Building Inclusion: Start where you are and reach for the stars. Summer 2019

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Contents

Play and Playground Magazine | Volume 19 No. 2 | Summer 2019

8

Features 8

For Us, By Us

by Amanda Carmichael

12 Unlike Anything Else

Experiential Playscapes Rely on a Unique Foam Material

by Sean O'Keefe

16 How Play is Changing Our Relationship With Inclusion

12

by Brandi Heather

20 Inclusive Play in 2019

by Mara Kaplan

26 The Perks of Natural Turf

by Kevin Morris and Jonathan Moore

28 Prefabrication Meets Technology Saving Time and Money In Your Park

by Hector Garcia

30 Summer Fun Starts at the Playground

by Pat Rumbaugh

20 DEPARTMENTS 5 CPSI Course Calendar 32 Happening Today in Play

4 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

CPSI Course Calendar July 9-11

Raleigh, NC

919-515-7118

NPCAI Rebrands Its Image and Builds Momentum

August 13-15

Fayetteville, NY

518-584-0321

14-16

Littleton, CO

303-231-0943

21-23

Hobbs, NM

dmcdaniel@ hobbsnm.org

September 11-13

Saratoga Springs, NY

518-584-0321

11-13

DeWitt, MI

517-374-6500

16-18

Griffin, GA

770-760-1403

17-19

West Hollywood, CA

916-665-2777

18-20

Dublin, OH

614-895-2222

18-20

Leesburg, VA

804-730-9447

21-23

Baltimore, MO

800-626-6772

30-2

Sacramento, CA

916-665-2777

October 2-4

2-4

Hamburg, NY

Bloomington-Normal, IL

THE NATIONAL PLAYGROUND CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, INC. (NPCAI) is pleased to unveil its new logo. This rebranding was just a piece of the association’s marketing strategy and brand vision that was adopted by the Board of Trustees at its April meeting. The new brand extends to the Recreation Installation Specialist Certification (RISC) logo and Qualified Contractor seal and will be seen in the organization’s marketing materials, social media, website and education resources.

“NPCAI works hard on behalf of our members and the industry,” explains NPCAI President Ed Miller. “Our new logo is fresh and modern, and is a good indication of where the association is now and where it is going.” Miller’s comments speak to not just the organization’s rebrand, but also the redesign of its RISC program, increased affiliations with strategic industry partners, and its advocacy efforts.

This year, NPCAI is expanding its RISC course offerings from two to six locations across the United States. Upcoming courses are scheduled to be held as follows: Albany, NY

August 26 – 27

Houston, TX

October 10 – 11

Las Vegas, NV

November 4 – 5

518-584-0321

The newly redesigned RISC course emphasizes the core competencies for

industry professionals and covers every aspect – from pre-construction installation processes and quality control to safety protocols – of recreation play installation. “RISC is not just limited to contractors,” explains Miller. Municipality employees, play equipment manufacturers and distributors, school officials, and others find the program and its certification beneficial. The two-day educational program is taught by industry experts and offers attendees the opportunity to take an exam at the end of the session.

Miller is quick to point out that the NPCAI brand is about much more than logos and marketing materials. “We are lucky to play an important role in the businesses of our members every day.”

RISC certification and the Qualified Contractor program allows our members to set themselves apart by proving expertise and dedication to our industry. Through the new affiliation with Playground Professionals, members will have increased exposure to end users who are looking for trusted installers.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for NPCAI,” said Miller. “The ways members experience our services is important to us, and I’m very proud of the good work we are doing.”

For more information about getting involved in NPCAI through membership and benefits, as well as the RISC program, contact Angela Burkett at membership@playground-contractors. org or 717-724-0594.

708-588-2280

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 5

Magazine Publisher | Webmaster Jake Amen Editor Sara Bowersox Design Jake Amen Accounting Brad Smith

Contributing Authors Amanda Carmichael Hector Garcia Brandi Heather Mara Kaplan Kevin Morris

Message From the Editor

Sara Bowersox

THE ARTICLES in this summer issue of Play & Playground Magazine mesh together nicely to make us think about inclusion differently than maybe we have in the past. I hope that they set you on a new journey to look for inclusion in the future.

The message of the US Play Coalition’s 10th Anniversary conference was that play, especially free play, is the foundation of our lives. Our childhood playgrounds and parks were the science labs where we experimented with all the things we need to live our lives to the fullest. These days, too many adults and organizations have forgotten this. Other groups are working hard to increase free play for kids. It really resonated with me, and I want to share this with you. Several of our articles originated with that conference.

Pat Rumbaugh, the Play Lady, pulls from her conference experience in her column this issue. Brandi Heather is a new contributor that I met at the conference. Her article takes a different approach to inclusion. Her concept of re-

moving the expectations of what is play and what is inclusion gives us all the freedom to make it be what we need, starting from where we are. Mara Kaplan writes a great piece on the journey of inclusion to date. Amanda Carmichael brings to us a marvelous project report on an inclusive playground in Alabama.

Sean O’Keefe writes about the artistry and engineering behind some of the playspaces you see with molded polystyrene figures. Hector Garcia shows how technology in prefabricated buildings is helping communities manage their parks. Kevin Morris & Jonathan Moore bring natural turf back into the discussion on surfacing.

All across the US, the spring weather has just been a crazy roller coaster and whirli-gig all wrapped into one. I am very glad that summer is here, even though I may have to cover up my garden another time or two. The sunny days and warm temperatures just make everything feel better. Let’s go play outside!

Jonathan Moore Sean O'Keefe Pat Rumbaugh

Copyright, 2019 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.

CORPORATE OFFICE Playground Professionals LLC P.O. Box 595 Ashton, Idaho 83420

www.playgroundprofessionals.com

May was National Water Safety Month. Summer play would not be complete without frequent trips to the splash pad, water park, or pool. Visit our website www.playgroundprofessionals.com/ aquatics/water-safety for water safety information - play it safe around pools, lakes, and rivers.

6 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

Message From the Publisher

Jake Amen

IT'S EXCITING to be launching our summer issue if not only for the mere fact that summer is officially here. It is actually incredibly difficult to curb my excitement at the thought of cooking hot dogs and s'mores on the campfire with my kids at our favorite place by the creek. Of course, first, there is work to be done. But all work and no play make... well, you know the saying. With that being said, my son and I have "played hookie" and went fly fishing on a beautiful river during a Salmon Fly hatch. But rest assured that as soon as this digital magazine is in your inbox, we will be playing at the creek.

Playing as a family is so incredibly important. Neglect it at your own peril (I am speaking from experience). The strengthening of bonds during play is, in my opinion, far superior to other activities. With the freedom of a summer schedule, my kids are begging for adventure, which makes sitting at a desk working on a computer difficult. I suppose it is healthy to learn to delay gratification, right?

It is easy to become stuck in a digital prison that isolates family and gets in between them and play - real play. This summer remove the obstacles that prevent you from experiencing nature, real social interactions, and play that gets your heart pumping.

At this mid-point in the year, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the supporters of Play and Playground Magazine.

Whether you are a reader, content contributor, or advertiser, we could not consistently promote the value of play without you. In the coming months and years we will continue to bring you play and playground content, build relationships with organizations like the NPCAI, and most importantly, promote play for the well being of our children and ourselves.

With that being said, get your work done, unplug, then get out there and play, like you mean it! Enjoy the summer season and make memories that will last a lifetime!

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

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SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 7

FOR US, BY US

by Amanda Carmichael

THERE'S A SAYING among families who have loved ones with special needs, "for us, by us." Simply put, if you are going to create something with accommodations for accessibility or for people with special needs, include those people in the design and planning processes. That's precisely the approach the city of Hoover, AL., located a few miles south of Birmingham, took when creating the state's largest inclusive playground.

Designed by GameTime and J.A. Dawson & Company, GameTime's ex-

clusive representative in Alabama, the 15,000-square-foot playground and 7,000-square-foot splash pad provide universal access and were designed to provide play and recreation opportunities to people of all ages and abilities. City leaders and disability advocates spent the last two years preparing the EXPLORE inclusive playground and splash pad at the Hoover Metropolitan Sports Complex.

A local citizen originally proposed the idea of an all-inclusive playground to Mayor Frank Brocato in honor of his daughter Carly. Carly has a rare disability known as CDKL5 which causes

8 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

severe developmental delays. And now, Carly’s Clubhouse is a central feature of the new playground.

Mayor Brocato sought out many organizations and specialists to consult on the necessary amenities to ensure EXPLORE went beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and into a fully-inclusive environment.

Among those involved with the project was Dee Nance, the City of Hoover’s Community Services Officer with a degree in therapeutic recreation. Nance played a crucial role in the funding and research of the Hoover EXPLORE projwww.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

2019 Hoover Explore - Hoover, AL - photos courtesy of GameTime.

ect. From 2016 - 2019, Nance raised $2 million in funding.

"We hope this is just the beginning for a project like EXPLORE. An all-inclusive playground should not limit itself to only meeting the needs of those with physical disabilities," says Nance. "This playground is truly universal; it has something for every ability. We want everyone to feel at home here." EXPLORE includes activities and amenities for every person, The city of Hoover chose GameTime, a PlayCore company specializing in inclusive play, to design and construct the new playground. Utilizing the research found in Me2®: 7 Principles of Inclusive www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

Playground Design® developed by PlayCore and Utah State Center for Persons with Disabilities, GameTime and J.A. Dawson created a space that provides equal access, exciting play activities and opportunities for social interaction between children and families of all abilities. The purpose of unique inclusive play programs is to provide educational resources for communities that wish to move playgrounds beyond minimum

accessibility to create more usable outdoor play environments that recognize everyone’s right to fully participate in equitable play. Inclusive play environments intentionally address the physical and social inclusion of people of all ages and abilities. The Seven Principles of Play include: • Be fair • Be included • Be smart

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 9

• • • •

Be independent Be safe Be active Be comfortable

essential because many hand dryers and towel dispensers are very loud. People on the autism spectrum or who are affected by a sensory processing condition are often uncomfortable around loud noises.

In a confined space like a restroom, this creates a problematic situation and frequently causes families to leave a park or playground earlier than expected. The restroom also includes a changing table with a capacity of 300lbs, perfect for families who need assistance with an older child or an adult. The table is motorized and lowers to a height of 12 inches for persons who use a mobility device.

"We were excited to cut the ribbon and welcome the Hoover community and surrounding communities to Hoover EXPLORE. This playground opens the door for not only children with disabilities but parents and caregivers with disabilities to engage in the freedom of play with their loved ones," says Mayor Brocato. "This is going to make an incredible impact, and we are so honored to be a part of it."

EXPLORE received National Demonstration Site designations from PlayCore for inclusive play, nature-based play, and youth physical activity. The

EXPLORE includes a multi-level, accessible treehouse called "Carly's Clubhouse," accessible musical instruments, sensory play activities (including interactive panels with adaptive switches), and a variety of swings, slides, and climbers.

The entire play area rests on poured-inplace rubber surfacing to provide accessible routes of travel throughout the space.

There are shade structures on the playground equipment, as well as throughout the many seating areas to maintain a cool, comfortable environment.

Designers considered every aspect of the space to make sure it was a place that accommodated every possible need.

There are charging stations throughout the play environment so parents can charge communicative devices, wheelchairs and other mobility devices, or mobile phones. The chargers ensure no one has to leave the park early when a device has a low battery. Users can plug in and continue playing. There are also quiet, motorized paper towel dispensers in the restrooms. Quiet dispensers are 10 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

National Demonstration Site™ (NDS) program of excellence recognizes a community's commitment to advancements utilizing research-based best practices in play and recreation spaces and promotes their efforts through media announcements, data collection and white papers, and presentations to national assemblies of educators and parks professionals. GameTime helps communities gain national recognition for their commitment to building communities through play and recreation.

There are five National Demonstration Site designations awarded by GameTime’s parent company, PlayCore. These designations recognize communities that develop play and recreation areas based on design and usage best practices. Qualifying sites receive certification and signage, are added to a national database, vigorously promoted in regional and national publications and presented as best practice examples in outreach and educational seminars.

For more information about the Hoover EXPLORE inclusive playground, or to bring inclusive play to your community, contact the GameTime representative in your neighborhood.

MAKE A

SPLASH

WITH A PLAYGROUND

PUMP!

www.CadronCreekPlay.com

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 11

Unlike Anything Else

12 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

Experiential Playscapes Rely on a Unique Foam Material

by Sean O’Keefe It simply isn’t like any other material they’ve ever worked with. It’s extremely strong yet incredibly lightweight. It can be quite large but is still easily moved.

It is durable yet can be finely articulated down to the smallest crevice, crack, or crinkle. The material is molded polystyrene foam from ACH Foam Technologies and the artists using it are sculptors at PLAYTIME, creators of immersive, animated playscapes frequently found in malls and entertainment centers.

Following a mission to advance the power of play and bring happiness to kids and families around the world, PLAYTIME takes fun seriously. Ryan Moats is the Director of Marketing and admits he too is still routinely amazed by the incredible creations coming out of PLAYTIME’s studio.

“Once I saw the sculpting studio and understood the many layers of talent built into every project, I was invigowww.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

rated,” says Ryan of his first impressions when he joined the company in 2016.

From the graphic artists creating threedimensional plans to the sculptors and painters bringing them into the physical world, everyone at PLAYTIME strives for perfection as they collectively render life-like cartoon figures kids can really wrap their arms around. “We use artistry to create truly believable fairytale environments.”

As pioneers of the indoor play movement, PLAYTIME’s first commission was an ensemble of eggs, bacon, waffles, and cereal at the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver. Over the 20 years since, PLAYTIME has created hundreds of handcrafted pieces to render any conceivable configuration of characters, castles, canoes, canons, or campsites creative clients can imagine. Many of the figures commissioned are copywritten, including Warner Brothers Looney Tunes characters and Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol. In such a case, the level of detail must be

exact, with Warner Brothers ultimately having the final say on the proportions of Bugs Bunny’s grin, eyeballs, and likeness. Though each piece is designed digitally, it takes a special combination of craftsmanship, patience, and material familiarity to transform solid blocks of molded polystyrene into a tiger poised to pounce.

“Sculpting stone, wood, or clay can be quite difficult,” says Spencer Smith, one of a group of talented artists who spends his days transforming large monolithic blocks of molded polystyrene into wonderfully detailed pirate ships, bridges, butterflies, or whatever else. Even after three years at PLAYTIME, Smith, a selfdescribed art school dropout, still finds himself somewhat amazed by the primary material he works with. “Each of the artists here has their own techniques for sculpting the foam to a velvety, smooth surface. We all constantly draw inspiration from the work given to us and from each other. It’s an amazing environment.”

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 13

Smith is joined by many of the other PLAYTIME artists, in his appreciation for the versatility of molded polystyrene. Sculptors begin with blocks as large as 8’ x 4’ x 48”-thick, delivered

by ACH Foam Technologies. First, the blocks are cut with a hot wire cutter to the maximum dimensions of the basic silhouette of the piece they are creating. From there, each designer works in their own way with any combination of saws, rasps, wire grill scrapers, horse brushes, or whatever else they come across to carefully coax form from the foam.

“One of my favorite techniques is cutting a piece of foam and gluing sandpaper to it to make a tool shaped for exactly what I’m working on,” says Smith. Sculpture, he points out, is really the process of removing material, and many of the techniques used with stone, wood, or clay are applicable to foam. Where foam really differentiates itself from other materials, especially in commercial applications like PLAYTIME’s work, is in the versatil14 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

ity afforded by being both durable and lightweight.

“The foam is very easy to take away compared to stone or wood,” continues Smith. “If you take away too much, it’s forgiving and very easy to add back.”

Once the foam is sculpted, the art is covered with a proprietary blend of sealants coating it with a soft, thick, smooth, rubbery surface. PLAYTIME’s cadre of artists also includes skilled painters, who carefully airbrush in the playful particulars that bring each piece to life. Ironically, as soon as many of the largest pieces like castles and ships are complete, they must be thoughtfully sectioned for transport to their destination and reassembly on site.

Despite using it every day, like many people, including others who work with molded polystyrene, the artists at PLAYTIME don’t know much about the material’s uses beyond their own.

Commonly thought of by the misnomer “Styrofoam”, ACH Foam Technologies’ molded polystyrene foam is used in everything from precisely shaped www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

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packaging for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and wine to an amazing array of construction applications. As an advanced cold chain shipping solution, molded polystyrene’s superior insulating properties allow controlled payloads to travel with thermal certainty.

As a void-filler in industrial products, it encases fragile components in a lightweight, impact-resistant shell. It serves as the core in jet ski hulls and as shaped molded insulation in products such as RVs, spa covers, and garage doors.

Today, PLAYTIME’s creations are bringing joy to children and parents in shopping centers, hospitals, and restaurants on six continents around the world. Their product lines have expanded to include experiential play components like splash pads, water walks, floatables, and hanging elements among others. Whatever they are and wherever they play, at the heart of every PLAYTIME piece is a skilled team of artists and lightweight, flexible, easy to customize molded polystyrene from ACH Foam Technologies. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

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SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 15

how play is changing our relationship with

inclusion

by Brandi Heather

16 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

Our Experience With Inclusion

Every person has some relationship to inclusion, and there are as many definitions of the concept as there are ways in which to provide it. Your organization may have extensive diversity and inclusion policies in your work setting; you may be aware of schools providing inclusive education; you may be a person living with a disability or the caregiver or parent of a child or parent with a disability; or you may say that you have had no experience at all with inclusion because you define it as “something for people who are marginalized” and that is not your lens.

However, if you have ever been invited or not invited to an event, welcomed by strangers into a new space, worked in groups, taken any form of education or training, then you do have a relationship with inclusion. The relationship may be positive and something you remember fondly, or it may be negative and something that makes you hesitant to return.

The most important step in creating more inclusive spaces is starting where you are, authentically.

We often see organizations, educators, designers, parks and recreation leaders, etc. try to start where they want to be instead of where they are. This more often than not creates barriers to building truly inclusive spaces and adopting a more inclusive mindset. In attempting to be more inclusive we hear about the complexity of required change, ineffective processes, high rates of employee burn out, and declining participant satisfaction. High expectations and lack of experience regularly leads us to fast track the process and often results in poor outcomes, unauthentic and unsustainable change.

The idea that inclusion has a defined finish line or list of checkboxes that, once ticked, results in “perfect inclusion” is not representative of reality. Inclusion is a feeling, and a way of interacting, it is profoundly personal, and it is as everchanging as our own life process. What feels inclusive today may not be inclusive a year from now.

We often shame organizations, services, products, and people for not being more inclusive, which does not move people toward inclusion but away from it through feeling defeated by what becomes an undefinable process. It is not www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

hard to recognize why diversity and inclusion continue to cause individuals anxiety, we do not want to be seen as unprepared, unqualified, unkind or uninformed. We race to be where we want to be vs. where we are at. Inclusion is a journey, not a finish line.

Play and Inclusion

Play invites us to change our relationship with inclusion by creating the opportunity for discovery, renewed curiosity in difference, risk, and failure without judgment, and new and diverse ways of thinking. Like anything worth doing, inclusion takes practice and experience.

Inclusion is not just physical accessibility, such as including ramps in walkways; it is

"Inclusion is a journey, not a finish line." cognitive, social and emotional. Consider anything you have learned as a lifelong skill, did you run before you walked? Did you start to swim in the deep end of the pool? Were you able to swim at all? All of these tasks required physical, cognitive and social/emotional engagement to attempt, learn and develop. Inclusion is no different, as establishing the process and following with practice improves the outcome.

The “start where you are” process begins with finding a play space where everyone can access play physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally. There is an ability to explore, create, and navigate without set parameters of “how”; and without the weight of expectation, players direct their own path and process.

They build and rebuild, do and undo, and often surprise themselves and others by what they are capable of.

Ramshackle Play by AMPED2PLAY builds on the ageless human drive to play (Brown, S., 2009) and opens the door to an inclusive, multigenerational and collective process. Ramshackle Play is both a Program and a Training Certification based on the creation of professional, inclusive, and multigenerational play spaces and opportunities.

Ramshackle Play is about recreating the historical foundations and process of play which fosters independent playerled learning. Players explore, risk, discover, fail, commit, and through these experiences, they develop physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally, and collectively. Ramshackle Play provides players unique play situations where people of all ages and regardless of ability can then find their space to explore their personal play while expanding their resiliency, responsibility, and readiness in areas that reflect personal and professional health and wellness.

Ramshackle Play Professional Training and programming was developed by and is instructed by professionals in Adapted Physical Education, Recreational Thera-

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 17

apprehension that play is unproductive or just for kids, we do have a relationship to it. We see play as an opportunity to communicate our strengths and expand our ability to hold a wider frame of reference in which to observe and understand the ability of others. Start where you are.

About the author:

AMPED2PLAY was created as an answer to the growing, and critical need in education, health, and business for solutions to the loss of our loss of physical, cognitive and social ability to adapt, include, innovate and remain resilient in times of change, or crisis.

AMPED2PLAY utilizes play to transform physical, cognitive and social culture, actions and performance. Our Play Solutions challenge people to connect or reconnect their relationship to play, using it as a catalyst for personal and professional, individual or collective change.

Brandi Heather is Co-Founder and Chief Knowledge Officer at AMPED2PLAY INC. She is an Adapted Physical Activity and Play Specialist with a Bachelor of Education, and Master of Physical Education and Advanced Certifications in Therapeutic Play and over 20 years in practice and Adapted Physical Activity Instruction in PostSecondary Education.

References:

• Brown, Stuart L, and Christopher C. Vaughan.

Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. New York: Avery, 2009. Print.

py, Play Therapy, and Adaptive Kinesiology. The Ramshackle Play process asks us to consider the physical, cognitive and social/emotional capability and capacity of every player. It is an invitation to widen our perspective and beliefs about the strengths of all people.

Ramshackle Play helps people, organizations, and programs move from Ramshackle (adjective \ ram·shack·le \ ram-sha-kәl \) “poorly constructed or in a state of near collapse” to resilient, responsible, and ready in personal and professional health and wellness.

Ramshackle Play fosters independent player-led learning. Players of all ages and abilities explore, risk, discover, fail, commit, and develop physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally, and collectively. In a world where we are often told what to do, how to do it, and what we want, Ramshackle Play instead asks us to decide, initiate, change, bend, invent, solve problems, cooperate, listen, and engage.

Ramshackle Play grows positive social change, through exploration and discovery of play with materials typically seen as recycled or unusable. The result is a rich play environment that fosters con-

nections across generations and through education for people of all abilities.

Like inclusion, we all have a connection to play. Even if that connection is an

18 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

• Brené Brown (2012). “Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead”, p.62, Penguin

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

INCLUSIVE

PLAY IN 2019

by Mara Kaplan

THIS SUMMER my son turns 25 years old.

When he was a toddler and we looked endlessly without success for accessible places to play, I never imagined that today the City of Pittsburgh would have accessible swing seats in 91 playgrounds and six wheelchair accessible swings in additional playgrounds. I never imagined that there would be serious conversations about the importance of including adult changing tables in playground restrooms. I would never have imagined that the directory of accessible and/or inclusive playgrounds on accesibleplayground.net would exceed 1200 listings 20 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

in North America. (I’m sure the number is actually much greater than this, and I encourage people who know of accessible and/or inclusive playgrounds to visit the site and add to our collective knowledge.) Finally, I never would have imagined that the conversation would move from accessibility and ramps to a much fuller conversation about how to include all of our children in our community.

Yet, here we are.

Playworld recently published an update to its ground-breaking Inclusive Play Design Guide. This booklet is unique in that it’s manufacturer-neutral and includes input from thought leaders from across the globe and across industries. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

The guide dives deep into child development, uses successful strategies from the world of occupational therapy, and tells

personal stories about the impact of inclusive play. First published in 2012, the year the Americans with Disabilities Act

"I’ve been designing play areas for over 25 years, and I’m happy to see a significant increase in the play industry’s willingness to provide real play choices for all abilities and ages. Research indicates much higher attendance rates and engagement in play areas where universal design and inclusive principles are used during site analysis and conceptual plans."

Missy Benson, Inclusive Play Manager and Play Advocate, PlayPower www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

(ADA) playground standards were mandated, this updated guide now includes 48 goals with hundreds of strategies to help communities frame discussions around the best way to design an inclusive playground.

With the publication of the new guide, it seems like a good time to explore where inclusive play stands in 2019. We have certainly seen a great deal of progress in philosophy, equipment, and education. Yet, while I’m thrilled with 1,200 listings in the directory, there are close to 20,000 cities in the United States. This means that at most, only 6% of cities have a place where all children can play. We still have a long way to go to ensure that everyone has a high quality, well thought out playground designed for all children.

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 21

Philosophy

When I first started working in this industry, the primary conversations were about the surfacing and “ramps to nowhere.” We’ve come a long way since then. Surfacing remains a top conversation because of its impact on the true accessibility and budget of a project. On the other hand, I can’t remember the last time I discussed ramps to nowhere.

Now the discussion focuses on how high ramps should go or if they should even be included in the first place. We no longer discuss the deficit of the child and their inability to do things; instead, we discuss how the lack of inclusion lies with poorly designed environments.

The Inclusive Play Design Guide highlights eight keys to inclusion: • Use unitary surfacing • Contain the playground with a fence • Incorporate six out of seven sensory

systems • Provide opportunities for solitary, parallel, associative and cooperative play • Provide a range challenge • Group like equipment into zones • Have a detailed conversation about the importance of elevated play and how you are going to obtain it • Ensure there is plenty of space for people to maneuver through the playground While we have talked about some of these concepts for the last 10 or even 20 years, a few are fairly new. They have only been recently added to the conversation as we move away from fighting for the concept of inclusion and towards its implementation and achievement.

Two new intents that were added to the Design Guide address where current conversations are.

The first one tackles providing choices

22 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

on the playground.

We now recognize that on the best inclusive playgrounds, not every child will play on everything. There will be pieces that will be too easy, pieces that are too hard, pieces that some people love, and pieces some don’t like as much.

Every child that comes to the playground should have a choice about where and how they want to play.

An eight-yearold with autism, who loves to climb and jump, but gets queasy with vestibular motion, should have multiple opportunities to challenge him or herself on climbing apparatuses alongside their typically developing peers. The child who uses a wheelchair and cannot transfer out of it should be able to go on gliders, ramps to slides, utilize musical instruments and spin on merry-go-rounds, all alongside their typically developing peers.

What this intent is saying is that no one should be bored when coming to an inclusive playground. Typically developing children should have many choices that are challenging and fun to them, just as a child using a wheelchair should have a lot of choices that are challenging and fun to them. If either group decides the playground isn’t a good place to play, we start to lose the social engagement that makes up inclusion.

The second new intent focuses on engaging people of all ages and sizes.

We know that when we build an excellent inclusive playground, it won’t just be for children 2–12. There will be infants, teens, parents, and grandparents of all sizes and abilities. A true community playground finds innovative ways to engage everyone. We are starting to see swings of diverse sizes so people of all ages can swing. Water and sand can bring people of different age groups together in a spectacular way. Electronic games that are fun for different ages enhance playgrounds, as the games can be programmed for a broad spectrum www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

of challenges and are accessible to those who use mobility devices.

Since 2012, I have been preaching that we should use fewer ramps and include more ground-based play components.

I believe that there is more play value for more children when we don’t spend money and space on ramps. We’ve seen some major inclusive destination playgrounds move to this philosophy. Playgrounds like Magical Bridge in Palo Alto and Helen Diller Playground in San Francisco are two that use embankment slides to create elevated play activities instead of ramps with post and deck.

Shane’s Inspiration and Unlimited Play, two of the leading nonprofits that help build inclusive playgrounds, design playgrounds that are a combination of ramps and ground-based activities.

However, there are still too many communities that are creating a ramped structure without any ground-based activities. The ramps often don’t go up very high—only three or four feet. These structures aren’t challenging or interesting to children who are interested in climbing. They don’t offer high play value for children who use wheelchairs.

The child going up a ramp can play with play panels on the route and possibly go down a slide if they can transfer out of their chair. Once going down the slide, they are at the bottom, but their means for moving around is at the top. For the structures that add challenge by taking the ramps up 8-9’, there are safety concerns. Fionna Robbe, a leading inclusive play landscape architect, reports that they are no longer building ramps to high decks in Australia. They found that ramps enabled small children to easily reach places that weren’t designed for them, creating dangerous situations.

When we create structures with ramps that only go up to three or four feet high, then have climbers and tunnels go to the higher decks without any ground-based play, the engagement needed for inclusion is missing.

The goal for leaders in inclusive play should be to provide education on the best practices for design, including significantly reducing the number of ramps used. When communities say they want ramps, it’s the responsibility of playground sales representatives to show them alternatives and explain the difference in play value.

Communities should be encouraged to www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

create community planning committees regardless of the size and budget of the playground. Bringing together parents, educators, therapists and people with disabilities along with the city planning and recreation people helps ensure that we move beyond ramps to playgrounds that provide the highest levels of play value for all children.

Equipment

Twenty-five years ago, there were only one or two manufacturers that addressed inclusion, and even these leaders only had accessible swing seats, accessible gliders, and ramps available.

Now almost every manufacturer addresses the issue of inclusion, and companies have dozens of choices for equipment that children of diverse abilities love to play on. Additionally, equipment that originally was only found overseas is now readily available in the United States.

Manufacturers offer a variety of equipment for both sensory seekers and sensory avoiders. Within the last year, manufacturers have come out with accessible whirls, where a child in a wheelchair can roll right on and spin with their friends. Group swings and spinners that offer postural support are another way to provide vestibular experiences. Many companies offer places for children to retreat from play as well as places to regroup. There are accessible zip lines, creative see-saws, high-quality musical

instruments, and unique climbers geared toward helping communities design inclusive playgrounds.

On the other hand, there are trends in playground equipment that make inclusion more difficult. We’re seeing climbing structures go up to 12’. If the excitement of these playgrounds is the height and thrill of going down, it will be difficult to create an environment where children of differing climbing abilities can play together. Similarly, we’re seeing equipment made with rope and challenging obstacle courses which do not lend themselves to inclusion unless designers put inclusion

“With greater awareness of the need to exceed ADA guidelines and design play spaces for children with visible and not visible needs, the best way forward is through the lens of inclusivity. When outdoor play spaces are collaboratively designed by a team of professionals including designers, therapists and educators, with input from children and their parents, we stand the best chance of achieving outcomes that are truly inclusive."

—Amy Wagenfeld, Ph.D., OTR/L, SCEM, FAOTA

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 23

as a goal at the beginning of the design process.

Education

Blake Hobson, the owner of Midstates Recreation and parent of a child with disabilities, contends that educating his employees and the communities he works with is the only way we’ll be able to move beyond ramps to playgrounds that include more of these innovative products. It is through education that we can convince communities to go beyond the ADA to truly create community play spaces that are environments where the whole community can play together.

To this end, Hobson requires all of his salespeople to take a six-hour course developed by Playworld on inclusive design. He encourages community leaders to take the course as well, free on Playworld’s website.

The course is divided into six modules that can be taken by a participant at his/her own pace. It’s a research-based, in-depth program that offers real-world grounding in principles based on child development and inclusive best practices. It covers: • What an inclusive playground is and why it's important.

• The intents in the Inclusive Play Design Guide and the ability to put 38 of them into practice.

• How to put together a playground that can be certified inclusive.

• What the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is and where to get more information.

• The most common childhood disabilities.

• Playground surfacing.

• How to identify products that work best in an inclusive playground and why they're good choices.

• The benefits of ground-based play and the pros and cons of ramped play.

• How different types of play benefit children.

• How to support adults with disabilities on the playground.

Other educational opportunities people can seek out include CEU courses for landscape architects and park and recre-

ation employees offered by a variety of manufacturers, Australia’s Everyone Can Play guidelines and websites such as accessibility.net.

There are excellent TED talks online

The global demand for, and innovation of, inclusive playground design and development has been truly extraordinary over the last 20 years. But what has been most thrilling to witness is the transformational understanding of the distinction between accessible and true inclusion. The most impactful aspect of this mission is working with communities as they realize that it’s not enough to simply design a play environment that’s accessible; that their deeper work begins once the playground is open and inclusive educational programming can begin. When the inclusive playground is transformed into an outdoor classroom where harmful misconceptions are replaced with a deep understanding that we are all far more similar than we are different, the path towards friendship and true belonging can unfold.

—Tiffany Harris, Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration

24 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

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about inclusive play. Two of my favorites are: 1. Chad Kennedy, licensed landscape architect and designer of Awesome Spot: Exploring social and sensory barriers that impede play in public spaces 2. Julie Asher, co-founder of Magical Bridge: We all deserve a place to play.

Through sharing best practices, we’ll continue to push the envelope in inclusive design.

On-Going Programming

As Harris points out in the quotation (left), some of the most well-known playgrounds, don’t stop at putting the equipment in the ground. They offer concerts, special events, and inclusion training. To learn more about this type of programming, visit Magical Bridge, Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration, and Kids Together Playground online.

In the last 25 years, we’ve been able to explain why inclusion is important and outline strategies for design and programming. It’s now our goal to encourage every one of the 20,000 cities in the United States to commit to at least one inclusive playground in their next master plan.

MARA KAPLAN The driving force behind Let Kids Play, a consulting firm working to ensure that all children have excellent play opportunities.

She is an educator, a parent of a child with disabilities, and a seasoned advocate for inclusive play. Mara is the editor of accessibleplayground.net and one of the authors of the Inclusive Play Design Guide. She founded an indoor playspace for children with and without disabilities and was its executive director for over 13 years. Mara has an elementary education degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. She received her MBA, with a concentration in nonprofit management, from Boston University.

Read more by Mara Kaplan at

playgroundprofessionals.com www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

Maintaining your parks and playgrounds just got a lot easier.

877.984.0418 www.playgroundguardian.com info@playgroundguardian.com

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 25

The Perks of Natural Turf

by Kevin Morris and Jonathan Moore

PLAYGROUNDS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART of childhood. Who among us did not live for those trips to the park, to run around and roll in the grass, climb on the jungle gym, skim down a sliding board, or swing to our heart’s delight? Playgrounds naturally entice play and creativity. They are part of our community fabric, and in many instances, are the focal point of many neighborhood activities. While artificial turf use has increased with some athletic fields and school playgrounds, the National Turfgrass Federation (NTF), a non-profit group which coordinates turf research between public and private entities, believes natural turf still offers safety and environmental advantages that far outweigh benefits from synthetic surface varieties. Not to mention that it offers better protection against injury for those using playground facilities.

NTF’s contention is that natural turf is a better long-term investment, in terms of safety, general aesthetics, and environmental stewardship. Its natural benefits stem from an accepted need for natural greenspace. As for environmental benefits, look no further than natural turf ’s reduction of “heat island” effects. This remains a major concern for playgrounds with artificial surfaces, especially in densely populated urban areas. Many of these synthetic surfaces use ground up rubber tires in place of natural soil, and “grass” that is a poor imitation of Mother Nature. Studies have shown that on a typical summer day, artificial turf surface temperatures can approach that of asphalt — amounting to as much as a 50-60 degree increase over natural grass surfaces! Conversely, natural turf offers cooler, softer surfaces for natural play, with less risk of skin burns or other injuries associated with harder, more chemical-based, playing surfaces.

Several groups, including the California Environmental Protection Agency 26 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

(CALEPA), are investigating the potential of children absorbing possible carcinogen and skin irritant compounds found in artificial turf systems. On the other hand, hardwood mulch, soil, and other natural grass surfaces alleviate such concerns. While injury and health data between playgrounds using artificial versus natural turf is limited, thus leading to no definitive conclusions on overall preference, the natural versus synthetic turf issue will remain in the forefront of playground safety, especially as communities call for more readily accessible play areas in public spaces.

Admittedly, playground use differs from athletic field use. However, recent studies also indicate that certain athletic events using artificial turf can increase the risk of lower leg injuries and knee injuries, especially if foot cleats catch in the carpet. Another concern is ‘rug’ burns that can cause significant open skin wounds that lead to infection. Natural grass surfaces afford more “flexible give,” thus making their surfaces less injury prone for its users. This is especially true for playgrounds, where children are blithely unaware of hidden dangers and do not wear added protective gear that older players use for athletic contests.

In terms of our environment, it is well known that playgrounds are often major components of natural ecosystems.

Playgrounds using real turf can serve as filters that trap harmful pollutants through its dense network of roots and shoots. The soil beneath natural grass also captures many potential contaminants before they end up in groundwater systems — thereby considerably mitigating their harmful flow into our streams and waterways.

Meanwhile, NTF advocates for continued research dollars at the federal and state levels to create grasses that address public use needs in a variety of climates.

This includes ongoing research creating improved grass types (“cultivars”) for playgrounds, athletic fields, and public parks. Scientists are currently working on more “traffic” and weather-hardy cultivars that will require fewer pesticides and less overall maintenance. The latter directly addresses the cost issue, which is a recurring budgetary concern for playground maintenance at schools and local www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

municipalities.

Overall, NTF believes installing or retaining natural green surfaces provides the best return investment for playground users and managers. More importantly, it provides children with safer playing environments, while enhancing their appreciation for the tactile feel of the natural world around them.

About the authors Kevin Morris has been Executive Director of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program since 1998, and President of NTF since 2007. Jonathan Moore has been NTF’s policy consultant since 2015. For more information, please contact Kevin Morris at 301-504-5125. and natural turf has aided in that effort.

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 27

Prefabrication Meets Technology

Saving Time and Money In Your Park

by Hector Garcia IT IS WELL KNOWN that installing prefabricated restroom and concession buildings in public parks and sports complexes eases the burden and liability of typical onsite construction through a streamlined process of designing, building, delivering, and installing high quality facilities.

What is not so well known are the technological advances that now come with that ease. Today’s top restroom prefab building manufacturers have options available to help save much needed resources, time, and money for their clients through web based electronically automated systems.

Systems which can be automated such as door locks, lights, and water flow, save

time and much needed resources which have typically resulted in large expenditures in the past, many times forcing municipalities or private organizations to forego adding new facilities to their parks systems. With scheduling done via web-enabled devices such as cell phones, tablets, desktops, or laptops, the ease is what sets this technology apart from previously cumbersome hands-on tasks.

Not only do these new advances help with system and park scheduling they also send out alerts if problems do arise.

Alerts can be sent to appropriate park staff via their cell phone making it quick and easy to analyze a situation and take the correct course of action to remedy any issues. Immediate alerts can save costly damage often associated with the

28 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

types of notifications sent out.

Locks: Utilizing automated systems, park staff can easily set schedules for doors to automatically lock and unlock at specific times and days, saving hundreds of man hours as the need for personnel to physically do this task is relieved. These same systems will also alert staff to discrepancies in locking. If a building is set to be locked, but is not, the installed system will send out an alert to the proper staff informing them of the situation. This task is accomplished through the implementation of bond sensors. If an alert is received staff can now easily see what the issue may be and send out appropriate personnel to investigate the situation.

On the other side of the equation, if a building is inadvertently locked during

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

a special event, all is takes is a push of a button to unlock that facility remotely.

No more having to call someone out to unlock it manually. Again, saving precious man hours. After the event is over staff can once again push a button on their cell phone to lock down the building remotely. Saving man hours equates to saving money!

Lights: Lights which should be off at certain hours, but are not, will trigger an alert to go out to staff ensuring that there are no unwanted occupants in the building during the hours when it is scheduled to be closed. If lights are shown to be “on” during “off ” hours staff can contact the appropriate authority to investigate the situation.

Water Flow: Water flow sensors will automatically keep an eye on how water is moving through the building’s system.

If the sensor indicates that an excessive flow of water is detected an automatic valve will cut the water off and send out an alert via cell phone. At that time the person receiving the alert can either turn the water back on with a push of a button or wait to restore the water flow after the situation is investigated.

Case in point, a Parks Director in Central Texas, who had a newly built prefabricated restroom building with a Management System installed, received an alert that his building was experiencing excessive water flow late one night. Upon receiving the alert, he decided to keep the valve closed, and send out his maintewww.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

nance crew the next morning to ascertain what the issue was. Upon arriving at the restroom building they discovered that vandals had torn the drinking fountain off the front of the building (yes, that has happened)! Although there was damage to the water fountain, this was a huge win for the park in that the water was not flowing the entire night. There was no additional damage to the landscaping, the building’s foundation, no wasted water or money due to water damage. The system worked as it was intended to do, saving money, time, and resources!

Locks, lights, and water flow are the main systems that are controlled and managed by these new technologically advanced systems. Along with standard operations, optional additions can be added to turn on heaters if the temperature reaches a certain degree ensuring pipes and fixtures do not freeze. Also, sensors can be installed to monitor vault tanks to alert of the need to pump out waste and, if needed, lock down a building if the tank is at capacity and has not been emptied. Even WiFi accessibility can be integrated into the system bringing internet service to park attendees.

Whether needing to keep costly rollouts to lock and unlock buildings to a minimum, maintaining your facilities, or decreasing the disastrous effects of vandals, the utilization of a building management system is key to achieving your goal.

Prefabricated builders specializing in park restroom and concession buildings

have taken the forefront in integrating internet-based automation and management systems. This technology is helping alleviate the day to day issues and operations of public facilities which, in turn, saves time, money, and valuable resources.

Prefabricated builders are leading the way in park facility technology and that is a great thing.

HECTOR GARCIA Hector is a consultant and advocate for high end restroom, concession, storage, and other pre-fabricated buildings at CorWorth. Customized to their clients specific wants and needs, our architect, design, and build teams construct some of the most beautiful and durable facilities on the planet. Developed with structural integrity our facilities are built to withstand most anything nature or the public has in store.

Designed with an artistic and architectural eye, our buildings will aesthetically flow with any environment, from deep in a National Forest to the streets of San Francisco, our designs are meant to be looked at. We may not be the "cheapest", but we are the Right Choice for High Value and Lasting Quality!

www.corworth.com

SUMMER 2019 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 29

Summer Fun Starts at the Playground

by Pat Rumbaugh

Oh the joys of summer: warm weather, daylight lasting for hours, time off from school and work. Look no further than your local playgrounds for summer fun.

You can be two or ninety-two and still enjoy playgrounds. Swinging on the swings is still one of my favorite activities at the playground. Make a list of ten playgrounds in your community that have swings and make a date with a family member, friend, or neighbor to go visit each playground and go for a ride.

Families that have young children may decide to search for a playground that has The Expression Swing. The Expression Swing has a seat for an adult and one for a young child allowing them to sit face-to-face and swing together. The swing was created out of an understanding of attunement – that attunement happens with face-to-face, eye-to-eye contact. In other words, “Their brain rhythms are getting in tune, performing a kind of mind-union that is very pure form of intimacy.” says Dr. Stuart Brown, who influenced that design.

Dr. Brown is the President and Founder of the National Institute for Play. The playground equipment company PlayCore asked Dr. Brown to write a treatise of articles on the Science of Play. In The Science of Play he explained the phenomenon of attunement, its connection to play, and its effect on the brain. Tom Norquist is a board member of the National Institute for Play and a PlayCore play innovator. Upon learning of the power of attunement, Mr. Norquist designed

and patented The Expression Swing. Folks if you don’t have The Expression Swing in your community, I suggest you contact playcore.com. You may want to start with the folks that maintain and run the public playgrounds in your community. I am personally on the hunt to find The Expression Swing and try it out with a family member, friend or, who knows, someone new I might meet at the playground.

The good old-fashioned merry-goround, sometimes called a roundabout, is also one of my favorites. There was a decline in playground merry-go-rounds for a while, as they were deemed too unsafe. Luckily the design has improved as spinning play is so important in a child’s development and kids love it. “The Genius of Play” sums it up this way: Spinning actions “positively enhance the vestibular system. Spinning allows children to experience shifts in their weight, develop depth perception, balance, and the cause and effects of motion. Spinning is the most potent form of sensory input that the brain takes in and processes.” I am so glad there is a merry-go-round in one of our local playgrounds. The next time I stop at that playground you can bet I will be going for a ride.

Slides come in all shapes and sizes these days. Some are curvy and some are straight. There are slides for super young children and larger slides for older children and adults. What kind of slide is your child ready for? By letting them explore their physical capabilities on their own as much as possible, they not only

30 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

strengthen their bodies, they learn to do their own assessment of what they can handle safely and independently. What about climbing up a slide? Why not?

Climbing up not only builds strength and agility and helps them assess the steepness of the slide; it also requires them to develop social and negotiating skills. If I want to climb up and there is someone ready to slide down, mutual awareness and negotiation are required for both children to get what they want safely.

Recently I was at a playground and I saw parents and grandparents with two young children. I enjoyed watching the children slide and next thing I knew Grandma was going down the slide with the children, now that’s my kind of Grandma!

My good friend Jane has three grandchildren and she tells me how much fun she and her grandchildren have when they go to playgrounds. Sometimes they play tag, bring jump ropes along and enjoy jump roping. All three of her grandchildren love to climb. Climbing is so good for your body; it builds strength, develops planning skills, helps with coordination and one feels more confident when one climbs.

Lets not forget about playing checkers and chess at the playground and/or park.

There is a big park in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. One day my friend, Dr. Debora Wisneski, was visiting. It was a beautiful spring day and we had just had lunch. We were walking through Dupont Circle when two men challenged us to checkers. Debora said, “You are on.” www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

I thought, OK let's see where this goes.

When they got started one of the men said, “Loser buys the winner a six-pack.”

Debora said, “Sure.” I thought, oh what the heck, a six-pack doesn’t cost that much. Well guess what? Debora won! So I said, “Loser buys a six-pack.” One of the guys responded, “We were just kidding.”

It sure was fun watching Debora play checkers in the park.

Remember that play does not always require materials or equipment. Look for bugs, watch the clouds, feel the grass, roll down a hill, play tag or hide-n-go-seek.

Play a game of “I Spy With My Little Eye” while sitting in the sun.

As many of you readers know I am the Executive Director of the nonprofit Let’s Play America. Over the years we have held several play events at playgrounds.

When I founded a play committee in Takoma Park, Maryland back in 2009 we held our first Play Day at a playground.

If you love to play and wish to encourage more folks to play in your community I suggest you hold a play event at a playground. If you need help visit our website www.letsplayamerica.org. We would be glad to assist you.

Let’s Play America’s mission is to encourage people of all ages to play by helping them create playful events in their own communities.

Was there an activity you loved as a child? Is there an activity you miss and would like to start playing it again? One www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

of the great things about playing at a playground and/or park is that others will want to join you and you may be reminded of play activities you had forgotten about. Dust off that hula-hoop, bring out those double-dutch ropes, go ahead and bring a playground ball and sidewalk chalk to the playground to create a game of foursquare. I bet children and adults will join you. How about marbles, jacks or balls for juggling?

This winter I was taking a table tennis class and I discovered one of the attendees loves to play marbles. This man is a crossing guard in our town. I am going to ask Jonah if he will teach others and me how to play marbles. What game can you teach others? Can you make up a new game?

Summertime is the best time to let your hair down and feel like a kid again.

I encourage you to go outside on a nice day and go play at the playground. Everyone deserves to play!

Hurray for play!

- Pat, The Play Lady

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Happening Today in play

Training Courses - Annual Events - Conferences - More

NRPA's Park and Recreation Month

July

This July, show your community members all the fun, games and excitement that your park and recreation agency offers. With everything from summer camps to sports leagues to special events, Park and Recreation Month is the perfect time to highlight all of the various opportunities that are available at your agency for people of all ages and abilities. Show your community that it’s “Game On” at their local parks and recreation!

More Information: http://www.nrpa.org/july/

UV Safety Month

July

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun are the main cause of skin cancer. UV damage can also cause wrinkles and blotchy skin. The good news? Skin cancer can be prevented! Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to prevent skin cancer. Make a difference: Spread the word about strategies for preventing skin cancer and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.

More Information: http://bit.ly/uvawareness

National Youth Sports Week July

15-21

Thousands of youth sports coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, young athletes, and parents across the country show their support focusing on P.L.A.Y.S. ~ Physical activity, Living healthy, Access, Youth development, Safety.

More Information: http://bit.ly/nysportsweek

Washington, DC

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Sep.

One in 5 children in the United States are obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

The good news? Childhood obesity can be prevented. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for kids to eat healthier and get more active.

More Information: http://bit.ly/nysportsweek

NRPA Congress and Exposition September

24-26

This September 24-26, 8,000 people who are passionate about parks and recreation, conservation, health, landscape architecture, city planning and making communities great places to live will converge on Baltimore for energetic networking activities, inspirational education sessions and an inside look at the latest products for the field at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference.

More Information: https://www.nrpa.org/conference/

32 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019

Baltimore, MD

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