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he cheerful cries of children at play can be heard at yet another location across the globe. Children in Trinidad and Tobago were thrilled with the new playgrounds that were installed in three local neighborhoods, thanks to the efforts of Kids Around the …

In 1997, the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) began sponsoring the National Playground Safety Day every April. Its purpose was to raise awareness of playground safety across the nation. After two years, the event became so successful, that it …

Most Americans know the little town of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. But for the children who live there, it is a high stakes battleground. Most of these children have spent the last two years under constant curfew. They’ve seen their schools and …

My brother called me the other day with the most interesting of predicaments. “John, I installed my new operating system and now my printer won’t work.” I told him to get a new printer. Three day’s later he called to tell me that my 10-year-old niece had …

Fall Guy n. (slang) – 1. One who takes ‘the rap’ for others; one who is easy to take advantage of. 2. A scapegoat.  [synonyms: chump, fool, gull, mark, patsy, sucker, schlemiel, soft touch] here are we after over a decade of playground safety standards in …

Extreme sports among teens and even young adults are growing in popularity. High-risk activities such as bicycling, skating, skateboarding and scooter riding are part of a trend that is moving away from traditional sports and toward those that are more …

Depending on your relationship to the children in your life, an outdoor playground can mean different things. For adults without children, playgrounds may just be big pieces of plastic and metal set in the park they drive by on their way to work each day. …

My children are young--three and six, to be exact. They shouldn't know the entire cast of "Ed, Edd, & Eddy" by name, but they do.  They shouldn't know that Thursday night is Must See NBC night, but they do. They shouldn't think about pinning for …

In recent years the desire for aquatic facilities has continued to grow. Families are spending more time together and limiting some of the long-range vacationing so common just a few years ago. With this in mind, and because the majority of municipal …

We all know the story: In September 2002, an unidentified assailant or assailants began the first of apparently random killings in Greater Washington, D.C. As a chilling postscript to a rambling letter left at a shooting site, the unknown serial sniper …

This school year when the kids at Drew Elementary School in West Philadelphia, PA play on their new playground, they’ll recall a day over the summer when some of their sports heroes took a personal interest in them and in their school.  Until recently, …

The city of Pittsburgh, PA, has what almost every community in the United States only wishes they had: a concerned mayor, a committed city council and involved state representatives—all dedicated to investing the dollars, time, and effort necessary to …

Slyde the Playground Hound may not be on the tips of every child’s tongue yet, but the fastest rising star in playground safety education is set to take the world by storm. Slyde, the victim of a nearly fatal playground accident himself, has made it his …

Steve King’s wheels are always turning. No matter where he is or what he’s doing, King sees possibility all around him. The father of continuous play concept never stops looking for new ways to make playgrounds safer, stronger, and more enjoyable for …

As playground equipment ages and weathers, the materials used in its construction increase their potential for deterioration.   Unless carefully monitored and maintained, the physical properties of these materials weaken until the materials become easy to …

Being a kid is one of the greatest gifts we have in life. The joy, frustration, and growth that occur from the ages of two to twelve years old help develop the characteristics that we exercise as adults.  Most people have fond memories of their time spent …

When it comes to watching too much television, my better half gives me a hand-slapping every now and then. And she gave me a big one this past October.  CNN and its partners in crime (er, crime reporting, that is) had decided to open up a buffet of …

When undertaking a new playground project, consider the following four, interconnected steps: funding and project criteria, playground design and equipment selection, playground construction, and playground maintenance. These are vital to the safety, …

Welcome to the premiere edition of the Today’s Playground Buyer’s Guide. We at TP thought that we’d help you make the most of your winter by offering you this useful guide to the playground industry. With Christmas right around the corner, maybe you …

A self-described “whole park” company, GameTime is also a “whole child” company. The “whole park” idea comes from the fact that GameTime prides itself on offering high-quality products and services in every area of the playground. From the play equipment …