StrongFoundations_ES_v2

STRONG

FOUNDATIONS

®

Planning, Purchasing, & Protecting Play and Recreational Surfacing™

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Building communities through play & recreation™

Increase play and recreational value with dynamic surfacing choices Play and recreation environments are a critical component of healthy families and communities and the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of children. It is essential that children and families are provided with opportunities to engage in meaningful play and recreation experiences that enrich their lives and create lifelong memories. Providing users with compliant environments will allow them to be as physically active as possible while growing healthy and strong, and in turn positively affect families and communities.

While much attention is given to the selection of equipment to encourage active behavior, the surfacing component is generally regarded for its safety enhancements alone, but not as a dynamic component that adds enjoyment to the space. In actuality, surfacing offers a number of ways to infuse play and recreation value into the overall design of the environment. It can provide multisensory features, provide visual appeal, promote engagement, and encourage creativity and imagination, while amplifying playful learning, physical activity, and socialization.

Playground, fitness, and outdoor recreation equipment is often selected based on perceived entertainment value, innovation, and developmentally appropriate activities. The same criteria should be taken into consideration regarding surfacing options and features that can be strategically included to increase the overall play value and increase the user experiences of any outdoor environment.

SURFACING ENVIRONMENTS •

Play areas

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Outdoor fitness settings

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Water play areas and fountains

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Dog parks

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Landscapes and gardens

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Trails and pathways

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Picnic areas

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Multiuse recreation spaces

Depending on the form and function of your play or recreational area, there are a number of choices you can make in regard to surfacing. The budget, the amount of use the playground or recreational area gets, your ability to maintain the surface, and other factors will help facilitate playground and recreational area surfacing selections.

Choosing surfacing that enhances the outdoor recreation experience Surfacing should meet appropriate guidelines, be readily available in your area, and meet requirements for durability, drainage, and accessibility. Consider climate, maintenance cost, and other variables before choosing. Your supplier can help decide what is most appropriate for each condition.

Surfacing options are generally divided into two categories: loose-fill and unitary. These options can be combined in a variety of ways or used alone to create excitement through: •

Color options to provide visual cues, organization, games, or patterns

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Texture and design to promote sensory-rich experiences

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Loose parts play opportunities to support spontaneous and imaginative games

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Theming to promote identifying factors, imagination, and encourage physical activity

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Games and activities to enhance sportsmanship, rule adherence, and encourage physical activity

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Hills & mounds to provide points of view, physical activity, and change of topography

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Fitness-based activities like dot drills, agility ladders, and sprint measurements to encourage greater participation and movement

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Accessible routes of travel to create interesting experiences and foster increased connectivity

Surfacing is successful when an appropriate roadmap to plan, purchase, and protect the investment is observed.

PLANNING

PURCHASING

PROTECTING

When planning an environment’s

Once the budget, goals of the project,

Protecting the surface begins with

surfacing, be proactive and carefully

and the overall scope have been

ensuring that all of the correct steps are

consider the specific site needs, goals,

determined, it is important to take into

taken during installation in regard to

and vision. It’s always a good idea to

account some key considerations to

drainage, slope, thickness, and

meet with the local community to get

support the purchasing process of

installation procedure. To make sure the

ideas on how they would use the space.

surfacing. There are a variety of ways to

new surface will last, proper installation

Once these options have been explored,

evaluate potential vendors and

and maintenance are necessary.

a vendor can help by presenting options

establish selection criteria that will help

Maintenance and repairs may vary

to help narrow the selection, create a

ensure quality product, a high-quality

depending on the type of surfacing, its

budget, raise funds for execution, and

project, and a trusted and reliable

usage, the environment, and other

utilize marketing to help promote the

supplier partner.

circumstances. In some cases, repairs

project and processes along the way.

may be needed to extend the life and performance of the surface.

STRONG

FOUNDATIONS

®

Planning, Purchasing, & Protecting Play and Recreational Surfacing ™

Choosing an appropriate playground surfacing is one of the most important factors in developing a safe outdoor play and recreational environment. This useful resource was created to raise awareness about some considerations to make when planning, purchasing, and protecting a play and/or recreational surfacing investment. The book includes: •

History of play and recretional surfacing

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Standards and criteria

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Enhancing the user experience

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Surfacing applications, types, and accessories

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Planning, purchasing, and protecting your investment

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Sample inspection checklists

Case examples are highlighted to provide a comprehensive overview on the features and benefits of the variety of types of safety surfaces available, and share success stories across a wide variety of installation and STRONG location types.

FOUNDATIONS ®

Planning, Purchasing, & Protecting Play and Recreational Surfacing™

Join the movement and learn the true value of surfacing, and the many ways it can help enhance a play and recreational environment.

Building communities through play & recreation™

To request the full resource, visit playcore.com/strong-foundations

For more information on building communities through play & recreation: playcore.com

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(877) 765-7563