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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, …

“It is not enough just to give our children a playground. We must provide them and their parents a secure, clean location with safe modern play structures,” said Deputy Director John Cottell, Jr. of the Public Facilities Division, City of Bridgeport, …

If you know anything about Texas, you probably know that it’s hot—really HOT—for much of the year and that means kids want to be able to cool off when they’re playing outside. The Stone Gate housing community, one of five housing developments built by the …

In 2001, playgrounds throughout Florida were closed amid fears of children being exposed to arsenic from wooden playsets constructed of CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate, an arsenic-based wood preservative) treated wood as well as from the contaminated soil …

“A nationwide partnership formed to contribute to the advancement of the playground building industry by promoting playground installation as a legitimate contracting profession.” –Purpose of the NPCA …

I had the best childhood ever. Reared in a small town in Montana (population about 3,000), it was the type of community where you knew pretty much everyone. If you didn’t, you knew someone related to them. The best part of all was the fact that we weren’t …

No matter where you travel throughout the world, you’re bound to find some type of playground equipment. Parks and school playgrounds, as well as many backyards in family-friendly communities, have some form of children’s play equipment. But what actually …

A hot afternoon thundershower or a sudden unanticipated heavy Atlantic Ocean fog can empty the normally crowded sands at Hampton Beach, N.H. in a heartbeat. When this happens, use of the famed summer resort’s unique playground increases dramatically.  …

A) All children have the right to play.  Children, like adults, have certain rights. Among these are the universal rights to safe play spaces. It is an adult responsibility to ensure that these rights extend to all children regardless of race, color, …

The resources are certainly available for playgrounds to be safely installed, inspected and supervised. The National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS), which was established in 1995 through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Injury …

Congratulations America, we have the fattest kids on earth. Over the last 20 years, the number of overweight children in this country has doubled. Soon, if that trend continues, one out of every three kids will be obese.  When I was a kid I used to play …

Designing and building a playground is always a unique experience. Each area has individual character that is defined by any number of man-made or natural elements. Every playground should be approached with an interest in community involvement. Bringing …

What type of surfacing is best? Will aquatic play structures work in my area? Where do I start? You don’t need a crystal ball to answer these questions or any others you might have concerning the playground industry. You’ve got the greatest shopping tool …