How safe are your playgrounds?

Recreation agencies and the manufacturers of playground-equipment are both taking precautions to avoid accidents and subsequent lawsuits.

Editor's Note: Spring is just around the corner, and thousands of youngsters will again head for park playgrounds. The IPR magazine staff recently contacted various agencies statewide to learn about the procedures and policies they follow to enhance playground safety.

Weekly equipment inspections during the spring, summer and fall highlight the Arlington Heights Park District's playground safety efforts. Park Planner Susan Jacobson noted that workers inspect fasteners, slide beds, ground surface and general equipment wear. These inspections are less frequent during the winter.

In addition, the district installs playground equipment only on resilient surfaces such as pea gravel, wood chips or sand. It is also starting to use more metal equipment to avoid problems with splinters.

The Raymond Park District, according to President Darrell Pitchford, pays special attention to worn chains and seats on swings, and rough edges and loose bolts on its slides. Jungle gyms and other playground apparatus are examined for rough edges and loose fittings.

Special safety features at the Deerfield Park District include the use of two inches of sand and four inches of wood chips under each play area.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 January/February 1986

Each play area is surrounded by landscaped timbers four feet in perimeter.

Parks Superintendent Gene Ryshkus indicated that two full-time maintenance staff inspect all playground equipment twice monthly. Records of each inspection are kept, and repairs are made the same day. The district keeps S-hooks, chains, bolts, nuts and swings in stock.

The Glenview Park District developed its own Standards Manual for maintenance practices. It requires playground equipment inspections three times a year. Repairs are done at that time or immediately when they are reported.

The district also uses a pictorial inventory of each play area. This includes all playground equipment used at the site.

In addition, a special checklist for regularly scheduled maintenance was created. Reports indicate the name, time and date each piece of play equipment is inspected and repaired.

Judith L. Zopp, director of facility management, says an added safety feature is the district's policy to rely on a professional for equipment layout. This is especially important if a piece is being replaced. This helps insure that the distances between and among the pieces are at maximum safety level.

Equipment designs reflect safety concerns

GameTime's "S" hook (above) was developed for swing chains. It also has a cut-resistant cable belt-seat (below). (Photos courtesy of GameTime)

Editor's Note: The product(s) listed in this section are not endorsed by the IPR magazine. They are presented soley for the general information of our readership.

GameTime continually develops new products and product improvements that can add to youngsters' play experiences while reducing injury potential on the playground.

All of GameTime's whirls, for example, are equipped with hydraulic or mechanical speed limiting braking devices. These are designed for suitability to specific whirls. All brakes are fully enclosed and concealed in the whirl bases.

GameTime has also developed an "S" hook for swing chains which eliminates the point-to-point contact in closing. Its cut-resistant cable belt seats are designed to minimize the effects of vandalism. If the belt seat is cut, the cables will hold and the seat will not break. The company has also developed Steeltron swing ropes to eliminate pinching and chain-wearing problems.

GameTime's list of new products includes several climbers for upper body development, pre-school equipment for toddlers and a new spiral slide, SlideTime, constructed of Lexan.

GameTimes whirls have hydraulic or mechanical speed limiting braking devices.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 January/February 1986