Articles
Ask The Right Questions
An accessible playspace has never been easier to build. With options from several playground manufacturers, the sky is the limit.
A Symbiotic Relationship
To make cities more resilient, park planners and designers need to look beyond the typical stormwater requirements when thinking about public spaces. How can parks solve larger, community-wide stormwater problems while still accommodating recreational needs?
From Parking Lot To Playground
In 1974, the little big town of Spokane, Wash., changed forever when the city cleaned up a blighted 100-acre area of downtown and used it to host the Expo '74 World's Fair. Then, in 1978—four short years after President Richard Nixon declared Expo '74 “officially open to all the citizens of the world,”—President Jimmy Carter dedicated the former fairgrounds as Spokane's new Riverfront Park.
More To Explore
Planning for improvements at Oregon Park District’s Park West in Illinois were many years in the making. Because of COVID-19, the timing of the completion was actually an asset, not only to residents, but to surrounding communities as well.
Relief From The Heat
In Tucson, Ariz., a desert city where temperatures in the summer are consistently in the triple digits, shade is not a luxury but a necessity. The city’s parks and recreation department has consistently heard from the community that residents need and desire shade over everything, but especially over playgrounds.
Playground Standards Have Changed
Are your playgrounds keeping up with the changes in ASTM Standards in 2021? People who have been coping with COVID-19 might not be aware that ASTM F1487 is about to publish a revision that will require written verification that installed structures and surfacing meet not only a manufacturer’s requirements but also the requirements of ASTM F1292.
A Message Etched In Concrete
Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Morganton, N.C., is a story of community-powered transformation. Once a park with aged and outdated equipment, it is now a local favorite on spring and summer days, with its first-
WONDER, DREAM, IMAGINE
Design inspiration is vital to developing creative and imaginative playgrounds. Gathering ideas for inspiration is a critical part of the process. Sometimes, in the calmness of the day, your thoughts wander
BCI Burke's Tips For Cleaning And Sanitizing Playgrounds
Keeping playgrounds clean is essential for everyone's enjoyment and peace of mind. Watch astep-by-step instructional video to make certain playspaces are ready for your community. Stay informed by visiting
Connecting Pathways And Pocket Parks
Remember the excitement of discovering something new around the bend of the creek or the curve in the path through the woods? Remember sidewalks that provided a way to move through a small town?
Play By The Rules
For workers in the playground industry, summer is right around the corner.In addition to anticipating another great play year--many people have begun to make changes based on the March 15 mandatory
GameTime Completes Memphis Park
GameTime recently completed David Carnes Park—the first BlueCross Healthy Place—in Memphis. The nine-acre community greenspace includes two inclusive playgrounds, a splash pad, walking trails, a
The Center Of Attention
What is one of the most satisfying achievements for a park and rec professional? How about bringing joy and excitement to the community you serve? It’s even better when a project also improves the health and
Private Capital For A Public Vision
A once-underused city park located along Boston’s Columbus Avenue Corridor in the South End and Lower Roxbury neighborhoods, the new William E. Carter Playground represents more than the typical
Ground Rules
While facility-maintenance managers around the world could probably have extended and animated discussions about what the best surface is for a playground, the truth is there is no right or wrong answer.
Pint-Sized Paradise
Paradise Peninsula playscape at Waterford Oaks County Park was designed to address issues of accessibility and promote inclusive play.
Bring Storytelling To Life
Themed playgrounds not only challenge children to use their imaginations, but they also tell a story, educate, and engage visitors. But they are not play spaces that can be “thrown together” in a hurry. Designers must research
Destination Play
“This is probably our favorite place to go & always will be!” “I cannot express how much I love this park and the concept behind it!” “This isn't your typical playground.” If your playgrounds do not generate this kind of buzz,
Ample And Acessible
As the oldest park in the Elmhurst Park District's holdings, WilderPark was in need of a makeover. Located in the heart of Elmhurst, Ill., the park is bordered by the Elmhurst Public Library, Elmhurst
All Together Now
With more than 40 park units—some developed and others undeveloped—within the city of New Ulm, in Minnesota, it takes something special to be near the top of the list. One special