Smart Playground Shopping
By: Dr. Paul J. Jacobs
Playgrounds can be playful, safe, affordable and low-maintenance. But they can also be boring, dangerous, costly and a pain to maintain. Fundamentally, a playground should support play, creativity, problem-solving and fitness. Using a few simple design principles and guidelines, your school playground will support play and all the possibilities of childhood.
Many people often think of playgrounds as large jungle gyms and swings. But large climbing structures and swings also take up a lot of creative play space. Always begin with a master design plan for the entire playground, and then go back and prioritize your purchases.
Here are some fundamental shopping guidelines that I personally use in the order I have listed below:
1. Purchase your playground from the ground up and from the outside in. Fences, tricycle paths and grass are typically very expensive investments. Buy them first.
2. Purchase a sturdy, quality fence that has both a double utility gate and a walk-in gate. The fence should be at least 4-feet high and either chain-link or wrought iron. Cut off fence bolts that protrude into the playground at the nut. And, make sure the pickets of wrought iron fences are less than 3½ inches apart to prevent body entrapment or children slipping through.
3. Purchase a storage building, portable play equipment, tricycles and paths, shade trees, mature landscaping and hearty grass. Children enjoy creating their own play out of things they find. Trees and landscaping define the play space, soften it and become the foundation of creative play. If possible, install an irrigation system with pop-up sprinkler heads. Playgrounds get the kind of wear and tear that football fields do.
4. Purchase playhouses, water tables and dramatic play features, along with a large (16 x 16 foot) sandbox or sandpit. The bigger the sand area, the better. The playhouses can go inside the sandbox. If you are not comfortable with a sand play area, a large sand table is an option. All of these things go together to facilitate creative play.
5. Purchase climbing structures conservatively. A reasonable climbing structure with fall surfacing will generally cost $15,000 to $40,000.00. Select wood alternatives such as recycled, high-density polyethylene plastic decking. Galvanized steel posts should be heat-resistant and powder-coated. Also, a climbing structure is either appropriate for 2 to 5-year-olds or appropriate for 5 to 12-year-olds, but not both groups!
6. Purchase swings only if you have the space. A single swing set will take up almost 1,000 square feet of creative play space for two children. Swings are very popular, but if you have a limited budget and creative space, that is an enormous space for just two children.
Playground safety standards change every three to four years. Have the manufacturer certify in writing that the equipment you are purchasing complies in full with the most current CPSC playground safety guidelines and ASTM playground equipment standards. Also have them certify that your equipment has been independently certified to be ASTM-compliant by the International Playground Manufacturer’s Association (IPEMA).
Only purchase equipment that is “CCA” and “PVC” free. Chromated copper arsenate and Poly Vinyl Chloride contain highly toxic and carcinogenic compounds. CCA has been used for a very long time as a wood preservative. Splintering wood and arsenic leaching into playground soil has become a significant public health concern.
PVC is used for plastic-coated decking and other plastic-coated components of some playground equipment. Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen. Environmental organizations and university research are now warning against its potential carcinogenic effects from skin contact. If you purchase commercial playground equipment, make sure it is CCA and PVC free.
Essentially, playgrounds do not have to be expensive, hazardous and difficult to manage. And, with a wise purchase, commercial playground equipment can complement a creative playground. Here are a few more recommendations for reasonable playground purchases:
• Verify the reliability of the manufacturer’s responsiveness to repair or replace defective or broken equipment.
• Request a comprehensive list of childcare centers in your area that have purchased playground equipment from the manufacturer. Calling around will save you headaches in the future.
• Download a copy of the CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety at www.cpsc.gov. It is the single, legal standard in child injury lawsuits.
Children’s play is creative exploration, discovery, experimentation and mastery of skills and interests. And, I believe playgrounds should be creative, vibrant and exciting environments for children’s creative play.
Dr. Paul J. Jacobs is a professor of early childhood education, a playground designer and a certified playground safety inspector. You are welcome to contact Dr. Jacobs at pauljacobs@playground-partners.net with your playground safety questions.
Sidebar
Product Roundup
WOW Playgrounds
There are exciting advances at WOW Playgrounds with their newly developed religious theme line. Taking the teachings of the church and incorporating them into modular playground structures with standard and custom events, WOW Playgrounds has “Pray Value.” By utilizing interactive, passive and informative play events, children are able to learn the Scripture while they play, making your playground totally unique. Deuteronomy 11:19 tells us to teach (the scriptures) to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Why not on the playground as well? WOW Playgrounds feature design elements such as Eclipse Roofs, which offer 40 percent more shade, and a clamp-less design for a cleaner look.
www.wowplaygrounds.com
Recreation Dynamics
Recreation Dynamics is an Internet-based company providing playground equipment to parks, schools and churches. Products include swings and hard-to-find replacement parts, surfacing and border materials and sports equipment. The company also carries a wide selection of site furnishings, like bike racks, picnic tables, trash receptacles and benches. Recreation Dynamics is a one-stop shop for all your park and playground needs. If you don’t see it, just ask!
www.recreationdynamics.com
Play Mart
Play Mart is a leader in recycled plastic play systems. They offer play equipment made from 100% recycled structural plastic (RSP). RSP is virtually maintenance free, with no splinters or splitting and no need for staining, painting or sanding. They offer play systems for a wide range of age groups, perfect for Christian schools. There are mini systems and mega systems, as well as fitness systems for older children and adults. Play Mart also offers swings, park amenities and ADA-accessible components. Sales representatives and installers, certified as Playground Safety Inspectors by the National Playground Safety Institute, offer site inspections. A registered landscape architect approves custom site plans and equipment designs for your site.
www.playmart.com
BCI Burke Tree House
BCI Burke, maker of quality playground equipment since the 1920s, is proud to introduce the Tree House, its first product in the Nature Play Adventure Series. Based on a nature theme, the Tree House promotes adventure play, discovery and positive interaction, while helping children appreciate the richness of nature. The unique motif complements natural park settings with the realistic appeal of the tree house every child dreams about. With safety a top priority, Burke designed the hollow tree trunk to allow interaction of children, but added tree-like knot holes and openings for maximum visibility by playground supervisors. Burke offers 100-year limited coverage on posts, clamps, bolt-through fastening systems and hardware and a 15-year limited warranty on plastics.
www.bciburke.com
PLAYSAFE
PLAYSAFE is committed to providing a fun-filled, safe play environment for children, while maintaining a sharp focus on preserving the world’s natural resources. Using a unique process, milk containers are purified and converted into attractive and durable 100% HDPE (high density polyethylene) recycled plastic, which is used to manufacture tough, long-lasting, colorful playgrounds. By offering recycled plastic products, they are helping preserve the earth’s natural resources and reducing the amount of non-degradable material going into landfills. Choose PLAYSAFE, INC. to supply your playground, and join countless civic and government entities, school districts and landscape architects who also recognize the importance of preserving God’s green earth for future generations.
www.playsafe-inc.com
MaxClimb by Park Structures
The MaxClimb system creates a dynamic climbing environment inspiring kids to climb and climb again. A truly unique combination of cables and sculpted plastic options provide multiple climbing possibilities. With unlimited opportunities for adventure and development, the system allows for solid surface vertical and lateral climbing as well as dynamic cable climbing. Install a freestanding MaxClimb, and update your playground to the cutting edge of climbing, or customize a new structure using multiple configurations. Endless options will bring kids back for more challenging fun.
www.parkstructures.com
Bear Board by EPS Plastic Lumber
Buy it once. A simple concept, but how often can you say that you were able to purchase something that lasted longer than 10 years, or 20 years? EPS manufactures and distributes 100% recycled HDPE plastic lumber and park furniture. With a 50-year limited warranty, they guarantee it will not splinter or rot like wood. It will not dramatically fade, stain or delaminate. It simply looks like the furniture you installed, year after year. It is safer, cleaner and longer lasting than anything you can buy locally and is recycled from milk jugs. It comes in seven great colors.
www.EPSPlasticLumber.com
WallCano by GameTime
GameTime has announced the expansion of its popular WallCano Climbing Wall System, with three new components that make the system fully modular and allow for multiple configurations. Create walls that rival grown-up versions, with 90-degree corners, hanging cliffs, flat walls and angles. Systems can be created for age groups of two-to-five years or five-to-12 years. New additions to the WallCano system are a huge hit with kids, providing them with a fun way to develop strength and coordination. Kids will experience the thrill and challenge of placing their hands and feet to climb to the top of the wall, just like adults, but with age-appropriate equipment geared toward their smaller hands and reach. With the new components, kids can also climb horizontally, around corners and over cliff drops.
www.gametime.com
KoalaPlay Group
KoalaPlay Group’s equipment helps bring Bible stories to life during play time, with themed environments and interactive play experiences. Schools and churches across the country are finding that innovative play areas create an atmosphere that children, parents and teachers love. KoalaPlay Group’s unique, innovative designs will allow church schools to create fun play areas which will also help them make a difference in the lives of children.
www.koalaplaygroup.com
SofSURFACES SofTILE
With more than seven million square feet of installations across North America, SofSURFACES has long been recognized as a leader in the design and manufacture of unique, interlocking safety surfacing systems. In pursuit of the ultimate system, the company focuses on the four key indicators that define a quality surface: guaranteed fall protection, durability, long-term value and effective security measures to protect against vandalism. Their five-year drop-height performance warranty and their KrosLOCK joining system make SofTILE the logical choice for maintenance-free, year-round performance, guaranteed.
www.sofsurfaces.com
Kompan Moments
Kompan Unique Playgrounds believes in making a difference in the lives of children through the creation of unique play environments. More than 30 years of innovation and child-development research are reflected in every playground they help create. Predictable playgrounds are a thing of the past. Children need something different, challenging and new. Kompan Moments raises the bar for playground design, creating an atmosphere to stimulate children’s imaginations and provide limitless play possibilities. It provides natural meeting points that encourage social interaction. Kompan also believes in "access for all." This means that every activity has ground-level access and allows children of every ability to be part of the action. Inclusion in play enriches everyone's experience on the playground.
www.kompan.com
Soft Play
Soft Play offers one of the most diversified lines of contained playground equipment in the world. They have been creating unique indoor and outdoor playgrounds for more than 18 years. From church themes like Noah’s Ark to kid-friendly clubhouse themes, they create dynamic, kid-inspired play environments for their customers based on their needs, budgets and timeline. With a commitment to safety, durability and most of all fun, they are ready to create a Soft Play environment just for you.
www.softplay.com
Miracle’s Megatower
Miracle, which built its first playground 77 years ago, introduces the new MEGATOWER. The dramatic two and three-level MEGATOWER has huge, octagon-stacked decks at various levels, a 14-foot enclosed slide and much more. New play options include the Rainbow Chameleon slide, Leanout Enclosure, Monkey Vine Climber and Roller Racer. Educational interactive panels include the Sign Language Panel, Braille Panel and the Spanish Panel – all great for educational fun. The MEGATOWER is loaded with play value.
www.miracle-recreation.com
Ultra Play Systems
Ultra Play Systems is a diverse manufacturer of playground and outdoor recreation equipment, including UltraCoat Site Amenities. They manufacture individual playground pieces, including slides, swings, climbers, physical fitness equipment, bike racks, grills and athletic equipment. Ultra Play also manufactures a complete line of outdoor furniture, including wood, aluminum, recycled plastic and “thermoplastic” coated steel tables, benches and trash receptacles. The coated steel product line is their most popular style with its long-lasting colorful finish in seven different color choices.
www.ultraplay.com
