Providing Peace of Mind

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Sanitizing and maintaining playgrounds during COVID–19 and after

By Michele Breakfield

We are witnessing a crisis never seen in our lifetime. The disruption caused by COVID-19 is affecting the lives of billions across the globe, as we are required to adapt to new lifestyles for the unforeseeable future. One thing is certain and that is children and families are yearning to go outside and enjoy our beautiful parks…now more than ever. If there ever was a silver lining to this crisis, it is a newfound or deeper appreciation for green space and parks. We, in the parks and recreation world, have witnessed a mass migration of visitors these past few months of people needing to walk, run or just sit while restoring some sort of normalcy in their lives. Providing both a sense of calm and an outlet for rigor activity, parks have been an integral part of the relief phase.

As communities open on their own accord, questions are being asked if playgrounds, fitness elements, splash pads and other recreational equipment are at risk for transmitting the virus. With no scientific evidence presented to approve or disprove the notion, we are required to navigate uncertain terrains with great caution.

Play and fitness are critical for our children who have been forced to live more restrained and sedentary lifestyles these past 3 months. Household are riddled with amplified levels of stress and anxiety as parents assume new roles and may even face new challenges like unemployment and food insecurity. The need for our spaces, services and programs are greater than ever before.

What can we do to provide peace of mind and an added layer of safety for our site amenities located in parks and in our recreational facilities?

For one, regular cleaning and sanitizing. Even before COVID-19, frequent usage areas run the risk of harboring germs that cause skin infections and illness. Schools, childcare centers, retail spaces are scheduled with routine cleanings, particularly during high flu seasons. Why not add recreational amenities to that list to add that extra protection? Playgrounds are said to the be the most infrequently cleaned item in a children’s environment.

There are products on the market that can be applied by maintenance teams or services hired on a regular basis. As you conduct research look for a product that has the following criteria:

Efficacy: Looks for a product that disinfects in a single application, no need to pre-clean surfaces or re-apply during the same application. Those applying the cleaner are not required to use PPE equipment.

Safety: Find an environmentally friendly option that does not harm people, animals, or the planet. Also, find an option that has no adverse effects on the equipment. It is important to ensure that all cleansers are non-toxic, non-irritating, non-corrosive and fragrance free.

Simplicity: Rather than keeping up with multiple products with stringent uses, it is much easier to use a versatile product that covers all needs in terms of sanitization. Look for something that is available in ready to use or an easy to dilute concentrate.

Another option to promote a cleaning regimen is to install “foaming” stations with signage that encourages all users to “foam in” before play and “foam out” when leaving the playground. No one enforces this action but again, parents and caregivers would appreciate the gesture and undoubtedly use it.

When you think of the frequency of use by the number of users on play equipment each day, it is not difficult to imagine the number of germs on those hand holds, monkey bars, activity panel activators, swing chains, slides and more. HomeAdvisor conducted a study and found that playgrounds were a breeding ground for bacteria.

Outdoor playground equipment contained greater germ variety. The good news? 38 percent of the bacteria were gram-positive rods, which are not usually harmful. However, 31 percent were gram-negative rods, which do have the potential to cause illness and often resist antibiotics. (Cholera and E coli are both examples of gram-negative rods.)

There is such a thing as raising kids in too sterile of an environment. And by no means should parents stop kids from playing on public playgrounds. However, once again parents and caregivers would have a greater appreciation of park maintenance knowing that equipment is cleaned regularly just as public restrooms are with a visible cleaning log on the back of the door when you leave.

We believe by integrating cleaning and sanitizing services into inspection and maintenance routines, parks and recreation departments will help to mitigate risk of virus transmission. Adding peace of mind to your constituents in the world today is a good thing.

Another good thing is to have a plan in place for maintenance and a tracking system that logs efforts. You never know when you may need to disclose maintenance records and want to make sure that your routine maintenance checks and work orders are well documented.

What makes the entire process of park and playground maintenance easier ranging from one location to multiple sites is to have a software system specifically designed for it. Not a Google doc or an EXCEL sheet but a mobile friendly app that is specifically developed to comply with safety standards and best practices. Streamlining routine inspections, repairs and regular maintenance can be as easy as checking boxes, annotations on uploaded photos and storing documents. Should something occur such as an injury or equipment falling into disrepair, documentation is the key.

When looking for a software program to help with playground maintenance, look for these options:

• A mobile friendly app installed on phone or tablet

• Ability to access software even offline to allow use in the field

• Simple, user-friendly interface

• Option to perform your own inspections, safety audits and even include ADA assessments

• Maintain digital inventory of all parks and equipment

• Functionality to print/export inspection reports in multiple formats

• Capacity to take photos and retain documents such as warranties, repairs, and work orders

As in the case of any software, a subscription allows for cloud storage and continuous updates and provides greater longevity. Maintaining parks and playgrounds does not need to be as time consuming as it was years ago.

Despite the ever-changing conditions in which we live, one thing remains the same – the work of Parks and Recreational Departments across the country are ESSENTIAL. As budgets face shortfalls and staff assume multiple roles, stretched thinner than before – cleaning and maintaining our parks amenities must be a priority. Health conditions demand it. There are ways to do it at lower cost and tools to make it easier than before. Yes, an added cost, but peace of mind certainly has a greater value.

Michele Breakfield is the Playground Guardian Director of Marketing.