Search Playground Professional's Archives

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 …

Terms like “research and development” may carry a lot of weight in most industrial circles, but in truth, it is the simplest germinal ideas that spawn great innovation. In the case of Landscape Structures, Steve King’s notion of “continuous play” sprouted …

This spring, the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) released its 2004 Safety Report Card for childcare, school and park playgrounds. This report card is based on data collected from over 3,000 playgrounds during on-site visits during 2003. The …

The wood materials segment of the play equipment market has had its share of hard knocks in recent decades. Some of it stems from discoveries inferring health hazards due to certain preservative applications. More of it, one could argue, has come from a …

Just where are we going with today’s playground safety? Throughout the playground industry, the issue of safe playgrounds has always been a priority topic and naturally so. Having fun in a safe environment is the whole reason for playgrounds, is it not? …

It’s kind of like having fireworks on the fourth of July. No, you don’t have to put the two together, but it just seems right. Peanut butter and jelly, circus and clowns, Michael Jackson and trouble, some things just seem to go together.    Another …

Many alternatives to using CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) as a wood preservative already exist. CA-B (Copper Azole Boron) and ACQ (Ammoniacal Copper Quat) are being used as wood preservatives by lumber companies and currently are the leading candidates …

As children, the winter weather provided a frosty world of endless possibilities for the kids in my neighborhood. We would construct forts, sled over freshly built ice ramps, skate on a frozen patch of water in the backyard and pretend we were Eskimos …

Not too many kids these days get the old-fashioned upbringing our grandparents did–growing up on farms or in small towns with plenty of fields, creeks, and orchards to play in. We live in the technological age when more and more children are being raised …

Even though I wasn’t the safest kid growing up, my parents still loved me. When my friend launched me off his trampoline when I was seven and I broke my arm, they took me to the hospital to get my first cast. However, they did not sue. When Tony Caliendo, …