Go Play
Making playgrounds appealing, safe and challenging enough to keep kids interested
By Elisa Kronish
In the planning stages of a new playground and especially the update of an old one, one of the most important considerations is safety. With federal and consumer product safety standards that started emerging in 1981, playground injuries have decreased over the years, but they're still a concern. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 200,000 preschool and elementary children receive emergency care for injuries that occur on playground equipment, three-quarters of which happen on public playgrounds.
"Years ago, the most popular surfacing was asphalt because it was considered softer than concrete," says Fran Wallach, Ed.D., president of Total Recreation Management Services, Inc., in New York. "Now surfaces are much safer. There are rubber mats, engineered wood fibers, mulch and other soft surfaces."
While manufacturers carry much of the responsibility in creating safe equipment and surfacing, it doesn't mean rec managers can go to recess.
"Many people in our industry don't even realize how bad their surface is," King says. "If they had the training, they wouldn't wait until there was a lawsuit."
New or simply properly maintained surfacing is an investment that King says indicates that the city or facility is determined to provide the highest safety standards for its playground users.
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