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Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 3
Contents 8 Columns
Playground Magazine | Volume 13 No. 1 | Spring 2013
6 Play On
Features
8
Fundraising Action Plan Steps One, Two and Three
11 Parks & Playgrounds Use Synthetic Grass to Increase Activity Levels for Preschoolers 12 There’s No “I” in Team 20 Playground Maintenance
A Comprehensive Guide for Maintaining Safe Playgrounds
Departments
12 20
7 24 28
CPSI Course Calendar News & Notes CPSI Corner
Cover Info
Photo by Jeromy Morningstar
4 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
www.playgroundmag.com
A P L AY R E S O U R C E C O M PA N Y w w w. p l a y g r o u n d p r o f e s s i o n a l s. c o m
Playground Magazine
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Thinking Today About Tomorrow’s Play
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The Play and Playground Encyclopedia
™
www.pgpedia.com
The Ultimate History of Play & Playgrounds
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People, Companies, Organizations, Events, Programs, Books, Health, Safety
The Play and Playground News Center
™
www.pgpnewscenter.com
Today’s Play News and Views
™
Bi-weekly online magazine
The Park and Recreation Equipment Directory
™
www.parkequipmentdirectory.com
The Industry’s Best Manufacturers
Local Playground Professionals
™
www.playgroundprodirectory.com
Local Sales Reps, Contractors & Architects Directory ™
208-652-3683 - Playground Professionals LLC - info@playgroundprofessionals.com
PlayOn
Play and Playgrounds
Publisher Curtis Stoddard
Editor Rita Watts
Advertising Director Brooke Allen
Design April Frederick Jake Amen Production Harris Publishing
Accounting Evelyn Coolidge IT Director Wade Cornelison Webmaster Jake Amen
Copyright, 2013 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, printed by Falls Printing, Idaho Falls, ID.
CORPORATE OFFICES Playground Professionals LLC P.O. Box 807 Ashton, Idaho 83420 www.playgroundmag.com
6 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
H
How is play and playground defined? Many experts in the field are wary of trying to define these terms in a concise way, because the actual use of these words is so wide in its scope. Here are some attempts: Merriam-Webster Definitions Play: recreational activity; especially: the spontaneous activity of children Playground: a piece of land used for and usually equipped with facilities for recreation especially by children Wikipedia: Play (Activity) (edited) Play is a term employed in psychology and ethology to describe a range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities normally associated with recreational pleasure and enjoyment. Play is most commonly associated with children and their juvenile-level activities, but play can also be a useful adult activity, and occurs among other higher-functioning animals as well. Many of the most prominent researchers in the field of psychology (including Jean Piaget, William James, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and Lev Vygotsky) have viewed play as endemic to the human species. These psychologists all had strong beliefs on how important play was on human development. Many research methods were performed to prove their theories. Play is often interpreted as frivolous; yet the player can be intently focused on his or her objective, particularly when play is structured and goal-oriented, as in a game. Accordingly, play can range from relaxed, free-spirited and spontaneous through frivolous to planned or even compulsive. The seminal text in the field of play studies is Homo Ludens by Johan Huizinga. Huizinga defines play as follows: “Summing up the formal characteristic of play, we might call it a free activity standing quite consciously outside ‘ordinary’ life as being ‘not serious’ but at the same time absorbing the player intensely and utterly. It is an activity connected with no material interest, and no profit can be gained by it. It proceeds within its own proper boundaries of time and space according to fixed rules and in an orderly manner. It promotes the formation of social groupings that tend to surround themselves with secrecy and to stress the difference from the common world by disguise or other means.” Play can take the form of improvisation or pretend, performance, mimicry, games, sports, and thrill-seeking. Structured play has clearly defined goals and rules; when this is the case, such play is called a “game”. Other play is unstructured. Wikipedia: Playground (edited) A playground, playpark, or play area is a place with a specific design for children to be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors (where it may be called a tot lot in some regions). Playgrounds often also have facilities for playing informal games of adult sports, such as a baseball diamond, a skating arena, a basketball court, or a tether ball. Public playground equipment refers to equipment intended for use in the play areas of parks, schools, child care facilities, institutions, multiple family dwellings, restaurants, resorts, and recreational developments, and other areas of public use. A type of playground called a playscape is designed to provide a safe environment for play in a natural setting. Professionals recognize that the social skills that children develop on the playground become lifelong skill sets that are carried forward into their adulthood. Independent research concludes that playgrounds are among the most important environments for children outside the home. Most forms of play are essential for healthy development, but free, spontaneous play—the kind that occurs on playgrounds—is the most beneficial type of play.
Playground Magazine’s future is tied to the future of play and playgrounds The driving theme of Playground Magazine is “Thinking Today about Tomorrow’s Play.” With that goal in mind, it is our intention to be forward-thinking: visualizing what is coming in the field of play and playgrounds, the new thoughts and directions of the future in children’s play. We invite you to be excited about Playground Magazine’s new focus and to join with us as we magnify the world of children’s play and their play tools. www.playgroundmag.com
Calendar
CPSI Course Calendar
May 1-3
St. David, PA
814-234-5276
6-8
Tigard, OR
503-853-9126
7-9
Woodbury, CT
860-721-0384
8-10
New Brighton, MN
763-571-1305
14-16
Great Neck, NY
518-584-0321
June 24-26
Murfreesboro, TN
615-790-0041
July 16-18
Raleigh, NC
919-513-3937
August 5-7
Greeley, CO
303-231-0943
5-7
Elk Grove, CA
916-665-2777
14-16
Richland, WA
360-459-9396
September 9-11
Ventura, CA
916-665-2777
11-13
Williamsburg, VA
804-730-9447
11-13
Columbia, SC
803-808-7753
18-20
Coeur d'Alene, ID
208-282-5766
23-25
Morristown, NJ
732-568-1270
23-25
Covington, GA
770-760-1403
23-25
Dublin, OH
614-895-2222
October 21-23
LIttle Rock, AR
510-416-6700
22-24
Camillus, NY
318-384-0321
22-24
TBD - Chicago Area, IL 708-588-2280
November 4-6
Green Bay, WI
414-423-1210
5-7
North Kansas City, MO 573-636-3828
6-8
Salt Lake City, UT
801-782-5512
13-15
Bellevue, WA
360-459-9396
December 10-12
San Clemente, CA 916-665-2777 Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 7
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Steps One, Two and Three by Jeromy Morningstar (Oh the possibilities, when we visited with Jeromy Morningstar, he asked if he could take a different twist to the story idea. We agreed. Here is what he wrote.) Kate’s Kause (www.kateskause.com) is a charitable, not-for-profit organization inspired by founder Kelly Meissner’s young daughter Kate who was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder called Angleman syndrome (AS). Established in their daughter’s honor and with the goal of raising money to build an accessible playground, the Kate’s Kause vision came to realization in the summer of 2012 after almost two years of fundraising. Raising a daughter with AS, Kelly Meissner understands the importance for children to interact with other children on playgrounds as part of their develop8 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
ment and socialization. However, she also recognizes that many community playgrounds are not necessarily safe and accessible for children of all abilities. The cost alone to build a playground can be prohibitive and successful fundraising is a critical component to realizing success. Kelly Meissner is not alone. Is finding the funding one of the greatest hurdles standing between your new playground? Since funding is often lacking when it comes to the development of playgrounds, fundraising is often an essential component to realizing a new playground. Designing a fundraising plan that
is simple and easy to execute can help inspire your fundraising team, and most importantly, put money in your bank account.
Stage One: Preparation
One of the first steps in a fundraising campaign is to form a committee or list of people who are willing to help. It could be as small as one highly motivated individual to a group of five or more. With more people involved, delegation of ideas to subcommittees can allow volunteers to be more effective in the areas they want to pursue. Many volunteers are willing to help out with different fundraising events, but would prefer not to be on a committee. These volunteers will be part of your success. Goal setting is one of the keys to a sucwww.playgroundmag.com
cessful fundraising campaign. It is always important to have a goal to strive for. Setting goals for each fundraising event will help your committee see results. Once you determine how much you are expecting to raise from a particular event, set a plan to achieve your goal by breaking it down into small sub-goals. Set a target with defined time frames. See it. Believe it. Achieve it. Choose A Playground Plan: Your playground design will give everyone a good focal point for all of your fundraising efforts. Most playground equipment companies will provide you with a 3D digital representation of your playground once a design is chosen. This life-like representation will definitely develop excitement and future anticipation. Protective and accessible surfacing is a critical design www.playgroundmag.com
and safety aspect of any playground and should also be in the budget. Advise Your Community Of The Plans: Once your plans are chosen, be sure to advise the community that the playground plans are available for all to see. Be sure to keep the community updated on fundraising events and continue to invite everyone to support and participate in the project. Chart Your Success: Keeping your community or school apprised of the funds raised after each event will keep enthusiasm high. Social media is a great way to keep everyone motivated as you get closer to your goal. Use Free Media: Many local radio stations and newspapers offer a percentage of their advertisements to nonprofit organizations and public service announcements. Call them to see what
would be available for your organization. Often local newspapers will run a story on local fundraising efforts as well as advertise upcoming fundraising events.
Stage Two: Bringing Funds to Life
Social media is a tool rather than a place where fundraising is conducted. It’s a way to connect people to your cause and help you promote, inspire and create momentum. Even if your own organization doesn’t have a large following on social networks, you can use social media to help in your fundraising efforts if you have a few enthusiastic supporters with large networks of their own. Cultivating a social media audience will require effort just like the rest of your campaign. You must devote creative time, energy and intention to make it Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 9
work. Consistently posting new content to your blog, Facebook page or Twitter account will make potential donors feel informed. Use these tools to post updates, announcements, events and any other tidbits on what makes your cause unique. You may even consider creating a video about your cause and why people should be involved. You can get a lot of traction when a video goes viral. Fundraising Through Service Groups, Clubs And Organizations: There are usually many service groups in your local town. These organizations help to improve the community in many ways. Supporting children and children’s programs is often a large part of their mandate. Foundation Grants: Foundations will usually have a mandate on what type of funding requests they will support. There are strict guidelines to follow and forms to be completed. Corporation Grants: Many corporations donate locally to improve the quality of life of the local residents. When writing a letter to request a contribution to any of the above channels, it is important to be simple and straight forward. Be clear with what you ask for. Enlist volunteers to pro-actively contact the possible donors. Be sure to follow up personally or with a phone call.
Incentivizing Traditional Fundraising
Traditional fundraising options that require product purchases are plentiful and range from the sale of coupon books, T-shirts and magazines to cookbooks and bake sales. There are just as many options for fundraising that do not require product purchases including bottle drives, recycling pop cans, raffles, silent auctions, dance-a-thons and read-a-thons. Whatever traditional fundraising endeavors are decided upon, know that incentives and motivators can make a difference, especially when students will be involved in the fundraising efforts. Rewarding achievement can be as simple as a sticker for returning forms or a class pizza party for the highest participation. There is a lot of good that comes from children accepting some personal responsibility to pay for extra privileges, such as self confidence, basics of citizenship, how to handle money and supporting their school. An incentive program will surely inspire these things.
10 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
Stage Three: Recognizing Donors
Recognition shows appreciation of the donor’s support and keeps the community informed of the contributions made. You can show recognition by listing contributors in the local newspaper or having names engraved on a panel and mounted on the play equipment. A grand opening or a ribbon cutting ceremony is a great way to celebrate everyone’s fundraising efforts. It will give a sense of pride and ownership to the students, donors, parents and volunteers. Kate’s Kause is a great example of how one organization with a highly motivated founder was able to see, believe and achieve. Officially called Kate’s Playground For Everyone, this 8000square foot, $300,000 fully accessible playground features junior and senior playground equipment by Landscape Structures, swings, a flower garden and fully accessible, impact absorbing, interlocking rubber tiles by SofSurfaces. “Inclusion and education for
EVERYONE, ” says Meissner. “Kate goes down the roller slide head first on her tummy all by herself. It’s one of the most wonderful things I’ve ever seen. Kids we’ve never met before go down the roller slide with her. One girl even went on her tummy side by side with Kate, both of them giggling the whole way down. This is inclusion and the feeling it gives us is better than I ever could have imagined. I love what the playground has done for our family and the community kids. We are all growing up together, no matter our differences. It’s a small piece of heaven.”
About The Author
Jeromy Morningstar has been employed with sofsurfaces for over 17 years and currently holds the position of Managing Director. SofSURFACES has been manufacturing and distributing its SofTILE brand of playground safety surfacing systems since 1991.
www.playgroundmag.com
Parks and Playgrounds Use Synthetic Grass to Increase Activity Levels for Preschoolers
New Study Finds Nearly Half Of Kids Under Five Don’t Have One Outdoor Play Opportunity Per Day Atlanta, GA—While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under five play outside as much as possible, an April 2012 study led by Seattle Children’s Research Institute found that nearly half of U.S. preschoolers did not have even one parent-supervised outdoor play opportunity per day. Recognizing that the lack of convenient outdoor spaces contributes to this trend, a growing number of parks and preschools are choosing synthetic grass for their playgrounds to allow more opportunities for young kids to be active. “According to the Centers for Disease Control, obesity rates among children younger than five have doubled over the last two decades,” said Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council. “Synthetic grass playgrounds offer safe, resilient and accessible surfaces that can be used by kids year-round to increase physical activity levels.” New synthetic grass playgrounds nationwide have reclaimed previously unusable spaces for the benefit of the community. Cumberland Park in Nashville, TN, was built on a former brown field industrial site adjacent to the Cumberland River reclaimed by park planners working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental officials. With more than one million visitors expected annually, officials decided to install synthetic grass from ForeverLawn in heavy activity areas such as playgrounds. They also incorporated a climbing wall because of its durability, the option to incorporate safety features and its ability to conserve water. www.playgroundmag.com
The City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department in Nevada manages aquatics and recreation centers and boasts 54 neighborhood and community parks. However, soaring summer temperatures caused cracks, separations, peeling and fading in the poured-in-place rubber surfaces used in the playgrounds. They turned to SYNLawn to replace dilapidated rubber surfaces in five parks with synthetic grass to create more attractive, safer play areas for children of all ages.
Daycare facilities have also recognized the benefits of synthetic grass playgrounds, like Home Depot’s Early Childhood Development Center at its corporate offices in Atlanta, GA. Located at the base of a steep grade, the unique playground from ForeverLawn features synthetic grass hills and valleys and even a lazy river defined by the winding blue turf. Special padding under the turf creates fall safety zones and the entire playground is ADA accessible.
Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 11
by Jim Dobmeier
Having the right partners in place for your playground project = peace-of-mind If ever there was a lesson in the value of good communication, the Agawam School District playground construction project is it. Located in Agawam, MA, the district recently invested in an overhaul of three playground sites totaling more than 18,500 square feet.
There’s
No “I” in Team
Like many successful specialty construction projects, this too was not without a few hiccups that could have become costly had it not been for the proactive thinking of the team assembled to lead and complete the sizeable project. For Agawam, the existing loose-fill, wood fiber playground surface had reached its lifespan, worn from years of little feet hard at play and an unnoticed drainage issue. It was time for a new surface. The district chose a poured rubber and urethane surface to create a more 12 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
accessible and more durable play area for its students. Unlike traditional loose materials that shift or mat down as children play, the new surface was designed to stay put-providing consistent and reliable safety.
Surface America, hired by ME O’Brien, was in charge of creating and installing the surface, known as PlayBound Pouredin-Place, at Clark, Robinson and Granger school sites. www.playgroundmag.com
Heavy Rains Reveal Problems As fate would have it, Agawam suffered heavy rains just as Surface America started the installation work at two of the three projects. In many cases, rain is seen as a setback in construction, but the timing of this storm proved fortunate to the future of the project. The fast-moving storm flooded the playground sites, causing the installation team to pause and examine the runoff from the adjoining parking lot and the drainage system around the sites. Knowing poor drainage would ultimately shorten the life of the poured-in-place system Surface America identified the problem and worked with the Agawam Park and Recreation Department to find an immediate solution to re-direct the water away from the 7,410 sq. ft. playground during construction. A drain tile was installed postconstruction as a permanent solution. Because the issue was more severe at Granger (6 inches of standing water), the decision to install a permanent drainage system prior to starting the surface installation was made. With www.playgroundmag.com
the previous surface, the water runoff soaked into the wood fibers, creating a soggy base, but little standing water. Without puddling, the drainage problem was never identified as an issue. Had this issue not been identified and resolved, costly repairs would have been needed over time. Because every project brings unique
circumstances, having an experienced team at Agawam paid off in identifying additional pitfalls that could have made the difference between a successful and an unacceptable project. Before installation begins, Surface America thinks the project through. This involves a laundry list of questions and checkpoints including requesting site pictures to identify
Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 13
construction hazards and making sure the surfacing site has the necessary post-installation security to allow proper 24-to-48-hour curing before the public is allowed to step onto the surface.
Site Pictures In this case, a review of site pictures prior to the installation team arriving revealed piles of dirt surrounding each of the three sites. Dirt from those piles could blow onto the newly installed surface and become permanently cured, affecting the overall aesthetic and the satisfaction of the client. Solutions included covering the dirt, removing the dirt or keeping the dirt wet throughout the installation. To resolve the issue, Mountain View Landscape opted to remove the dirt to ensure a clean construction site. Proactive thinking and a good line of communication between all parties played critical roles in this project. The end result--three new poured-in-place 14 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
playgrounds ready for action during the 2012-13 school year, hundreds of happy children and a satisfied client, who can rest easy knowing the playground surface will stand strong for years to come. Other things to consider when deciding which surfacing company is best for you: Reputation in the industry. Does the company demonstrate a clear understanding of the industry as well as an understanding of your needs? Do they respond thoroughly and expediently? A proven track record. Has the company worked on thousands of similar projects over many years so they are truly experts? A written warranty from the company. Evaluate it in terms of content and length of time and consider the company in relationship to the warranty. How have they handled their worst warranty situation? Financial strength and stability.
Does the company have staying power? How long has the company been in the industry and are you confident the company will be in business throughout the life of the warranty?
About The Author
Dobmeier is president and founder of Williamsville, NY-based Surface America. Since 1993, Surface America has helped schools, parks districts, daycare facilities and commercial establishments transform traditional playground areas into state-of-the-art play surfaces. Today, Surface America leads the playground industry with the most complete line of sports and recreational surfacing systems. By combining sound construction practices with skilled installation crews, Surface America incorporates the industry’s widest collection of recycled materials to create surfacing systems that are as attractive as they are durable. For more information visit www.SurfaceAmerica.com. www.playgroundmag.com
Learn more about Clemson University and the US Play Coalition’s new:
Playground Maintenance Certificate of Completion Program
Who?
Frontline maintenance technicians and their managers.
Why?
What? Learn the Playground Maintenance Diamond of Care and more from experienced instructors and playground safety experts. Become a Playground Maintenance Technician (PMT).
Unsafe playgrounds cost millions and can lead to serious injury and death. By common playground safety issues. Playground safety is no accident.
When and Where? Host a program in your area, contact Carly Summers, Program Coordinator E: csummer@g.clemson.edu P: 864.656.2525
“A great program for those of us in the maintenance field.” (Gwinnet, GA) “I highly recommend this course… as it not only teaches valuable knowledge, but makes learning easy with top-notch media.” (Gwinnet, GA) “Instructors are professional, experienced and eager to share their experiences.” (Hong Kong) Class in Portland, OR
16 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
www.playgroundmag.com
Synthetic Turf Creates A Safer School Playground We’ve all seen the headlines about childhood obesity. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that obesity rates among children under age five have doubled over the last two decades to speculation pint-sized reality star Honey Boo Boo’s diet is dooming her to a lifetime of bad health, no one disputes the fact that there is a problem. But the fault doesn’t lie with poor eating habits alone. Kids, particularly younger ones, need to become more active. That is why a growing number of preschools and day care facilities are creating more outdoor play opportunities for the children they serve. Playgrounds are particularly critical to this effort as they need to promote higher activity levels while keeping kids safe from the ground up. Just ask the Hoaloha Kai Montessori School in Honolulu, HI, a private school that serves children from the age of two months through sixth grade. A significant portion of their students are between three to six years old. Administration recognized that encouraging kids to play outside was an important part of their development www.playgroundmag.com
along with strong learning programs. But the school faced the challenges of limited space and equally limited funds. Initially the school compromised by converting the back parking area into a playground using a wooden freestanding unit over one-inch foam padding which was not up to any ASTM or CPSC guidelines. Over time, the challenges with the play area became more apparent. It did not accurately reflect the excellence of the school’s innovative curriculum. Only a small amount of students could use the space at once. A fundraising campaign was launched to create a new playground to enhance student activity levels. Realizing that synthetic turf would provide the best surface solution given the area limitations and maintenance needs, the administration turned to NyLawn, the Synthetic Turf International (STI) distributor for Hawaii, to construct a new, safer playground. The goal was clear-design a synthetic turf surface that would create more play value, aesthetic appeal and make the most of the limited surface area. “The play space required some much needed improvements to bring it up to a safe and professional looking facility,” Rory Otto,
president of NyLawn, said. “We wanted to create a beautiful playground that protected the ‘Keiki,’ which is Hawaiian for kids.” Maximizing safety was the top priority. NyLawn came up with a Miracle 2-5 YO custom structure with a curved edge Fall Zone and an exciting color scheme. The equipment’s fall height was determined by the spiral slides platform at approximately 6-foot-2. They used a 2.25-inch thick recycled foam underlayment with an STI product and sand/rubber infill, creating a critical fall height of more than eight feet. Selected to ensure the surfacing exceeded the required fall height well into the life of the equipment, the system followed ASTM 1487 and CPSC Guidelines so the perimeter met or exceeded the Use Zone of the equipment as well. The company also incorporated an original tricycle race track element from the previous install into the design. “I thought more along the line of a putting green installation where as we take a rectangular shape and make it feel and look more natural and less geometric,” explains Otto in describing the playground project. So a race track was painted around the perimeter for the Keiki to ride their tricycles on. However, the school didn’t stop at that point. After seeing the conceptual drawings for the playground, Hoaloha asked NyLawn to tackle a younger children’s area. Located in a nice shaded area under a tree and palms, unfortunately the tree coverage didn’t promote the growth of natural grass. Otto envisioned a perimeter Keystone Retaining wall that came to the fence line and buried an old rock wall that caused a hazard. Once again using STI’s products, NyLawn focused on creating a safe outdoor area that also enhanced curb appeal. The reaction from the Hoaloha Kai Montessori School community has been incredibly positive. Today, students eagerly look forward to playing outside and parents continued on page 31 Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 19
A Comprehensive Guide For Maintaining Safe Playgrounds Playground Maintenance:
by Kenneth S Kutska, CPSI, Executive Director International Playground Safety Institute The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) curriculum states more than one in three playground injuries are alleged to be a result of a lack of maintenance or improper maintenance. This is one area which all public and private playground owner/operators have direct control. The owner’s proactive maintenance efforts, or lack thereof, will have a substantial impact on reducing playground injuries. One item that has been lacking is a definitive maintenance training program and comprehensive written resource nec20 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
essary to train people responsible for the day to day operation of playgrounds. After years of development, there is now a playground maintenance training program designed for persons responsible to inspect and maintain playground equipment to assure a safe, clean and functioning play environment for children.
Playground Maintenance Program— Design, Content This new two- day program provides the information necessary to train front line maintenance and custodial staff with critical information and processes neces-
sary to proactively identify playground maintenance issues and how to correct them to provide a safe and useful play environment. The course presentation and the print resources provides comprehensive resource information in how to maintain playground equipment and uses, visuals to “bring the playground into the classroom” to identify the most common play environment issues of concern, surfacing deficiencies and emerging safety concerns. This program also informs the participant in how to take appropriate corrective actions, make certain repairs within manufacturer specifications and how to take www.playgroundmag.com
a composite structure or entire play area temporarily or permanently out of service. The course manuscript, Maintaining Child’s Play: A Comprehensive Guide for Maintaining Safe Playgrounds 2010-2011 PDRMA, 85/165.046, provides the basis for the training program’s interactive multimedia modular presentation. The training portion of the program uses a host of visuals including video, stills and a virtual playground environment to help attendees to more easily absorb the presented course information. The course is designed using topic specific training modules that begins with an overview of each chapter using videos, followed by a PowerPoint-type presentation that focuses on the causes of common playground maintenance problems, provides a range of solutions to address existing problems and provides proactive guidance on how to prevent similar future playground maintenance problems, thereby extending the life of the playground. Another element of the training program is the course “Participant Guide” which includes a summary of each module, allows students to take notes and includes skills-building exercises. The final portion of the program uses computer technology to create a virtual playground experience in the classroom allowing the students to test their knowledge based on what they have learned in the class. The virtual playground environment eliminates the need to go outdoors to a play area to demonstrate and discuss the real life playground inspection and maintenance concerns presented throughout the program. Much of the Playground Maintenance Program is based on the research by Monty Christiansen, Professor Emeritus, Penn State University, who authored many of the chapters in the course manual along with two other authors, including Steve Plumb, a long time CPSI instructor and Steve Kleinman, JD, PDRMA. Like with all professional publications, Maintaining Child’s Play is an effort of the authors, illustrators, photographers, pre-publication reviewers, editors, graphic designers and the publisher as all were essential contributors to the quality of the publication. The course book Maintaining Child’s Play starts with an overview and introduction to the program followed by the following chapter subject areas: www.playgroundmag.com
Chapter 1 addresses the basics of playground liability. Chapter 2 introduces a new concept, “The Playground Maintenance Diamond of Care.” The four points of the Diamond are based on the continuing process of “Knowledge, Inspection, Corrective Action and Documentation.” Chapters 3 through 7 address the common materials used to manufacture play equipment, concrete, wood, plastic and metal, and the many different fasteners, connectors and connecting fasteners which hold these materials together. Chapters 8 and 9 address loose-fill surfacing and unitary surfacing. Chapter 10 discusses how often inspec-
tions and maintenance should occur. Chapter 11 addresses record keeping and documentation. Chapter 12 is about the challenges of taking play equipment out of service Chapter 13 is on the content of maintenance inspections of the playground environment, surfacing and equipment. Since August 2012, Clemson University’s Park, Recreation, and Tourism Department has been licensed to offer the Playground Maintenance Program and is beginning to offer the program across the United States to local hosts. If interested in hosting this program contact Dan Anderson, the program coordinator, at dander3@clemson.edu. Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 21
and function throughout its life. Christiansen’s research resulted in an incredible amount of information on every material common to the public playground environment that is used to train playground maintenance staff in the Playground Maintenance Program in the course book, Maintaining Child’s Play.
Development Of Playground Maintenance Technician Program
One of the founding members of National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI), Monty Christiansen, took a sabbatical leave from Penn State in 2001 to conduct research on the subject of playground maintenance. Earlier, Christiansen had written a White Paper on the future of NPSI. In it he discussed the need for playground maintenance training and this started his research efforts on the subject of playground maintenance. Christiansen’s efforts were assisted by a grant from KaBOOM! after its CEO, Darell Hammond, heard about Christiansen’s vision for this much needed training program. Hammond had a goal to build thousands of new playgrounds which in turn help build communities. He understood that the long term benefit for the community to have a new playground but he also understood the longer term goal of building communities would not be realized if the community failed to take appropriate actions to maintain the playground to the appropriate level of safety
22 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
Playground Maintenance Program Goals As They Relate To CPSI Program
Regardless of a play area’s level of compliance to the current safety standards and guidelines, owners must address their responsibility for ongoing safety inspections, routine maintenance and timely repairs that address new deficiencies in the rapidly, ever-changing play environment. There are distinct playground maintenance responsibilities as recommended by the U.S. CPSC and the ASTM for the manufacturer/designer and owner/ operator. The manufacturer/designer must provide the owner with complete inspection and maintenance procedures necessary to maintain the play equipment and surfacing system. The owner/ operator is responsible for performing the inspections and maintenance as recommended by the playground equipment manufacturers to assure the safety of the users and the function of the playground equipment and surfacing system and these records must be maintained. The owner should be implementing some regular frequency of safety inspections coupled with timely routine maintenance and repairs to
assure the safety of the users. This is the primary role of a playground maintenance technician. This is the primary focus of the Playground Maintenance Training program. The inspection/maintenance process begins with a written and thorough visual review of the entire playground environment down to each and every component. The process must be documented in order to assure its completeness and to provide insight into the future. The process is not complete until the identified deficiencies have been corrected and these corrective actions must also be documented. The inspection forms used must be easy to use. They must be based upon the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance and inspection procedures. They must follow your agency policies and procedures. They should be specific to the equipment and conditions identified in your site history and initial safety compliance audit. Whatever type of inspection tool is being used, the inspection process must be performed as frequently as appropriate for your operating conditions. This documentation process will be of little use unless it is completed by trained staff. The result of not implementing an effective proactive maintenance and inspection program has been said to contribute to almost 40 percent of all playground injuries. This is the bad news. The good news is that there are many benefits of a good playground inspection and maintenance management plan such as fewer accidents, good defense against charges of negligence, more efficient and effective use of resources, forecasting more accurate budget needs, better information to project the potential life expectancy of the play area, and most importantly, it enhances your organization’s public image and relationship with your community. www.playgroundmag.com
Photos credit Caught in the Moment.
Looking Back At The NRPA 2012 Congress, Exposition by NRPA The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) held its annual Congress and Exposition Oct. 16-18, 2012, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. The three-day event brought together nearly 7,000 park and recreation professionals, citizen advocates and industry suppliers and exhibitors to network, learn, innovate and elevate the field of parks and recreation. This year’s Congress gave attendees some of the best opportunities to meet other professionals, learn and exchange with one another and grow their professional network. On Tuesday, Oct. 16, the meeting kicked off with the Opening General Session during which NRPA President and CEO Barbara Tulipane announced that the association would join the National Wildlife Federation on a goal to get 10 million more children outdoors in the next three years. Central to achieving the goal are park and recreation agencies and the association is engaging agencies across the country to encourage participation in the initiative as well as providing resources and information. To find out how to get involved in the www.playgroundmag.com
10 Million Kids Outdoors goal, visit www. nrpa.org/10MillionKidsOutdoors/. Also during the general session, attendees were inspired and touched by the remarks of keynote speaker, renowned economist Dr. Lowell Catlett. With his engaging style, captivating stories and unforgettable “crap factor,” Dr. Catlett’s presentation and messages really hit home with park and recreation professionals. NRPA members and attendees can view a recording of the live presentation of the Opening General Session and Dr. Catlett’s keynote by visiting the NRPA Congress Resource Center. Year-after-year attendees come to the NRPA Congress and Exposition for the high-caliber educational opportunities and in 2012 there were more than 200 available. The sessions were organized in 11 tracks that were specifically tailored to parks and recreation such as “Healthy Lifestyles,” and “Planning, Design and Maintenance,” to name a few. Much of the educational sessions offered continuing education credits to support professionals’ ongoing learning and development. Be sure to check NRPA. org for information about available session
recordings from the 2012 Congress and Exposition. Congress just wouldn’t be Congress without the industry’s leading Exposition. Nearly 400 industry suppliers were in attendance this year with the latest innovations, products, services and more for the field. As attendees explored the exhibit hall, they not only networked with suppliers but got a chance for some hands-on testing of new innovations and could find everything they might need for their facilities, parks and outdoors spaces. One additional highlight during the 2012 Congress and Exposition was the dedication of the El Sereno Arroyo Playground in East Los Angeles. This project was part of the NRPA’s Parks Build Community Initiative that demonstrates the transformative value of parks and recreation in underserved communities across the country as well as LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s 50 Parks Initiative. Many partners came together for this project including the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks, The Trust for Public Land and PlayCore. Watch a video about the project and learn more at www. nrpa.org/About-NRPA/Initiatives/ParksBuild-Community/El-Sereno-ArroyoRevitalization/. While this year’s Congress was outstanding, NRPA is already planning and putting together another stellar conference for next year. Mark your calendar and plan to attend the NRPA Congress and Exposition Oct. 8-10 in Houston, TX. For more information visit www.nrpa. org/Congress. Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 23
News&Notes
New Eovations Technology Creates Tougher, More Durable Composites Bay City, MI—Eovations, an affiliate of Universal Forest Products, has announced the introduction of Eovations extruded oriented technology. The new technology is a patented process of producing a fully fiberized thermoplasticmineral composite that replicates the fibrous structure of wood and creates a unique combination of strength, durability, aesthetic and workability properties.
Eovations technology uses a proprietary extrusion/drawing process to combine mineral particles with a thermoplastic matrix, creating a fully fibrous and molecularly oriented lineal composite system. Claude Brown, Eovations vice president of technology and innovation, said the resulting material equals and in some cases improves upon the physical strength, dimensional stability, environ-
The new technology is a patented process of producing a fully fiberized thermoplasticmineral composite that replicates the fibrous structure of wood and creates a unique combination of strength, durability, aesthetic and workability properties. The company says the composite material is a strong candidate to replace wood, wood-plastic composite, plastic and metal in a wide range of structural and nonstructural applications. Eovations will license the technology to others for use in the commercialization of products and components in applications where the composite’s properties provide significant performance and competitive advantages. Examples include building products, outdoor and landscape structures and furnishings, marine products and structures, park and recreation installations, and industrial and commercial installations.
mental durability, aesthetics and workability properties of wood while overcoming the strength and other limitations of wood-plastic composites. “The possibilities created by Eovations technology extend significantly beyond traditional applications for wood and wood-plastic composites,” said Dick McBride, Universal Forest Products general manager of operations. “This remarkable material can be used almost anywhere a lighter, stronger, longer-lasting material is needed. Product designers, architects and engineers can use Eovations to overcome the limitations of other mate-
rials, creating differentiated new products in the factory and solving difficult application challenges in the field.” Processes based on Eovations technology can employ a variety of polymer and mineral raw materials. A wide processing window enables finished composite properties such as density to be customized for specific applications. The appearance of the finished material can also be tailored, with a variety of surface textures and a range of colors incorporated during processing. Brown said fabrication with the composite is almost identical to traditional carpentry. “The material can be machined, milled, cut and drilled using basic carpentry skills and common woodworking tools,” he said. “Fastener acceptance and hold is excellent using conventional nails, screws and staples. Variations of the composite readily accept common paints, allowing durable, attractive finishes to be applied during product manufacturing or in the field.” Eovations offers this technology under flexible application and production licensing models. Licensees choosing the application model obtain the use of composite material produced by Eovations, LLC. The production licensing model enables licensees to utilize Eovations process technology in their own operations to produce composite material independently. Licensing under both models is for predefined applications.
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News&Notes
PlayCore Partners with Rising Golf Star Brooke Pancake to Promote Play Young LPGA player to help promote goals for healthy children Chattanooga, TN (PRWEB) February 12, 2013—PlayCore, the leading brand of play and recreation equipment in the US has partnered with Brooke Pancake, who begins her first year as a professional on the LPGA Tour this year, to promote play, recreation, and youth development. The company chose the affiliation with Brooke based on shared goals of advancing health and fitness for children. PlayCore,
medalist championships while playing for Baylor School in Chattanooga, three AllAmerican Awards while at the University of Alabama, and the Honda Sports Award as the nation's top collegiate golfer. She was also an Academic All-American during her four years at Alabama and lead the school to the 1st National golf championship in its history in 2012 PlayCore CEO Bob Farnsworth added,
I am truly excited to represent PlayCore. To partner with a company that is not only the best at what they do, but also enriches the lives of children and entire communities, is an honor. headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, is widely known for their industry leading research, partnerships, programs, and product development in the field of play and recreation. Brooke brings many great credentials to the relationship, winning four straight state
“Having known Brooke for a long time, I’ve been impressed by her determination and her winning attitude. She is a model for young people around the world, and as a company dedicated to the enrichment of children, we are excited to be able to work
with her in this endeavor.” Brooke is excited to work with the PlayCore team and help further their mission of enriching childhood through play. She said about the new relationship, “I am truly excited to represent PlayCore. To partner with a company that is not only the best at what they do, but also enriches the lives of children and entire communities, is an honor.” About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, education, and partnerships. The company infuses this learning into its complete family of brands. PlayCore combines best in class planning and education programs with the most comprehensive array of recreation products available to create play solutions that match the unique needs of the each community they serve. Learn more at http:// www.playcore.com
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News&Notes
Conference on the Value of Play IPEMA/Voice of Play Final Play Champions Join Forces at Fourth Annual Conference on the Value of Play to Share Research and Insights Promoting Free Play for All A passionate group of just over 300 play enthusiasts convened at the US Play Coalition’s fourth Conference on the Value of Play to share findings, raise awareness and promote play throughout life. The conference, held at Clemson University from Feb. 17-20, attracted leaders in a variety of disciplines, including healthcare, academia, education, child development, kinesiology, playground equipment and surfacing manufacturers, landscape architecture, parks and recreation staff, and advocacy groups. The Conference theme, “Taking Action” helped spur attendees to focus on concrete steps to increase awareness about the many benefits of free play. The US Play Coalition was founded in the summer of 2009, following the inaugural Summit on the Value of Play. The coalition’s primary purpose is to link previously unconnected people and organizations that value play and promote its importance in human and societal development. “This year’s Conference capitalized on the enthusiasm and action of the past few years – offering more solutions to take action and increase play opportunities,” said Fran Mainella, Co-Chair, US Play Coalition and 16th Director of the National Park Service. “IPEMA and our members appreciate the efforts of the Coalition to expand our vast industry research-based knowledge to other audiences,” said Tom Norquist, IPEMA Marketing Committee Chair. “We’re hopeful as we continue to grow the Coalition’s base – we can bring in more professionals from the medical, education and even politicians to learn about the benefits of play in all forms and work together to affect widespread positive change. The conference began on Sunday with many educational sessions and an option of several local “Play Tours,” hosted by the US Play Coalition. Participants chose between visiting the Children’s Museum of the Upstate in Greenville, the Clemson 26 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
University Outdoor Lab or the Clemson University World of Sports. The conference’s series of keynote speakers kicked off opening night with an address from Dr. Michael Suk, Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery for the Geisinger Health System, who spoke on “Strategic Action for Good Health – Uniting Communities around Play.” Dr. Suk’s championed the idea of providing a “play prescription” not only for kids, but for all ages. He is actively working to bridge the gap between the larger medial community and the community of play advocates to help increase the health of the population as a whole. Monday morning, well-known motivational speaker and author Kevin Carroll spoke on “The Power of Sport & Play – a BALL can change the world!” Carroll told his moving personal story about his triumph over adversity through neighborhood play. That evening, Co-Chair of US Play Coalition, Brett Wright, moderated a lively keynote panel discussion on “Putting Play Into Action.” Co-Chair of the US Play Coalition and former National Park Service Director Fran Mainella joined keynote panelists Dr. Michael Suk, Deborah Wisneski, President of the Association for Childhood Education International and Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Jackie Epping, MEd and Lead Public Health Scientist and Team Leader for the Guidelines and Recommendations Team of the Physical Activity and Health Branch at the CDC, to brainstorm concrete ways to increase play opportunities for all. Tuesday morning, Dr. Regina Milteer offered a look at play from a pediatrician’s perspective, advocating for increased unstructured, free play for kids. Milteer recently worked with Dr. Kenneth R. Ginsburg to co-author an important study for the American Academy of Pediatrics called, “The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bond: Focus on Children in Poverty.” Milteer is currently the Chief Medical Officer of the United Healthcare CommunityPlan while also working with
the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition to the four keynote sessions, the 2013 US Conference on the Value of Play included 16 featured speaker sessions and nearly 80 educational sessions that attendees could choose from based on their personal and professional interests. The sessions covered topics ranging from play in the school library, to adaptive playgrounds, interactive play and nature, risk taking, and the connection between physical activity and academic success. Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michele Smith delivered a featured presentation (her third time speaking at the US Conference on the Value of Play), talking about taking action steps to promote the value of play. For the third consecutive year, the Conference awarded a research grant of $3,000 to support innovative research in the field of play. The 2013 grant went to Jeanette Gustat for her proposal “Developing a Community Play Index (CPI).” In addition to the research grant, three additional grants were awarded under a new category: action grants. These are $1,000 grants to support community initiatives to engage and educate more individuals about the Value of Play. The 2013 winners were: Heather Von Bank for her proposal “All My Other Classes are Boring Lectures: Play Days as Service-Learning Opportunities;” Joy Kuebler for “Buffalo’s Pop-Up Adventure Playground – Community Based Free Play;” and Naomi Roberson and Kate Zmich for “Play for All: Advocating Play to Vulnerable Populations.” In total, the US Play Coalition has awarded $24,000 in grant funding and plans to continue to support play through these initiatives. The conference was made possible by its host, Clemson University, along with the generous support of Platinum Champion for Play Landscape Structures; Platinum Sponsors PlayCore and Vortex Aquatic Structures; Gold Sponsors Playworld Systems; Silver Sponsors Allied Tube and Conduit, BCI Burke, John and Bobbi Nau and Little Tikes Commercial; and Bronze sponsors Foundation for Sustainable Parks & Recreation and the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA). US Play Coalition partners for the event included KaBOOM!, Clemson’s Marsha Ward Play Fellowship and Department Partnerships included the City of Rock www.playgroundmag.com
News&Notes Hill, South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism department and the Spartanburg County Parks Department. The 2014 Conference on the Value of Play will take place February 15-19, 2014 and once again will be hosted in Clemson, South Carolina. All are invited to attend, and you are encouraged to visit the US Play Coalition website to learn more and sign up for the monthly e-newsletter that will announce all upcoming conference dates and deadlines. For more information about the activities from the US Play Coalition, including government involvement in ongoing committees in areas of Coalition Building, Research, Communication, Advocacy and Guidelines, visit www.usplaycoalition. clemson.edu. For more information about IPEMA’s Voice of Play advocacy initiative, visit www.voiceofplay.org.
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School Playgrounds For Public Use Bill Flies Through Fla. House Committee A measure encouraging school districts to open up recreational facilities to the public sailed through its first House committee on Tuesday. Bill sponsors say it’s aimed at fighting childhood obesity. The idea is to make it easier for organizations like the YMCA and for average people to use playgrounds, practice fields and tracks at public schools. House sponsor Jake Raburn (R-Valrico) said, it would give taxpayers access to the facilities they already pay for. And help children become more active. “Recognizing that we are experiencing an epidemic related to obesity and personal health here in our state, this bill will help to open opportunities for children to play all over Florida, making it easier for schools to open fences around playgrounds," he said. In exchange for opening their facilities up to the public, school districts won’t be held responsible for injuries that happen there, except for cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. That could change in future committee stops. The bill passed the House last year but failed in the Senate. www.playgroundmag.com
Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 27
CPSICorner: Insurance
Now That I’m A CPSI, What Kind Of Insurance Do I Need? by Greg Hennecke, CPSI, CSRM Congratulations on becoming a CPSI. This was no easy task. This article is primarily for those who are interested in going into business for yourself as a playground inspector. For those who work for an employer, whether public or private, you will be covered under your employer’s policy. However, if you “moonlight� on the side, you need to pay attention, too. There are four types of insurance you are going to need or consider: Professional Liability, General Liability, Worker’s Compensation and Auto Liability.
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Professional liability is designed to cover financial losses incurred as a result of your mistake or error. As an inspector, you are not building or manufacturing a product, you are providing a service, needless to say, a professional service. Some hazards or conditions are easily identified as, without question, a hazard or a non-compliant condition. What about those situations that aren’t so clear cut? We are taught to use our professional judgment. If your client incurs a loss and it is determined that you missed that particular hazard somehow, your professional
liability policy will respond. General liability is designed to cover your business from a bodily injury, property damage, personal injury or advertising injury claim. So, if you have an office and invite clients there for meetings and they slip and fall on the premises, the general liability insurance will provide coverage for this type of incident. Professional liability insurance would not respond to this type of claim. The following are some of the characteristics and differences between these two types of insurance:
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Professional Liability (PL) vs. General Liability (GL) GL is triggered by bodily injury or property damage. PL is triggered by bodily injury, property damage or economic (consequential) damages. GL is typically written on an “occurrence” basis. PL is written on a “claims made” basis. If you switch insurance companies at the end of the policy and later a claim is made from that prior insurance policy, there is no coverage with a claims made policy. There would be with an occurrence policy. GL covers damages arising out of an organization’s daily operations, excluding professional services. PL covers damages arising out of an organization’s professional services. GL limits are not eroded by defense costs. Defense costs are unlimited and are outside the limits of liability. PL limits are, typically, eroded by defense costs. The liability limit includes both defense and indemnity payments. GL allows Additional Insureds. PL does not allow Additional Insureds. GL may be scheduled under an Umbrella (Excess) Liability Policy. PL cannot be scheduled under an Umbrella (Excess) Liability Policy. Workers’ compensation insurance provides coverage for an employee who has suffered an injury or illness result-
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ing from job-related duties. Coverage includes medical and rehabilitation costs and lost wages for employees injured on the job. Worker’s compensation is sold just like other insurance policies except if you live in a monopolistic state like Ohio, Washington, North Dakota and Wyoming. Monopolistic states require that worker’s compensation coverage be provided exclusively by the state’s designated workers compensation program. Auto liability insurance provides liability insurance for the operation of a motor vehicle. There are two types of auto insurance: personal auto and commercial auto. If you have a company and the company owns a vehicle (it is titled in the company’s name), you must purchase a commercial auto policy. The two main types of commercial car insurance are liability insurance and physical damage coverage. If an accident is your fault and damage is caused to another vehicle, another person’s property or bodily injury is caused to another person, liability insurance will cover the damages. Physical damage coverage will cover collision and theft of a company vehicle when driven for company purposes. In addition to these two types of insurance there is also the option to add uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments, roadside assistance and other types of coverage. If you
can afford it, I recommend purchasing uninsured motorist coverage and medical payments. I like having uninsured motorist coverage because it takes care of me if the person who caused the accident doesn’t have insurance. If you drive your personal vehicle, be careful. I recommend discussing how you use your vehicle with your agent. Some personal auto insurance companies will offer a “business use” endorsement and provide coverage for that “use” of the vehicle. If this is a viable option, I might consider picking up a commercial auto policy that has hired and non-owned coverage Don’t be afraid to shop around and ask questions. Insurance companies are rated on their financial stability. I recommend asking your agent what the AM Best rating is for the carrier(s) that they are proposing to you for your insurance. AM Best is one of most widely recognized credit rating companies in the insurance industry. About The Authors
Greg Hennecke is a Risk Management Representative for Hylant Administrative Services and works directly with governmental agencies and public schools. In addition to being a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), Hennecke also is a Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM) and is a licensed property and casualty agent in Ohio.
Spring 2013 Playground Magazine 29
CPSICorner: Supervision
Watch Me
The importance of good playground supervision by Greg Smith, CPSI We all know that public playground safety has improved significantly in the last 20 or so years. Today’s playground manufacturers, designers and installers are held to detailed safety performance requirements that have all but eliminated some of yesterday’s most common causes of fatalities on playgrounds. Gone are the days (we hope) when a brand new playground contained hazards such as entanglement, head entrapment, crush and shear points, protrusions and impact from heavy swings. All the advances in play equipment safety have been wonderful to see, but are they the end-all in keeping our children safe while playing or is there more that can be done? Trained, experienced and educated play area supervisors know that the answer to this question is: Yes. Both of the leading industry standards regarding playground safety, ASTM -F1487-11, Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use, and the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission Public Playground Safety Handbook, recognize and note the important role playground supervision plays in the reduction of playground related injuries and deaths. Children can be expected to use play equipment in ways not thought of or intended by the designers and in ways that make play more dangerous than it should be. Something seemingly as innocuous as wearing a bicycle helmet while playing on the play equipment can lead to dire consequences. Modifying equipment by tying ropes or dog leashes to it can also lead to injuries or even death. Hanging upside down for long periods of time, riding bicycles down slides, wrapping swing chains around the swing header, climbing on roofs, assisting children onto age inappropriate equipment, all can contribute to injuries that could have been prevented by 30 Playground Magazine Spring 2013
competent supervision. First time attendees at the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Certified Playground Safety Inspector course often hear the statement that once they complete the course they will never look at playgrounds the same again. CPSIs and others trained and experienced in playground safety know that there is a significant difference between a risk and a hazard and that inappropriate use of equipment can turn an otherwise fun and safe play experience into a life changing event. Effective playground supervisors know when to step in to prevent an injury and when to step back and allow children to develop the skills they will need later on in life through play. They know what a playground should look like and what the playground they are supervising does look like. They can spot any modifications or changes that have occurred over time, such as broken components, hazardous litter like sharp objects, degraded plastic that is brittle and cracked, missing components, etc., and they are willing and able to react to these changes by preventing children from coming into contact with these types of hazards. Effective playground supervisors are also willing to stop children as needed when their play becomes dangerous to themselves or others. From throwing loose fill surfacing material such as sand, gravel, wood chips, shredded rubber, or engineered wood fiber at another child to excessive roughhousing or bullying, any form of anti-social, violent, or otherwise destructive behavior should be stopped at the first opportunity. Good playground supervisors know this would be a good time to assist the child’s social development by explaining the consequences of their behavior and in so doing, preventing its reoccurrence. Designers and owner/operators of
unsupervised playgrounds, such as those in public parks, can assist in making caregivers effective playground supervisors through signage and providing good sitelines from the exterior of the playground into the interior and between the preschool and school aged play equipment. Important safety information can be conveyed to caregivers via signage. Signs or labels can describe what age group the equipment is designed for or how deep the protective surfacing material should be. Signs can relate the dangers of playing on hot equipment or playing on the equipment with a bicycle helmet on, or while wearing a hood with a draw string, or when wearing jewelry around the neck, or with bare feet. Good, effective signage should be placed where it is noticeable and visible to caregivers/supervisors and should warn the reader of any potential hazards with enough advance notice to allow for preventive action to take place. Effective signage will also provide contact information of the owner/operator and be written in the language(s) needed to convey the information without need of a translator. Competent play supervision at playgrounds is an essential ingredient in the recipe to make our children’s play experience a happy one. Without it, the safety of the young ones is in jeopardy. With it, they can play and learn and return tomorrow to do it again.
Greg Smith is a CPSI Course Instructor with NRPA.
www.playgroundmag.com
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are equally thrilled by the safe synthetic turf surface that protects their children. “The new synthetic grass play area and wall has added to our curb appeal and prompted families to inquire about our school,” noted Hoku Chong, director of admissions at the Hoaloha Kai Montessori School. She also felt that one of their students expressed it most eloquently of all in stating “our courtyard is much more safe and awesome now.” Beyond the transformation of their school’s playground, Hoaloha Kai Montessori School hopes to inspire other facilities which face challenges in offering outdoor play opportunities. While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under five play outside as much as possible, an April 2012 study led by Seattle Children’s Research Institute found that nearly half of U. S. preschoolers did not have even one parent-supervised outdoor play opportunity per day. “Physical activity through play is essential for preschoolers’ growth and development,” said Study Leader Dr. Pooja Tandon, MD, MPH, of Seattle Children’s Research Institute, who is also acting assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington. “Outdoor play is also beneficial for motor development, vision, cognition, Vitamin D levels and mental health.” According to the study overview release, preschoolers with three or more regular playmates were twice as likely to go outside daily. Findings highlight considerable room for improvement in parent-supervised outdoor play opportunities for preschool age children. “Even if parents are not able to take their children outside to play due to logistics or time constraints, they can advocate for or insist upon it in child care or preschool settings,” said Dr. Tandon. “If we can increase awareness of why it’s so important for children to be outdoors, there can be a cultural shift and our children will benefit in many ways.” Working with NyLawn and 70 other distributors throughout North America, Synthetic Turf International (www.synthetic-turf.com) focuses on helping people experience a greener world in places where natural grass doesn’t easily grow. Their synthetic turf products are currently in use at thousands of playgrounds, landscape projects, golf courses and indoor sport facilities. www.playgroundmag.com
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