believe that, you haven’t been on a playground lately. They just don’t make them like they used to…and that is one of the great things about them. The trouble is that with all the video games out today, kids have more …

You decide to take your children to the nearby playground for a picnic and a great family outing. After finding everyone’s shoes and packing the extra napkins to catch the spills that are likely to occur, you set out with a picnic basket and excited …

At some point in the last few years, somebody has come out with a secret map that identifies the houses that are most likely to participate in a fundraiser activity. I believe this to be true because I have a slight suspicion that my home is on the cover …

This summary was referenced in Ken's article  Proverb: The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions  in the Fall, 2017, issue of Play and Playground Magazine. In the United States, there is not one, but two influential documents for playground safety. …

Picture yourself in old Boston around the turn of the century, about 1886. As you round the corner of Parmeter Street, you notice a huge pile of sand with several children playing King of the Hill. Though you may not realize it, you are witnessing more …

Poured-in-Place is quickly becoming the standard in today’s playgrounds. Due to laws, regulations, and concerned parents, playground builders are installing more and more surfaces that are accessible to all children, prevent serious injury, and are easier …

All children like to engage in play —true play—play that is independent and self-directed. Play has great developmental benefits for all children, regardless of ability or disability. During play, children integrate learning into cohesive systems of life …

More than just a swing set, more than just a jungle gym, more than just a tree house. The companies listed below specialize in wooden playsets that are sure to challenge and excite children. Why wood? From small dramatic play structures to elaborate …

Who says adventure has to be dangerous? It’s not always a bad thing to be climbing the walls, and Rockcraft Design has elevated it to a different level and in a good way. If you have ever watched children when they reach the top of something they are …

Did you know that there are children out there without access to a community playground nearby? That may seem hard to believe, but it has been estimated that one-third of the children in the United States do not. This brings us to another question. Where …

Playground Safety came to public attention in the 1970’s. By 1981 the Consumer Product Safety Commission had developed playground safety guidelines. In the nineties, the American Standard for Testing Materials, ASTM, also became a part of playground …

You know that guy at the grocery checkout who turns “paper or plastic?” into “To be or not to be?” There is nothing more frustrating than being in line behind someone who can’t make a simple and quick decision. However, it’s not smart to rush all …