Living Our Mission The world needs more. More Connection. More Movement. More Community. More brings people together and helps communities thrive. It is our passion and our mission to bring Play That Moves You to the communities we serve. We’ve been doing it for 100 years and we’re just getting started.
It’s time to Join Our Movement.
bciburke.com Trademark(s) are the property of BCI Burke Company. © BCI Burke Company 2020. All Rights Reserved. 800-356-2070
PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN TRAINING The two-day Playground Maintenance Technician Training focuses on practical playground maintenance activities, inspection principles and best practices in making repairs. This program does not focus on play theory or memorizing standards.
Participant Benefits
• Learn about materials! Learn how to maintain playground equipment made of metal, plastic, wood and concrete • Learn about safety! Understand how to take damaged equipment out of service safely, keep proper records, and identify potential legal issues related to playground maintenance • Learn about surfaces! Learn how best to maintain unitary and loose-fill surfaces as well as fasteners and connectors • Cost effective! Train front-line maintenance staff at an affordable price • Ensure your equipment lasts through its useful life! Improve playground user safety and prolong the useful life of equipment
Upcoming Playground Maintenance Technician Programs • ONLINE – December 7-18, 2020: Oregon Recreation and Parks Association • ONLINE: Largo, FL – Pinellas County • CIRSA • Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Company: Wauwatosa, WI • Colorado School Districts Self Insurance Pool
• • • •
Gwennitt County, GA Mounds View, MN mParks Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation, MD • September 2021: Wheeling, WV – Oglebay National Training Center • Washington Schools Risk Management Pool
Want to host a PMT program in your area? Contact the Program Coordinator at the Eppley Institute pmt@eppley.org Find out more at
www.playgroundmaintenance.org
Contents
Play and Playground Magazine | Volume 20 No. 3 | Fall 2020
10
Features 8
Slow Down to Catch Up by Peter Dargatz
10 Melody Day Receives Youth Champion 4 Inclusion Award by Victoria Babb
12
12 Synergy® Imagination® Brings Developmental Opportunities to the Play Environment by Sarah Lisiecki
14 IPSI, LLC Introduces New Playground Safety Is No Accident, 6th Edition by Kenneth S Kutska
18 Finding Play During a Global Pandemic by Jeremy Hoffner
22
20 Crafts for Kiddos
7 End of Summer Activities for Quarantine by Brenda Kimble
22 The Social Nexus
From Placemaking To Fundraising, The National Fitness Campaign Covers Every Angle by Sean O’Keefe
4 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
CPSI Course Calendar All courses are virtual
September 22-24
Alabama
205-444-7765
October 5-6
California
916-665-2777
13-15
North Carolina
919-832-5868
19-20
California
916-665-2777
21-23
South Carolina
scrpa.org
23-24
California
916-665-2777
27-28
Minnesota
mnrpa.org
Enjoy the Outdoors ...on the Playground
TM
Commercial quality products able to withstand years of use and exposure. Made in the USA since 1959. Picnic Tables
Planters
Park Benches
Trash & Recycling Containers
November 2-3
California
916-665-2777
5
New Jersey
609-356-0480
6
Pennsylvania
814-234-4272
6-7
California
916-665-2777
10
Texas
traps.org
16-17
California
916-665-2777
Custom Signs
Bike Racks
PARK • STREET • CAMP SITE PRODUCTS
RJ Thomas Mfg. Co., Inc. Cherokee, Iowa • 800-762-5002 pilotrock@rjthomas.com • pilotrock.com
T H I N K I N G T O DAY
A B O U T T O M O R R O W ’S P L AY ™
Magazine
Connect With PGP
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 5
Magazine Publisher | Webmaster | Design Jake Amen
Editor Sara Bowersox
Accounting
MAKE A
SPLASH
WITH A PLAYGROUND
PUMP!
Brad Smith
Contributing Authors www.CadronCreekPlay.com
Victoria Babb Peter Dargatz Jeremy Hoffner Brenda Kimble Kenneth S Kutska Sarah Lisiecki Sean O’Keefe
Copyright, 2020 published by Playground Professionals, LLC, 4 issues per year, sub rates, back copies, foreign, reproduction prohibitions, all rights reserved, not responsible for content of ads and submitted materials, mail permits.
CALL US FOR PRICING
609-882- 0366
CORPORATE OFFICE Playground Professionals LLC P.O. Box 595 Ashton, Idaho 83420
Maintenance and Inspection Device The GFactor is easily operated by one person.
Meets dimensional requirements of ASTM F1292/F355/F3313
www.playgroundprofessionals.com
6 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
Visit our website: GFactorGo.com
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Joann Robertson's
Message From the Staff Jake Amen and Sara Bowersox NOW THAT AUTUMN is here, we are trying to settle into our new normal. Our school district implemented a new online learning system that postponed the first day of school by two weeks. We aren't sure how your children handled it, but returning to school was a shock to Jake's children after a six-monthlong absence from entering a physical school building. Since we are in rural Idaho, the students get released from classes for the last two weeks of September for potato harvest. In typical 2020 fashion, our return to normality is proving difficult!
How is your new normal going?
Are you worried about your students falling behind? Maybe it isn’t such a bad thing. Peter Dargatz offers his suggestion to the problems facing millions of students worldwide, and his solutions may surprise you. Are you and your kids remembering to play? Let’s Play America has developed the digital Play Day Handbook filled with step
Pictures
by step planning details and ideas for bringing a Play Day to your community. Are you getting exercise and staying fit? Check out the amazing outdoor fitness court in San Diego’s Imperial Beach community which is beefing up community involvement as well as personal performance. Are your kids playing on playground equipment? A couple of our partners are busy making sure that everyone can play, including small children and those with different abilities. Is your playground safe? Playground Safety is No Accident, 6th Edition brings safety training up to date with new industry developments. The Play and Playground Magazine is approaching a huge milestone: the 2021 Spring edition will mark the 20th anniversary of our publication. We invite you to celebrate this milestone with us. Watch for coming news and announcements as we approach our anniversary. Enjoy your new normal, stay safe, and keep playing!
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 7
Slow Down to Catch Up by Peter Dargatz LET'S GET IT STRAIGHT. Everyone wants to get back to school! Safely. However, one reason many are pushing for schools to fully reopen irks me.
“The kids are falling behind. They need to catch up!” Let me counter that position with a statement of my own: Education is not a race! Sadly, many feel the best way to “catch up” is to increase academic rigor, expand expectations, and inundate students with the work they missed while away from the brick and mortar classroom. If there is any way to crush creativity, amplify anxiety, and eradicate the enthusiasm of getting back into the classroom,
this would be it. Maybe the kids can “catch up” by slowing down. That may sound oxymoronic, but in my experiences as an early childhood educator, I learn more by seemingly doing less. Forget the image of a teacher lounging in a hammock with a cold beverage in your head. Instead, think of a duck. Calm on the surface but paddling like crazy under the water. Don't get me confused, teachers are certainly working harder than ever. When I say doing less, I mean saying less, directing less, and controlling less. In other words, slow down. Breathe. Observe. Think. We can only control what we can control. The pressure to pick up the pace, complete more in less time with fewer tools, and make up for lost time will be incredible. But how can this be done, especially considering another additional round of distance learning seems inevitable? The best way to push back on this unnecessary yet unavoidable pressure is actually quite simple. Play more.
8 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
Providing the time, space, and opportunity to play will catch the children up. There is a disheartening misnomer out there that equates play to being a waste of time and only utilizing it as a reward in the classroom if utilizing play at all. The truth couldn't be farther from the truth. Play is not a break from learning. Play is learning. Play is not an alternative to work. Play is work. Play is not a reward. It is a right. In play, the skills necessary for academic endurance and achievement are practiced and perfected.
Want your students to be a problem solver?
Play.
Want your children to improve communication?
Play.
Want your class to express creativity?
Play.
Want everyone to think critically?
Play.
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Grab that board game out of the closet. Dust off that deck of cards and give it a go. Find a box of crayons, some scissors, and pipe cleaners and see what comes of it. Sing a song, hum a tune, or create your own instrument to create a concert. Build a fort of pillows and couch cushions and hide from little brother. Better yet, invite him in and hide from your parents. Play, play, and play some more.
Slow down to catch up. And if you really want to take play to the next level, take it outside. One could drown in the amount of research available that proves the benefits of play. Throw in the elements of outdoor and nature play and you’d be reading the rest of your life. As this pandemic has forced alterations to our routines and disruptions to our daily schedules, it has also allowed for a greater appreciation of everything Mother Nature has to offer. Browse the internet for nature scavenger hunts and explore your backyard. Construct a fairy house or mouse house. Grab some chalk and turn your driveway into an art gallery. Climb a tree, jump in a puddle, muck around with mud, and create a nature bracelet with some tape and all the treasures found in the natural world. If able, expand past the borders of your backyard and explore your neighborhood and community. Nature is everywhere! The possibilities to play are limitless!
is minimal. And don’t for one second think you can’t play simply because you are an adult. Play lacks an age limit. Play doesn't end in childhood, or at least it shouldn't. With the extra stressors and responsibilities placed on our shoulders, adults need to play now more than ever before. Host an online meeting with some friends and chat or play a game. Dig into that book that's been in your wishlist forever. Enjoy a hobby you’ve ignored or try out a whole new one. And don’t forget to get outside to exercise, decompress, and relax. Set aside some time each day to play.
Slow down to catch up.
Slow down to catch up.
In my neck of the woods in Wisconsin, while the rest of society closed their doors to help ward off the virus, Mother Nature opened up her arms and invited everyone in. Our local and state parks and trails saw a significant increase in usage. Not only does Mother Nature never close, but she also battles the virus in her own way. Besides the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual benefits already proven by playing in nature, scientists and medical professionals have mentioned that with proper precautions, virus transmission in the outdoor setting
With the snap of a finger, our world was flipped upside down. We can complain about it or face this new reality with a playfully positive attitude. Schools, families, and communities have a chance to mold the “new normal” into whatever we want to be. Like it or not, the idea that education is a race breeds an unhealthy environment that can out students, teachers, and even schools against each other. With a focus on play, we could end this ridiculous race and foster a new educational era of collaboration and cooperation.
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Just by playing. Let’s slow down to catch up.
Peter Dargatz
While his claim to fame might be as a retired racing sausage for the Milwaukee Brewers, Peter Dargatz is prouder for being a father of three nature-loving children, a national board-certified teacher, and the coordinator of a well-respected, public school nature kindergarten program at Woodside Elementary in Sussex, Wisconsin. Transitioning his classroom from the inside to outside has allowed him to create and develop his “4P’s” philosophy, focusing on play-based, placebased, project-based, and personalized learning. This philosophy’s foundations are cemented in play, citizen science, service learning, and community collaborations. Along with the nature kindergarten program. Peter is the coordinator for an all-school collaboration with the Retzer Nature Center and a districtwide family nature club. He is also the volunteer coordinator for the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s Tyke Hike program, aimed at getting families of young children out in nature using Wisconsin’s Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Wisconsin Nature-Based Early Childhood Association (WINBECA) and one of the contributing writers to Natural Start Alliance’s Nature-Based Preschool Professional Practice Guidebook. Please follow Peter and all of his outdoor adventures at Tales From the Trails. Thank you!
FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 9
10 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Melody Day Receives Youth Champion 4 Inclusion Award by Victoria Babb MELODY DAY was awarded the Youth Champion 4 Inclusion Award from Play 4 ALL and Cunningham Recreation. Melody, a student at Heritage Elementary in Wentzville, Missouri, inspired her entire school and surrounding community to create a place where everyone could “belong” and play together. The award is accompanied by a gift of a Buddy Bench to be installed at the location of the recipient’s choice and a gift card. All Melody ever wanted was to feel included while hanging with her friends during recess. She found that friends would spend little time with her before running towards the playground structure. Melody was forced to sit on the sidelines because the concrete barriers and pea gravel posed obstacles for her mobility device. One day while in fourth grade, Melody looked beyond the barriers and saw opportunities. Since the school district did not have funds earmarked for playground renovation, she decided she would raise the money herself. Consequently, she designed a PowerPoint presentation and asked the school principal if she could present her case. Shortly thereafter, a Go
Fund Me was set up and the news spread around the school; Melody Day has set out to bring more inclusion to our playground. Kids started to pitch in and create items to sell. Allowances were given, birthday gifts were exchanged for support towards this mission and the PTA declared that this project had the utmost priority. Victoria Babb, Play 4 ALL Community Resource Manager, a Division of Cunningham Recreation who is local was asked to join the team. Months later, the Melody Garden was designed and before long 100% of the funds were secured. “There’s nothing that can stop a mission like creating spaces for children to play together. Play is universal, a great equalizer. We need more of these spaces than ever before,” said Babb. On August 20, the space that Melody had envisioned two years prior was finally a reality. A dream had been realized and all her hard work had paid off. Volunteers including the Wentzville Firefighter Outreach and Cunningham Recreation worked to install inclusive outdoor Freenotes Harmony Park musical instruments and buddy bench that make up the Melody Garden. To read the full story visit:.
www.play4allcampaign.com/impact/ www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 11
Synergy Imagination Brings Developmental Opportunities to the Play Environment ®
by Sarah Lisiecki WHEN SOMETHING IS DESIGNED for you it feels comfortable. Whether it’s a pair of pants, a chair that has the exact dimensions to match your body, or a seat on the airplane – just kidding, this has never happened it makes you feel almost special and that your voice is heard and holds value. It’s the same for children; if a space is designed with their development, height,
®
hand and foot size, and preferences in mind, it will be an incredibly empowering experience and foster growth, development, and joy in play. They may not be able to articulate it in the same way adults do, but it will be evident in the way they play. Synergy Imagination is designed especially for children ages 2-5. Because it is a right-sized space with smaller handgrips, steps and platforms, and appropri-
12 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
ate sizing and spacing, it is exactly what they need to help them develop, learn, engage, and grow. Children will love the opportunity to play in a space with soft, approachable lines and products that are designed and sized especially for them to learn so many important skills that transcend the playground. Using child development benchmarks as a basis for the design, each play event will meet children where they are, and www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
support continued social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development both on and off the playground. Bringing them a space that encourages imaginative play is especially important at the critical ages of 2-5 while they are beginning to learn how to interact, negotiate, and express themselves through self-directed play. Imagination is a key aspect of the way children play and is inherent in all of Synergy Imagination. It’s not only fun but an important part of how they develop their sense of self, see the world, and interact with their peers and caregivers. Providing open-ended, child-directed play opportunities such as a counter, doorway, or play panel, offer them the chance to create a world for themselves. A world that is exciting and ever-changing or comfortable and quiet. Whatever they create, it’s up to them and that is the beauty of a child-driven space. It allows them to be in control of their experience and is an excellent way to promote leadership, cooperative play, and teaches them the important skills of negotiation and how to problem-solve creatively. With fun surprises around every corner, Synergy Imagination will delight, challenge, and engage children for hours and give them the opportunity to find the best of themselves through play.
SARAH LISIECKI, CPSI MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST – BCI BURKE Sarah combines a passion for play, the outdoors and movement with years of marketing and speaking experience. Having studied play professionally for more than five years, she is currently working on a research study to further understand the way children play and interact in different environments. Sarah studied Communications and Political Science at University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire and has a variety of fitness certifications, including Indoor Cycling and Group Fitness Instruction. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 13
IPSI, LLC Introduces New
Playground Safety Is No Accident by Kenneth S Kutska ON BEHALF of the tens of thousands of playground owners/operators who have and will continue to use the contents of Playground Safety Is No Accident (PSINA) as a guide for training staff to inspect and maintain safer playgrounds, we are pleased to announce the new 6th Edition. It is almost a decade since this resource was last revised and much has transpired since the printing of the 5th Edition back in 2011. Since 2011 there have been two new releases of the ASTM F1487 Standard and many revisions to the various impact attenuating surfacing standards under the jurisdiction of the F08.63 Subcommittee. Likewise, other international playground standards from around the world have also been revised. The manufacture of playground equipment and various impact attenuating surfacing systems have become more of an international marketplace. Many play equipment manufacturers have expanded their supply chains to other parts of the world as new manufacturing techniques and new materials have become more readily available. This expansion has brought about more creative designs that focus more on play value and risk-taking rather than on safety being the first and foremost objective.
6TH EDITION
Many international companies have entered into the public playground equipment manufacturing world in hopes to secure a segment of the growing North American and world markets for both play equipment and protective surfacing. There are still several differences in the Asian versus European versus North American Playground Safety Standards. Standards writing organizations in North America such as ASTM and CSA have focused on many of these market-driven changes. We have also recognized the need to apply a more hazard-based risk assessment approach to our performance standards development brought about by the inability of standards writing organizations to keep pace with all the new industry developments. We have found that we can no longer rely on the prescriptive performance standards writing approach for each and every iteration for every conceivable variation of our traditional playground equipment types. We have learned a great deal about our differences within each other’s national and international standards. While international standards are not likely to be harmonized any time soon, we can all agree that we should at least be speaking the same language related to our playground safety scoping statements and common performance requirements.
14 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
My involvement in the international community’s discussion on harmonization has provided useful and insightful information for improving and advancing our inspection and maintenance practices. This information will assist playground safety inspectors to make playspaces safer by effectively and efficiently addressing identified deficiencies in the playground environment. We will never eliminate all injuries and deaths on playgrounds, but we can surely focus on eliminating and/or mitigating those things that contribute to the frequency and severity of all serious playgroundrelated injuries. In response to the global playground safety movement, the 6th Edition includes an expanded glossary of terms to clarify and harmonize the language used by playground safety standards writing organizations. I refer to this international language as, “Playgroundese.” This new edition includes upgraded inspection forms and worksheets with expanded explanations on how to use each form. An important change is the completely revised “Post Installation Compliance Inspection and Assessment” process and form. This form was formally referred to as the “Playground Safety Compliance Audit.” While the scope or purpose of the various types of playwww.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
ground safety inspection forms remains somewhat the same, there have been many revisions based on the redefining of some of the more basic equipment types as we move away from the prescriptive approach to a more hazard/risk assessment approach of performance standards writing. The content has been modified to reflect what has been occurring around the world with regards to industry performance standards and this includes our most recent efforts to harmonize terminology and their associated definitions related to playground design, manufacture, assembly, installation, inspection, maintenance, and the overall management of these public facilities for the benefit of all people. Today’s playground safety needs have become more complex and inspectors require more information and tools to perform a more effective and efficient job. Over the years, many Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI’s) have taken time to write and express their needs for additional resources. This new version includes many of these suggestions. There are a few personal testimonials from people who have taken the time to put into their own words how previous editions of this book have provided the information and knowledge necessary to develop, implement, and improve a playground safety inspection and maintenance program. As previously stated, one of the largest undertakings in this revision was the total rewrite of the “Playground Safety Compliance Audit Form.” The revised form reflects the most current recommendations found within ASTM F148720. This new audit form is now referred to as the “Playground Safety Compliance Inspection and Assessment Form.” Its primary purpose continues to identify what is and is not in compliance with the best practices (Standards and Guidelines), Changes in the form and process will aid the user to focus more on the importance of each identified shortcoming to determine a priority for corrective action. This prioritizing or ranking in order of importance what actions are required and when they should occur are still based on the probability of a serious injury occurring because of frequent exposure to the non-compliant condition during normal use. There are many different risk assessment tools out there that an inspector can use during this process. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
This 6th Edition provides some additional materials to help the inspector establish their own assessment tool or process. Most everyone agrees ASTM Standards are voluntary unless codified by some regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the owner/operator. However, these standards, along with the recommendations found in the current 2010 United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Handbook for Public Playground Safety provides everyone responsible for the safety of playground users a reasonably safe harbor for their defense should a serious injury occur. The new audit form, as with all other audit forms before, includes the new citation numbers relative to either the CPSC or ASTM document. These citations provide a reference to assist the user in preparing formal reports. They also provide a quick reference guide for less experienced inspectors who may need to refresh their interpretation of specific issues that may arise during the inspection process. In September of 2010, the United States Department of Justice 2010 ADA Standard for Accessible Design (DOJ 2010 Standard) became law. While no one can be guarantee absolute compliance to this law, the 6th Edition includes a new section to assess compliance to the barrier-free accessibility minimum requirements up to, into, and through the playground. This form is also provided as part of the comprehensive post-installation “Playground Safety Compliance Inspection and Assessment.” This form and the process can be conducted outside of the post-installation compliance inspection process as a stand-alone accessibility assessment process for those who have yet to complete a transition play for assessing every playground for compliance with the accessibility and barrier-free requirements based on the enforceable minimum requirements of the DOJ 2010 Standard for Accessible Design. This assessment process does not attempt to qualify or guarantee a playground is ADA compliant because only the Department of Justice is the only authority for that final determination. There are many new additions under types of playground equipment that follow the new ASTM Standard. The PSINA Book also includes a “Playground Safety Compliance Inspection and Assessment Short Form.” In 2002 with the 3rd Edition of PSINA there was a
need for a revised “Audit Form.” Between 1995 and 2002 there were many changes to the ASTM F1487 Standard. Inspectors were looking for a current checklist that was up to date with changes in both ASTM and CPSC Handbook. While there was not much of a need to revise the remainder of the book the Audit Form was in definite need of revision. Antonio Malkusak now of Abundant Playscapes previously worked as a landscape architect for the Wheaton Park District. Wheaton was a member of the Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA) who also requested an updated form for their member agencies. I was too busy at the time to undertake this project, so Tony volunteered to take this on which ultimately lead to the 2002 3rd Edition. Part of Tony’s work for PDRMA was to create what was referred to as an “Audit Short Form” which was a compilation of all the changes that had occurred within the ASTM Standards and CPSC Handbook since the last printing of the book. This provided an option for playground operators who had previously conducted a comprehensive post-installation compliance inspection just before 1997. Using this new “Short Form” they could review all their playgrounds and focus on just the changes in performance requirements assuming that current inspections, maintenance, and repairs kept the playground in substantial compliance with those standards and guidelines in effect at the time the original compliance inspection was completed. There is another new short form to assist those who may not have done another comprehensive compliance inspection and assessment since the 4th Edition of PSINA in 2009 which addressed the most recent changes to ASTM F1487-07. This new short form will address changes in the 2010 CPSC Handbook for 2-12 playgrounds and the ASTM F1487 Standard versions from 2011, 2017, and 2020. There have been many changes to the content and layout of the new post-installation compliance audit process so it might behoove all operators to complete the entire process from the very beginning but I will leave that up to you to decide. I have placed more emphasis on the assessment process for all identified non-compliant conditions including all the minimum accessibility and barrier-free requirements. There now are more ASTM F1487
FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 15
requirements for additional information that the owner needs to gather to verify in writing the playground equipment and the impact attenuating surfacing system was installed according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. While gathering this information is not necessarily the responsibility of the inspector this information should still be available for review by the inspector. This written verification should any special requirements as provided by the manufacturer for installation, inspection, maintenance, repairs, and performance are being followed and are part of the playground site history file. In addition, if inspectors are not required to perform surfacing compliance drop testing during their inspection, they should include a disclaimer to that effect in their contract or final report. Without written verification of surfacing performance compliance, the job as a playground safety compliance inspector is incomplete. Surfacing performance is directly related to a playground’s overall safety compliance ranking and surfacing compliance verification to minimum requirements is directly related to the mechanism of injury outcome for both frequency and severity. PSINA 6th Edition includes all the inspection forms for each type along with other worksheets in an electronic format. The entire book and interactive adobe formatted forms can also be purchased separately in an electronic format. The electronic format will again include a PDF of the DOJ 2010) Standard, revised “Maintenance Needs Assessment Checklist” covering those inspection items that need to be assessed as part of any more comprehensive preventive inspection and maintenance process. This process would typically include the Low-Frequency Inspection which is now being referred to as the “Operational Inspection.” The “Maintenance Needs Assessment Checklist” will assist the inspector in developing their own customized inspection form for each individual playground location. This type of inspection covers the general playground environment for items such as site amenities, landscaping, walkways, signs, and general impact attenuating surfacing requirements prior to moving into those items related to specific types of play equipment. This checklist will assist a novice inspector in conducting a more detailed operational inspection without
having to memorize every item that may need to be inspected. It is highly recommended; however, the inspector creates a customized operational inspection form that also includes all the specific maintenance and repair recommendations of the manufacturer. There is another type of inspection currently recommended in the European (EN1176), Australian (AS4685), Canadian (CSA Z614) standards. The Japanese (JPFA-SP-S) inspections have somewhat similar types of inspections except for the frequency of each. That inspection type is referred to as the “Annual Main Inspection.” This type of inspection is performed annually and often by a thirdparty inspector. It is similar in scope to the “Operational Inspection” but includes a total site risk assessment. This same process can be used to develop and conduct the “Annual Main Inspection.” This type of inspection is somewhere between the operational less frequent safety inspection and the post-installation compliance inspection. This inspection often includes surfacing compliance verification and a risk assessment analysis of the entire playspace on an annual basis. Regardless of which of these international standards you might look to for guidance on installation, inspection, and maintenance the most typical terminology used to describe the various types of safety inspections are “Routine Visual”, “Operational”, “Annual Main,” and “PostInstallation.” “Routine Visual Inspection” is like what we traditionally refer to as “High-Frequency Inspection.” They are done on a much more frequent basis even daily. The “Operational Inspection” is similar to the “Low-Frequency Inspection” and done on a less frequent monthly or quarterly basis focusing on preventive and manufacturer recommended maintenance tasks. These include those routine custodial tasks that are also being performed during the “Routine Visual Inspection.” The International Playground Safety Institute, LLC recommends first-time Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Course participants purchase the Playground Safety Is No Accident, 6th Edition book before using the electronic inspection forms and worksheets. This is especially true for those individuals new to the playground safety inspection and risk management processes discussed in the CPSI Program. The book includes
16 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
background information and detailed instructions on how to use the forms. It also includes new staff training materials to assist those with less knowledge, skill, and experience related to the use of these forms. This book is one of the recommended readings for anyone preparing to take the CPSI Certification Exam without first participating in the actual CPSI Course. The content of Playground Safety Is No Accident, 6th Edition provides practical information concerning various components of a comprehensive playground safety and inspection program. It has evolved from what was the Wheaton Park District’s Comprehensive Public Playground Safety Program I established back in 1989. The origins of the very first comprehensive compliance inspection or audit came from the State of Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Statewide Comprehensive Injury Prevention Program (SCIPP) Playground Safety Checklist. The 1st Edition which was widely circulated around the country was jointly published in 1992. It became part of the NRPA CPSI course materials and was distributed to all NRPA CPSI Candidates starting in the mid-1990s. The 2nd Edition was jointly published by the NRPA, National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI), Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA), and its authors in 1998. The 3rd Edition was published in the same way in 2002. The 4th Edition was published by the International Playground Safety Institute, LLC, and its authors in 2009 as was the 5th Edition in 2011. This 6th Edition, as with all other preceding versions, is sold with the understanding that neither the IPSI, LLC, the publisher, author, contributing writers nor the agencies or organizations they may represent are rendering legal advice or other professional services. Both the law and professional standards and guidelines change regularly and may vary from state to state and from one locality to another. You are advised to consult with a competent attorney in your state if you are in need of specific legal advice concerning any of the subjects addressed in this book. Playground Safety Inspection Forms and Worksheets including the sample “Playground Safety Compliance Inspection” and all other Inspection Forms are intended for voluntary use by anyone who has purchased a copy of Playground www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
Safety Is No Accident to document playground equipment conditions at the time of inspection. An effort has been made to ensure the appropriateness of the forms in relation to best practices for inspecting playground equipment. However, Standards and Guidelines change from time to time and the final determination of the appropriate inspection practices and safety of playground equipment must be determined on a case-by-case basis. In addition, all manufacturer requirements must be strictly followed. Participants of the Certified Playground Safety Inspection Course who have attained CPSI status should, with practice and continued study, become skilled in applying their knowledge in conducting accurate and complete playground safety assessments according to their own frequency as determined by internal policy and procedures. NRPA and IPSI, LLC, and the book contributors do not endorse or enforce use of these forms. No certification or “seal of approval” is granted or may be inferred by the IPSI, LLC the authors, its officers, agents, or employees. That being said, the materials contained in this new edition of Playground Safety Is No Accident are as current as the information available in the ASTM F1487-20 Standard, the November 2010 revision of the U. S. CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook, and the Department of Justice 2010 Standard for Accessible Design.
Maintaining your parks and playgrounds just got a lot easier.
877.984.0418 www.playgroundguardian.com info@playgroundguardian.com
For more information on how to acquire either the book with electronic versions of the forms and worksheets just go to; www.internationalplaygroundsafetyinstitute.com or www.nrpa.org
KENNETH S. KUTSKA
• IPSI Executive Director 2008 to Present • International Playground Safety Institute, LLC
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 17
Finding Play During a Global Pandemic
by Jeremy Hoffner
UNSTRUCTURED, FREE PLAY is easily lost these days unless you actively work to prioritize it in your routine. As a college student, the rigors of school work, internships, extracurriculars, family, and friends mean that my time is very limited for engaging in activities like play. Oftentimes I find that any remaining free time I have in my schedule is spent in static ways like watching television or playing video games because my mind is too tired to occupy anything else. That all changed in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the course of one week, I transitioned from in-person classes at school to virtual classes from my childhood bedroom. The extracurricular activities that I was involved in became virtual. The internships that I was researching and to which I was applying for the summer quickly went from in-person to online. In a very short period of time, my life shifted from the chaos of college to sitting in front of screens all day, trying to emulate the in-person experience as much as possible. One aspect of my life that changed the most as a result of the pandemic was my search for a summer internship. I study Political Science, History, and English
at Johns Hopkins University. Before the pandemic, I was searching far and wide for an opportunity to work in a professional field relating to one of my academic interests. However, most businesses, non-profits, and government agencies decided to scale back their summer internship programs or cancel them altogether. Almost all organizations shifted their summer programs online. Many of the leads that I had evaporated quickly. I had applied to dozens of opportunities to only hear back from organizations that their programs would not be happening. One night in mid-May, after I had finished my spring semester school work, I was browsing my university’s internship postings for a way to get involved. I came upon a non-profit organization called Let’s Play America. I was quite tired and quickly grazed over the mission and goals of the nonprofit. I saw they were working to bring free play back to people of all ages. That stuck with me. The next morning, I did more extensive research into LPA and submitted my resume for an internship opening. Having the opportunity to speak with Pat Rumbaugh, the Play Lady and founder of LPA, later that week solidified my interest in helping her. I did not realize when I accepted the position that I would be able to have
18 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
such an immediate impact on the organization and that I would recapture my love for play. The breadth of work that Let’s Play America has accomplished this summer has been quite exhaustive. I have gotten to explore a wide array of media sources that write about play, from parenting blogs to health magazines, and connect them with Pat. I have done social media research into ways to increase the number of followers that our social media accounts have and develop a more consistent content brand. LPA has painted numerous hopscotch boards across Ta-
www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
koma Park, Maryland’s town parks. Pat and I have had the opportunity to collaborate on an article about the benefits of risky play and how Let’s Play America contributes to the development of risky play. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Pat and the team have begun planning a virtual play day for the fall and I have gotten to brainstorm activity ideas. The largest contribution I have made to LPA, however, is through the Play Day Handbook. The Play Day Handbook is an all-encompassing guide to developing a play event, similar to the ones that Pat Rumbaugh has been organizing in Takoma Park, Maryland since 2009. Play Events are phenomenal opportunities for the entire community to come together and experience free, unstructured play in a non-judgemental environment. Pat has seen the full span of a play event develop before her, from an idea in her head to a full-fledged annual event, and had the brilliant idea of sharing her knowledge with interested parties across the country. The Handbook walks through developing a Play Committee and recruiting people who may be interested in organizing an event, building a relationship with the local government, deciding on dates, locations, and activities for events, securing the necessary equipment, and much more. I have had the tremendous honor of helping Pat and the team revise, edit, and format the Handbook to allow people to receive it this summer! The Handbook is now available for order on the Let’s Play America website. Working on this guide with the LPA team has really taught me about the importance of building play into our everyday lives and has inspired
me to encourage groups that I am a part of to host their own play events. After working with Let’s Play America this summer, I am learning to re-prioritize play into my everyday routine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been living in my hometown with my parents and two older sisters. My siblings and I have used this time together to be active and play. We have played tennis at our local community courts and taken my dog Otis on walks in town parks. We have gone to neighborhood baseball fields and played baseball with tennis balls and plastic bats. My childhood friends and I have gone on long, physically distant walks, exploring areas of our town that I have not been to in years. Sometimes during the day, when I am working on a project for LPA, it almost feels counterintuitive to sit in front of my computer, but Pat has taught me how to strike a good balance between work and unstructured free play. As I prepare to start my junior year of college in the fall, I believe that I am ready to succeed because I have a better understanding of how to balance my priorities and I have Pat’s voice in my ear, encouraging me to get out and play. I am very grateful to Let’s Play America for giving me an opportunity to work during such a tumultuous time and for helping to reawaken the playful child in me, who just needed the proper prodding to come out again.
Message From Pat Rumbaugh Let’s Play America’s Executive Director Do you miss playing with your coworkers, friends, neighbors, students and folks in your community? The nonprofit Let’s Play America has held over 25 Play Days over the past twelve years, and can help you plan your very own Play Day for your community. Let’s Play America has distilled its wealth of experience into a digital Play Day Handbook that has step by step planning details for making your Play Day the best it can be. If you are a play advocate looking to bring play to your community, you will want this electronic PDF Play Day Handbook. Do you have a Mayor, City Council representative, State Congressman or a Director of Recreation that would be thrilled to receive this Play Day Handbook? Maybe you are a teacher of a preschool, elementary, middle, high school, a university administrator or faculty member. You know how much your students have missed being together. This Play Day Handbook is for you. Let’s not forget businesses whose employees have been working from home, or places of worship that have only seen their friends through Zoom. Planning a Play Day can be fun, and so rewarding. Senior communities, Let’s Play America has organized six exciting Adult Play Days. Yes, we believe everyone deserves to play! Play Days in person may still be a ways away, so why not consider planning a virtual Play Day? LPA is transforming our 12th Annual Play Day on September 26, 2020 into a blended virtual and in person event. Many of the planning ideas for a Play Day transfer into planning for a virtual Play Day. For more information and to participate in the 12th Annual Play Day, please visit our website. Whenever and however your community is ready to play together again, you can rely on Let’s Play America’s Play Day Handbook as a resource for organizing a positive, inclusive, and playful event for everyone.
Let’s Play America’s Play Day Handbook Is Currently Available To Order On Our Website: Www.letsplayamerica.org . For More Information Contact Pat Rumbaugh, The Play Lady Info@Letsplayamerica.org 240-752-9176 www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 19
Crafts for Kiddos 7 End of Summer Activities for Quarantine by Brenda Kimble
DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 pandemic, many summer plans have been ruined. While being cooped up indoors has taken its toll on the best of us, the frustration that comes with staying at home all the time has hit our tiny tots the hardest. Chances are, your children probably envisioned themselves spending their time at a summer camp eating ice cream with friends and embarking on extravagant scavenger hunts. Unfortunately, quarantine has thwarted all their plans, which has left you to deal with an extra-grumpy, super-whiny child who is perpetually bored at home. The great news is there are plenty of fun-filled activities you and your child can indulge in to get your kids’ creative juices flowing. Whether you choose to customize kids’ plain t-shirts with your little one in the backyard or go for some DIY projects for fall festivals, we suggest you get unabashedly crafty with whatever you plan. If you are looking for some inspiration to find some fun ways to keep your kids engaged during quarantine, we highly recommend you keep scrolling! We have put together a list of simple yet exciting and unique activities for your little ones
who are bubbling with energy. These ideas will help keep their mind engaged, happy, and razor-sharp!
DIY Creative Bookmarks
Making handmade bookmarks is a fun and inexpensive way to keep your children occupied. This is the least messy activity in the DIY world and can be enjoyed by kids of all age groups. There
20 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
are plenty of ways in which your kids can make these. The bookmarks can be made out of paper, cardboard, ribbons, or even popsicle sticks. Let your kids get creative with this one. They can choose to decorate the bookmark using watercolor, glitter, beads, or even pencil-shaving flowers. In fact, DIY bookmarks are a great way to encourage children to read. Introducwww.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
ing them to the magical world of books using this strategy can help them develop an interest in reading organically.
Tissue Box Monster
All your young one needs to make this super-easy craft is an empty tissue box, a pair of googly eyes, glue, black marker, a piece of cardboard or paper, and some paint (acrylic works best here). For the tissue box, we highly recommend using one with a round opening. Using the acrylic colors, paint the outside and the inside of the box using two different colors to make your monster stand out. Once the paint is dry, use your black marker to outline the “mouth” and make it pop. Cut your paper/cardboard into two to four little triangles and glue them to the monster’s mouth. Glue a pair of googly eyes on your monster and Voilà! Your child’s very own monster is ready to attack the town.
Jumbo Bubbles Solution
This solution takes less than five minutes to whip up and can keep your child entertained for hours. The solution is especially kid-friendly because it uses relatively safe products easily available in your pantry. All you need is any dishwashing detergent, baking powder (not soda, never soda!), glycerin, water, and cornstarch. You will also need a bubble wand, which you can easily find online. If your kid is feeling extra crafty, you can help them make one at home, too. Start by adding water into a container of your choice, followed by adding the
cornstarch and stirring it until it’s completely dissolved. Throw in the rest of your ingredients and mix well. The bubble solution is ready to use, and we are sure your kids will love playing with the gigantic bubbles!
Kids’ Tie-Dye Shirt
This activity should definitely be on your to-do list this summer. You’ll just need kids’ plain t-shirts, a tie-dye kit, rubber bands, gloves, and a plastic bag. Simply squirt the dye on damp t-shirts that have been secured tightly with the rubber bands and then place them in a plastic bag. Rinse with cold water and your kids’ tie-dye shirts are ready to wear.
Ziploc Ice Cream
This quick recipe is no less than a science project for your budding genius. All you need is milk, sugar, ice, vanilla extract, rock salt, Ziploc bags, and 15 minutes. Help your kid throw the milk, sugar, and vanilla extract into a small Ziploc bag and seal it. In a larger Ziploc bag, mix the rock salt and ice. Place the smaller bag into the larger one. The next step is going to thoroughly entertain your child. Get them to shake the bag with all their strength for at least 10 minutes. Within just a few minutes, you will have some very delicious ice cream and a very happy child!
a young age is of utmost importance. Teaching your kids about various cultures and communities can help in the long run. Making your kids socially aware does not have to be boring, though. You can turn it into a fun craft, like making DIY bracelets using fancy rhinestones, beads, or even old buttons. You can then help your child donate them to organizations that help raise awareness about the various tribes and communities that earn a living by doing this. They can also raise funds by selling their little DIY projects online and donating the money to charity. This is a great way to introduce a little financial awareness in your kids’ lives as well. Learn more about gender and the crafts of empowerment here: https://journals.sagepub. com/doi/10.1177/089124398012006008
Crafts for Empowerment
In today’s world, fostering a sense of social awareness in your children at
DIY Fairy Jars
This one will literally make your kids feel like they are practicing magic. All you need is a Mason jar, a bunch of glow sticks, and tons of glitter. Cut open the bottom of a glow stick (we suggest you do this step) and pour the fluid into the jar. Swirl it around and add glitter (the more, the merrier). Put the lid on and tell your kids to give it a good shake. Turn off the lights and enjoy the magic!
Conclusion
Whether it’s tie-dyeing tees or making fairy jars, there are all sorts of projects your child can enjoy at home. Try one of these crafts with your kiddos today! www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 21
THE SOCIAL NEXUS From Placemaking To Fundraising, The National Fitness Campaign Covers Every Angle by Sean O’Keefe AMONG SOCIETY’S MANY DISTRACTIONS, sports are the great equalizer and beyond winning, nothing is more cherished about the experience of being an athlete than fitness itself. Serge Dedina has been an athlete his whole life. He grew up in Imperial Beach, CA surfing Southern California’s best breaks. He trained extensively as a triathlete in college while earning a BA from UC San Diego, a master's at the University of WisconsinMadison, and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas Austin. In 2000, he cofounded WILDCOAST, an international conversation effort focused on protecting coastal and marine ecosystems. In 2014 he was elected Mayor of his hometown where infusing fitness into his community-building ambitions has been among the most rewarding aspects of the job. “I started swimming and running competitively in high school and doing triathlons in my early 20s,” says Dedina. “Fitness has always been an important 22 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE FALL 2020
part of my life and in my role as Mayor it has become a critical component of my community development efforts.” Located on the southern edge of San Diego on the U.S. / Mexico border, Dedina describes Imperial Beach as a family-oriented town populated by people who have an affinity for public space and natural love of the outdoors. When he first learned of an innovative program combining physical fitness with community-based placemaking, Dedina quickly realized that the National Fitness Campaign’s Fitness Court was a perfect fit for his vision of a vibrant community. “When I first heard about the National Fitness Campaign and the Fitness Court, I knew immediately this was exactly what we needed,” says Dedina enthusiastically. Established in 1979, for more than 40 years the National Fitness Campaign has been dedicated to helping communities fund, build, and activate the world’s best publicly accessible outdoor gym. The Fitness Court is a functional fitness circuittraining system designed around a series of bodyweight exercises that provides a www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
simple, yet powerful, full-body workout. Progressing through seven functional fitness zones, the Fitness Court combines 50 different components on a 38’ x 38’ sports court designed to be installed in public spaces wherever there is a community desire for the health, wellbeing, and vitality that fitness compels. The brainchild of National Fitness Campaign’s Founder and Director, Mitch Menaged, over the four decades since inception the evolution of the Fitness Court, has been a labor of love and an altruistic passion. “I am invigorated by the opportunity to make a positive impact on communities across America,” says Menaged of his life’s work. “More than just a way to give the public a good workout, this is an opportunity to impact the way cities think about building healthy infrastructure.” Menaged points out that 40 years ago when he first conceived of an outdoor, bodyweight exercise circuit, the term aerobic was just coming into public consciousness. Few outside research-based healthcare recognized the impact of human movement and physical fitness on reducing cardiovascular disease or the now widely understood correlation between obesity and poor health outcomes. To develop the latest iteration of the National Fitness Campaign and new digital Fitness Court, Menaged has assembled a powerful team of thought leadership in bodyweight fitness, industrial design, urban planning, and grant funding to propel a cohesive, achievable vision of civic activation. “To be effective, the Fitness Court has to be engaging,” continues Menaged. “In the context of public infrastructure, engagement means finding sites in public parks, along walking and biking trails, in places where the value add is obvious and accessible to everyone.” In Imperial Beach, the first site that came to mind for Dedina was in Dunes Park. Just steps from the Pacific, Dunes Park is the quintessential California beachscape, with a basketball court surrounded by towering palm trees overlooking the ocean. “Dunes Park was pretty much perfect,” says Dedina of the chosen location in a public beachfront park. “By placing the Fitness Court in public view, the park is now populated by people easily seen working out.” www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine
With site selection simplified, Dedina shares that perhaps the biggest challenge in realizing the Fitness Court in his hometown was rather more pragmatic. His big concern was how to pay for it. Despite an oceanfront address, Imperial Beach is bereft of economic development and is largely funded by a singlefamily residential tax base rather than commercial interests. “Our goal isn’t just to sell cities an outdoor gym, we are committed to helping them fund it too,” says Menaged, who has long understood the need for multifaceted investments in financing Fitness Courts. “Our value as a consultant is not just in our experience with fitness but significantly with building fundraising partnerships. We help cities jump-start the process and have a complete tool kit of materials and resources partners can use to attract key sponsorships for their Fitness Courts.” In the case of Imperial Beach, Dedina turned to his lifelong connection in ultra-competitive athletics to secure a partnership with the first name in triathlons, IRONMAN Foundation. Dedicated to creating positive, tangible change in race communities through grant funding and volunteerism, IRONMAN Foundation, was a perfect fit and the partnership has extended well-beyond simply financial support. Imperial Beach’s Annual Mayor’s Fitness Challenge kicks off IRONMAN 70.3 SUPERFROG weekend with a little friendly fitness competition between Team IB and Team IRONMAN. In the spirit of sportsmanship and the comradery of fitness, a team of Imperial Beach firefighters, lifeguards, and sheriffs compete in a series of events against a team drawn from IRONMAN Foundation’s leadership. The IRONMAN 70.3 SUPERFROG is based on Navy SEAL training and features multiple loops, a whole lot of sand, and offers top performers qualifying slots to the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships. “The Fitness Court has been a huge success,” says Dedina. “It’s a great placemaking project and a high caliber fitness experience. In Imperial Beach, we see everyone from Navy SEALS to everyday Joes and Janes using it. Fitness is the new social nexus and the National Fitness Campaign’s Fitness Court is a great way to bring people from all backgrounds together in a democratic public space.” FALL 2020 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 23
Take a look back on almost 20 years of vital play and playground information with us.
playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine Image courtesy of Kai Schwoerer/Shutterstock.com
