ALBERTA’S SAFEST TRAMPOLINE PARK

When two-time trampoline gold medal winner Rosie MacLennan was a child, her grandmother had an activity chart at the family cottage and insisted just like at a summer camp that they try a new skill every day. MacLennan and her older brothers Matt and Michael, and older sister Kate, had to prove they could do an activity three times before getting to colour off a square on the chart. Today encouraging young people to be active and try new things can be hard when they are staring down at a screen. It can be even more difficult when the safety of the new activity is questioned.

Trampolines were originally designed in the 1930 as training devices for gymnasts. The uses quickly adapted into several different uses but soon evolved into consumer products as they became more affordable and the backyard trampoline was born.

Trampolines are a great source of aerobic exercise and help develop balance and coordination if used properly, said Dr. Gary Smith, president of the Child Injury Prevention Alliance and spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“We really want to encourage people of all ages to be physically active. We just want them to do it in a smart way so they don’t end up decreasing physical activity due to injuries,” said Smith. It wasn’t until 2002 that the idea allowing kids to jump in a controlled trampoline environment where safety is the focus.

Darren Balderson, the owner operator of Alberta’s first Trampoline Park, LaunchPad Trampoline Park, says the trampolines in his park are specially manufactured for extra stability and endurance. Much greater stability than a typical backyard trampoline. The frames are solid 4 ¾-inch wall steel tubing covered by two inches of high-density foam padding to create give and reduce impact. Backyard trampolines come in a variety of strengths depending on how much the customer is willing to pay. Balderson goes on to say, “Often the padding has worn off these backyard trampolines after a year or two and you’ll have kids jumping 10 feet in the air with metal framing and springs exposed. Balderson continues, “I can most likely tell you that these backyard trampolines are not getting regularly inspected.”

Trampoline Parks offer the best and safest way for kids to enjoy the feeling of flying in a controlled environment. Since opening in 2013, Launchpad Trampoline Park is proud to have had over 500,000 happy jumpers enjoy the unique feeling of jumping from one trampoline to another to another. Launchpad upholds the safest possible environment and uses the best practices including regular inspections and maintenance of equipment by well trained staff. LaunchPad has dedicated safety coaches to enforce rules and teach proper jumping techniques to kids. There is always a first aid certified staff member to help with any issues. A safety video is provided to inform customer who are new to jumping of the safest ways to navigate the park. Launchpad has the largest foam pit in Canada with foam six feet deep and a bottom layer of high-density foam. It would be impossible for somebody to touch or even find the ground in Launchpad’s massive foam pit.

The safety focus continues as Launchpad has designed their trampolines adjacent to the foam pit with waterfall technology. This technology removes the steel frame of the trampoline on the one side where people jump into the foam pit. There is no metal framing between the trampoline and foam. Not only are all the trampolines in the park double reinforced there is over 15,000 square feet of safety netting under the trampolines. Below each trampoline Installed is a dual layer RocBloc netting that provides secondary fall protection in the event a trampoline mat should fail.

Trampoline parks allow kids to move in a way they have never felt. It expands their mind. Encourages creativity and helps them understand themselves. Rosie MacLennan has said, “The trampoline gym helped me develop confidence. It helped me learn the value of struggle and the opportunities you can have when you face a challenge. It helped give me a positive perspective.”