Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 06/10/2021

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Handbook for Playground Safety 2.2.1 Accessibility Special consideration should be given to providing accessible surfaces in a play area that meets the ASTM Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment, ASTM F1951. Equipment selection and location along with the type of pro- tective surfacing are key components to ensuring the oppor- tunity for children with disabilities to play on the playground. 2.2.2 Age separation For playgrounds intended to serve children of all ages, the layout of pathways and the landscaping of the playground should show the distinct areas for the different age groups. The areas should be separated at least by a buffer zone, which could be an area with shrubs or benches. This separation and buffer zone will reduce the chance of injury from older, more active children running through areas filled with younger children with generally slower movement and reaction times. 2.2.3 Conflicting activities The play area should be organized into different sections to prevent injuries caused by conflicting activities and children running between activities. Active, physical activities should be separate from more passive or quiet activities. Areas for playground equipment, open fields, and sand boxes should be located in different sections of the playground. In addi- tion, popular, heavy -use pieces of equipment or activities should be dispersed to avoid crowding in any one area. Different types of equipment have different use zones that must be maintained. The following are general recommenda- tions for locating equipment within the playground site. Specific use zones for equipment are given in §5.3. • Moving equipment, such as swings and merry-go-rounds, should be located toward a corner, side, or edge of the play area while ensuring that the appropriate use zones around the equipment are maintained. • Slide exits should be located in an uncongested area of the playground. • Use zones for moving equipment, such as swings and merry-go-rounds, and slide exits should not overlap the use zone of other equipment, regardless of height. — One exemption is for moving equipment where the diameter of the platform is less than 20 inches and the designated play surface of the adjacent equipment is less than 30 inches. Composite play structures have become increasingly popular on public playgrounds. Adjacent components on composite structures should be complementary. 2.2.4 Sight lines Playgrounds that are designed, installed, and maintained in accordance with safety guidelines and standards can still pre- sent hazards to children. Playgrounds should be laid out to allow parents or caregivers to keep track of children as they move throughout the playground environment. Visual barri- ers should be minimized as much as possible. For example, in a park situation, playground equipment should be as visible as possible from park benches. In playgrounds with areas for different ages, the older children's area should be visible from the younger children's area to ensure that caregivers of mul- tiple children can see older children while they are engaged in interactive play with younger ones. 2.2.5 Signage and/or labeling Although the intended user group should be obvious from the design and scale of equipment, signs and/or labels posted in the playground area or on the equipment should give some guidance to supervisors as to the age appropriateness of the equipment. 2.2.6 Supervision The quality of the supervi- sion depends on the quali- ty of the supervisor's knowledge of safe play behavior. Playground designers should be aware of the type of supervision most likely for their given play- ground. Depending on the location and nature of the play- ground, the supervisors may be paid professionals (e.g., child- care, elementary school or park and recreation personnel), paid seasonal workers (e.g., college or high school students), volunteers (e.g., PTA members), or unpaid caregivers (e.g., parents) of the children playing in the playground. Parents and playground supervisors should be aware that not all playground equipment is appropriate for all children who may use the playground. Supervisors should look for posted signs indicating the appropriate age of the users and direct children to equipment appropriate for their age. Supervisors may also use the information in Table 1 to determine the suitability of the equipment for the children they are super- vising. Toddlers and preschool -age children require more t111111 P'ilkdl 6