Play Support: What's in your park?

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SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 3

Contents

Play and Playground Magazine | Volume 16 No. 1 | Spring 2016

8

Features

Planning Outdoor Spaces to Support Playgrounds in Parks

8

By Stephanie Devine

Music Parks Rock!

12

By Christy Cooke and Lisa Byrne

Dog Parks

16

Building Positive Connections in Your Community

By Nora VandenBerghe

Courtesy of UltaSite™

20

12

Outdoor Fitness Spaces

The Growing Trend in Exercise to Fit Every Body

By Anne-Marie Spencer

24

Prefabricated Restroom Facilities Leading the Way

By Hector Garcia

26

Designing a Play Space for Everyone

By Tony Malkusak

28

The Natural Conundrum

By Jay Beckwith

32

Learn About Your Playground Amenities

By Butch DeFillippo and Nick Fazio

Courtesy of Freenotes Harmony Park

16

Courtesy of Dog-ON-It Parks

38

The Playground as Theater

By Bernard DeKoven

DEPARTMENTS 5 7

CPSI Course Calendar The Play Conference 2016

Cover: Crooked Creek Park – Indian Trail, NC Crooked Creek Park features two GT Playworx treehouses, hollow logs, tree stumps, and climbing rocks replicating nature’s beauty right here on the playground. This park is the perfect place to enjoy the day in the great outdoors.

Children and adults will enjoy fun new products from GameTime including the Zip Line and the Expression Swing. There are lots of play activities for the entire family to enjoy. Other items include saucer swing, fallen tree climber, net climbers, slides, swings and pavilion area for picnicking.

4 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2016

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CPSI Course

Calendar March 22-24

St. Charles, MO

(573) 636-3828

29-31

Winter Park, FL

(850) 878-3221

29-31

Tacoma, WA

(888) 459.0009

5-7

East Hartford, CT

(860) 721-0384

11-13

Las Vegas, NV

(702) 267-4140

13-15

Maplewood, NJ

(609) 356-0480

13-15

Newport News, VA

(804) 730-9447

19-21

Lombard, IL

(708) 588-2287

20-22

Troy, MI

(517) 485-9888

April

T H I N K I N G T O DAY

May

A B O U T T O M O R R O W ’S P L AY ™

Magazine

2-4

Carmel, IN

(317) 573-4035

3-5

Cranberry Township

(814) 234-5276

4-6

Anchorage, AK

(907) 459-1275

4-6

New Brighton, MN

(763) 571-1305

9-11

Worcester, MA

(413) 568-8356

18-20

Boynton Beach, FL

(850) 878-3221

June 6-8

Palo Alto, CA

(916) 665-2777

8-10

Hillsboro, OR

(503) 867-8447

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Get Social With PGP Get the latest updates about today's current play and playground news and views.

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 5

Tate Schuldies Publisher…

Magazine Publisher Tate Schuldies

Editor Amy Henderson

Advertising Director Tate Schuldies

Design Jake Amen

Accounting Ron Walker Webmaster Jake Amen

Contributing Authors Jay Beckwith Lisa Byrne Christy Cooke Butch DeFillippo Stephanie Devine Nick Fazio

Spring fever… …is setting in and it is time to play! As the days get longer and warmer we can’t help ourselves for wanting to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather. The parks and playgrounds are like flowers that bloom in the spring, they come to life and everyone wants to enjoy them. When we say everyone we mean everyone. This is why we want to kick off the year with PLAY SUPPORT, which includes everything from playgrounds to site amenities and dog parks to outdoor fitness. Creating play support systems allows everyone, including the dog, to enjoy the outdoors.

With play support on our minds, my partner Photo courtesy of and I are excited to join in the adventure as the new Dog-ON-It Parks owners of Playground Professionals. With big shoes to fill, Jake Amen and I are looking forward to taking Playground Professionals to new heights, while continuing the excellence that proceeded us. Jake has a degree and extensive background in design, layout, and web development and brings with him 15 years of experience in the play and playground industry. I have 15 years of military service, a degree in marketing and management, and a great passion for the play and playground industry. We are committed and looking forward to working with those in the industry and want to help promote and advocate for play support.

We are excited to be attending the 2016 US Play Coalition Convention in Clemson, South Carolina April 3-6, showing our support for the play movement.

I hope to see you there!

Hector Garcia Tony Malkusak Anne-Marie Spencer Nora VandenBerghe

Copyright, 2016 published by Playground Professionals, LLC, 4 issues per year, sub rates, back copies, foreign, reproduction prohibitions, all rights reserved, not responsible for content of ads and submitted materials, mail permits.

Discover what Play Support is all about…

From dog parks to playgrounds and all the amenities in between. Discover the power of play with music parks and by allowing those with all types of abilities the opportunity to participate. Brush up on your skills on how to plan, build, and maintain your parks and equipment. Whether you are turning your wide open areas into usable play spaces or adding prefab buildings to your already existing parks, read up on what current experts in this field have to say. Learn how to use the outdoors to your advantage when it comes to your health, fitness, and time.

Playground Professionals facilitates those who wish to share their ideas and those who wish to be inspired.

CORPORATE OFFICE Playground Professionals LLC P.O. Box 192 Saint Anthony, Idaho 83445

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6 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2016

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THE US PLAY COALITION invites YOU to attend The Play Conference 2016: Rebooting Play, April 3-6 at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina.

The latest research and practices in the field of play are presented at this annual conference which brings together leading play researchers, park and recreation professionals, educators, health scientists, landscape architects, business and community leaders, psychologists, physicians and parents from across the country and beyond.

We have some incredible headliners for The Play Conference 2016: Rebooting Play. Lenore Skenazy and Rue Mapp will be our 2016 Keynote Speakers. Lenore is founder of Free-Range Kids and Rue is founder of Outdoor Afro.

Lenore Skenazy

Rue Mapp

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PLAYtalks are our version of TED Talks. They are a series of 15-20 minute dynamic, entertaining, enlightening, engaging, inspiring, informative talks by thought leaders in the play world.

Our first-ever PLAYtalk presenters are impressive: renowned psychologist Peter Gray; Jean Margaret Smith, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Administration for Nickelodeon Group; and young filmmaker Justin Bogardus whose viral video Nature Rx has shown millions why we all need to ask our doctor to prescribe Nature.

Featured speakers recently announced:

Deborah Rhea, Ed.D., is a professor at Texas Christian University.

Her work with the Liink Project to increase recess in schools has recently been featured on NPR, The Today Show and NBC Nightly News. She will share the successes she has seen when PLAY is increased at school!

David Gould is the University of Iowa’s first Obermann Center Public Scholar. He recently worked

on the Downtown Project with Zappos. com CEO Tony Hsieh transforming Downtown Las Vegas into the most community-focused large city in the world. He will speak on "Play, Passion, and Purpose: A New Arc for Education."

Lisa Bailey-Davis is Associate Director for Maternal and Pediatric Research at the Geisinger Obesity Institute, Geisinger Health System. Her presentation will explore why PLAY trumps precision medicine.

A panel of PLAY experts - Joan Almon (Alliance for Childhood), Morgan Leichter-Saxby (Pop-Up Adventure Play), and Janice O'Donnell (PlayCorps Director) - will examine the nature of loose parts, the role of playworkers, approaches to training, and ways to bring these new ventures into diverse communities.

Robert D. Johnson is CEO of Interactive Communications, Inc. He brings play to the corporate world with his Bcube experience - a tool he uses to facilitate learning how to make play and collaboration tangible tools for accelerating learning, business performance and resilience.

Pat Rumbaugh, The Play Lady, is on a mission to encourage people to go out and play. She is the co-founder of Let’s Play America, a nonprofit that helps people of all ages create playful events in their communities. Pat will share her talk, "Help Change the World, Invite Your Community to Play."

As well as a sneak peek of an awardwinning new documentary called NaturePlay.

All this…plus more featured speakers, round tables, fireside chats & coffee talks, networking and collaboration opportunities, and, of course, PLAY make for an EPIC conference not to be missed!

Register TODAY!

https://secure.touchnet.net/C20569_ ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=8&CA TID=21&SINGLESTORE=true

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 7

Planning Outdoor Spaces to Support Playgrounds in Parks

by Stephanie Devine

ON THE WAY HOME from a long day at the office, you are driving past the local park like usual, but now a shiny new playground catches your eye. You quickly look in the rearview mirror and glance at your 5 and 2 year olds to see if they have also spotted it. Before you can step on the gas (I mean, you have dinner to prepare, bills to pay, dogs to walk, and you need to work out – you don’t have time for this)…your 5 year old sees the majestic site immediately and begs incessantly to, “Stop for 2 minutes!!” Feeling guilty about the amount of hours spent at work, you

say a few select words under your breath (remember your New Year’s Resolution to relax a little?) and you begrudgingly turn on the blinker and head to the “sparkly bundle of fun”. You stand impatiently on the outside of the colorful action-packed assortment of climbers and slides tapping your foot while trying to read emails on your phone and keeping one eye on the kids…

This story is the same across the country, no matter the state, region, or your occupation. What truly creates a destination at a park? A playground is a

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huge start, but what else do you need?

There are so many things to consider when planning and designing a recreation space, and when done correctly, you can significantly expand park usage. What resources and tools can bring in more patrons, make it more comfortable for all users, and create a space for true recreation and relaxation? To answer these questions, think beyond the playground.

Site Amenities

Probably the easiest idea that comes to mind while planning complimentary www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

amenities to a playground are the run of the mill site amenities. This includes strategically spaced picnic tables and benches throughout the park. Some should be located near the playground for families to sit, eat, and play all in one place. There is also a need to consider people without children that may not want to be right in the mix of things. Tables and benches located off the beaten path, in the shade, or under a tree offer comfort and solitude that some patrons will be thankful for.

One thing that should go without saying is to make sure at least a portion of your tables are ADA accessible. An ADA accessible table means that one or both sides of the table have extended lips to accommodate a person who is in a mobility device. There are even some larger ADA tables that are 10’ or 12’ long that have openings on the sides in the center that accommodate these devices. This truly allows everyone to be included and feel part of the space. The want is for people to be comfortable, at ease, and to feel like they fit in. Remember to create paths of travel to and from these amenities so that they are truly accessible.

Don’t forget trash receptacles! This is not a place to cut a budget. Make sure to provide ample receptacles throughout the park so litter ends up where it belongs, not scattered on the park’s grounds.

These should be included generously around playgrounds, and also near picnic areas where people may need to dispose of trash. Providing trash receptacles by the entrance of the park and by parking lots allows patrons to dispose of trash appropriately upon exiting the park. A way to stay on trend and be environmentally friendly is to also provide recycling receptacles. There are a plethora of options available from one receptacle that is labeled with the recycling logo that can accept all things recycled, to the more specific receptacles, which typically consist of three together and have labels for Aluminum, Paper, and Glass. Providing recycling options for the patrons allow for the opportunity to do right by the environment. Also, it seems that kids are more prone to recycle than their parents so this allows them to teach their parents to think green!

Depending on the budget, choose from coated steel amenities in a wide variety of colors, wood, or recycled plastic to compliment the landscape. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

Photo courtesy of Dog-ON-It Parks

Shelter

Another part of the design that is rising in popularity is the shelter. Steel shelters or pavilions have always been a park staple, but now they are becoming revenue generators through the park’s ability to rent them out for birthday parties or family reunions. Not only do they provide shelter from the unexpected rainstorm, but they provide very important protection from the sun’s rays and allow park goers to get out of the direct heat of the sun. Fabric shelters or shades are popping up more and more in the park scene, most importantly over the playground or outdoor fitness parks. The shade structure’s posts go on the outside of the play use zone and the fabric can come in an array of colors or shapes to provide sun protection. Look for shades or shelters manufactured in an AISC certified facility which ensures quality systems.

Dog Parks

Who can think of a park these days that doesn’t have a dog park? Within the last five years dog parks have increased in

popularity twofold. We now know that more people have dogs than children and they are treated equally in many homes.

An unleashed dog park can range from a large open space contained by a fence, to a more elaborate set-up. These include not only an unleashed area for large dogs, but also an area specifically built for the smaller breeds as well (typically under 35 pounds).

Not only are these two groups separated, but there are often specific agility obstacles contained within these areas.

Things such as hurdles, teeter-totters, A-frame climbers, and tunnels can be found sprinkled around the space, all providing energy-burning workout sessions for Fido. Within the dog parks themselves, you should also plan on places for patrons to sit, throw away trash, and pick up pet waste to deposit in receptacles (which typically come with their own doggie-waste bags), as well as water fountains. Many water fountains are dual purpose and have “human” and “man's best friend” bowls. A great tool for planning these areas is PlayCore’s Unleashed:

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 9

Off-Leash Dog Park Design Trends and Planning Tips. Request a free copy by visiting http://www.playcore.com/Unleasheddog-park-design.html.

Outdoor Fitness

While at the park so the children and dog can burn off some energy, what about you? Outdoor fitness equipment is nothing new, but it is making headlines with new, innovative designs that include movement, modern exercises, and complimentary color schemes. Look for pieces that cover areas of aerobic, core/balance, and flexibility and muscle strength.

Incorporating pieces across this spectrum allows someone to come to the park and get a fully-rounded workout. While still being able to find your standard chin-up bar, now pieces that you usually see in the

gym like Ellipticals, Plyometric Boxes, Recumbent Bikes are popping up. These products were specifically designed to withstand the elements and to be used outdoors. Outdoor fitness products can be placed along a path or trail to allow walkers or runners to pause periodically along their route, or cluster the fitness pieces together to create a fitness park in one area. Another popular trend is placing three or four pieces on the outside perimeter of a playground’s use zone, so a parent can exercise while they supervise!

Healthy choices and active lifestyles are contributing to people living longer.

Companies have developed outdoor fitness equipment specifically for the active, aging adult as well. These products aim to help maintain an active quality of life and focus on balance and flexibility.

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When planning and designing a fitness space, consider the wide age range of users (most are for ages 13 and up) and offer pieces for a wide variety of abilities.

A great tool for planning these areas is PlayCore’s Outdoor Adult Fitness Parks: Best Practices for Promoting Community Health by Increasing Physical Activity.

Request a free copy by visiting http://fitness.playcore.com/adult-fitness-request.

When designing and planning a recreation space, consider all users; people with or without children, young and old, those with a disability, and people with pets.

The park should have accessible pathways to the playgrounds, shelters, dog parks, and fitness areas. Accessible tables, fountains, and fitness equipment are all available through a multitude of vendors.

Now while driving home after a long day at the office, you excitedly turn on the blinker, get in some exercise while the kids burn off some energy, eat a healthy dinner that was packed the night before, pay your bills on the perfectly situated picnic table, have the dog run at the dog park, and just breathe.

STEPHANIE DEVINE Stephanie is theVice President of Sales and Marketing at UltraSite™, a PlayCore Company.

www.ultra-site.com www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

INSPIRED BY NATURE, without trying to copy it.

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WATCH THE VIDEO & DOWNLOAD CAD FILES : PlayworldSystems.com/Branch-Out

Music Parks Rock!

by Christy Cooke and Lisa Byrne WHAT IS A MUSIC PARK and why do they rock? Musical parks and playgrounds are a new trend in musical expression, and they are beginning to take off. Several companies create outdoor musical instruments that are durable, sustainable, play real music, and can withstand the elements allowing them to be installed outside in parks, playgrounds and public spaces. Some companies have even cre-

ated their outdoor musical instruments with no wrong notes, allowing anyone to become an “instant expert� in making music! Think for a moment about Nature and how it constantly produces peaceful sounds; from bird and cricket songs to the rippling of a creek. As you think of these sounds you can feel yourself beginning to relax and breathe a little more deeply.

What if you could co-create a symphony

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"I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning."

Plato

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with the birds, the wind and the water?

How would it make you feel? Playing music outdoors in a natural setting is an exhilarating experience people do not forget. With music parks on the rise, we can create and listen to the serene sounds of outdoor musical instruments while combatting Nature Deficit Disorder (human beings, especially children, are spending less time outdoors resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems). Now that you know that music parks exist, let’s talk about why they rock.

Music is a global, artistic language that creates community connection and a sense of belonging. Some studies suggest that music is older than language, and that speech may have even evolved from music. The primal power of music evokes emotions, memories and images, taking the participant on a magical journey.

Listening to music can reduce stress, elevate your mood, improve sleep, and help you eat less! While listening to music is healthful and fun, playing music is even more beneficial. Since playing music encompasses listening, here are some of the added benefits a player receives: • Playing music can increase the capacity of your memory, refine time management and organizational skills, and teach perseverance. Interacting with musical instruments tends to increase responsibility and discipline as well as creating a sense of achievement.

• Music is remarkable and affects our brain in many positive ways. It also helps to build reasoning skills and cognitive development. Research shows that children who are actively

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involved in music (meaning they regularly play or sing): * Are more successful at reading. * Learn goal-setting, concentration, cooperation and coordination. * Increase their test scores and are more likely to do better in math and science. * Have higher self-esteem, are more likely to go to college and get along better with their peers.

Wow! That is a huge list of benefits to reap from doing something so fun! In addition, playing music actually promotes happiness in your life and in the lives of those around you. So who wouldn’t want to play music?

Most, if not everyone, wants to be a musician. The fact is, we all are musicians. Everyone is musical and can create powerful music and sounds that empower and inspire us to reveal our true creative self. Some people claim they do not have rhythm, but that simply is not true. We each embody incredible rhythms inside of us: our heartbeat, respirations, the flow of blood throughout our bodies, the vibrations of our breath, and vocal frequencies.

In actuality, we are walking, talking musical instruments.

Providing public access to real musical instruments satisfies our human needs for connection to others and expression of our innate creativity.

Playing music with others fosters deep listening, respect for ourselves and others as well as the instruments, a sense of belonging and a bond. As we co-create music we grasp a sense of joy, our focus and social engagement align without effort.

Humans are both creative and collaborative in nature so allowing everyone a chance to play music will result in a happier, more creative society that strengthens our capacity to build community.

With music programs continuing to be cut in our schools, we have a responsibility to find ways to enrich the lives of children and adults alike. By creating a culture where musical parks and musical playgrounds are universally created and sought out, rather than an exception, we cultivate opportunities for the whole community to engage, play and succeed.

Freenotes Harmony Park, an industry leader in outdoor musical instruments, is allowing everyone to play music by creating a global musical park movement.

Strike any note and pure tone fills the air creating an instantaneous response of

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 13

joy. Making music is joyful and by way of their unique tuning, Freenotes make musical expression accessible to everyone.

The instant gratification and total success that is achieved from the very first note builds self-confidence that spills over into many other areas of life. As an alternative form of playground play, musical play encourages creative self-expression and an active participation in life.

Musical play is multigenerational.

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Children, parents, and grandparents can all interact by playing music together.

Children have a sense of wonderment and creating music allows them to use their imagination while creating patterns that produce sounds and musical notes.

Parents and grandparents get to have fun with the kids, while reconnecting with their inner child and making a wonderful bonding experience for all.

Creating parks that contain real musical instruments that are easy to play offers creative fun for beginners and experts alike. Outdoor musical instruments enhance public spaces and become socially interactive sound sculptures that capture the imagination. Are these Soundscapes the key to bringing music back into the lives of children and adults alike which encourage outdoor play for all?

With the continued downturn of music and arts programs, we need to take a moment to remember that many, if not all, indigenous cultures value music and group participation in that music. Music making is a communal activity that is not placed on a pedestal for a select few but considered an open and essential activity for all to enjoy. It is a cultural paradigm

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that has been lost but not forgotten. We have an opportunity to instill in the members of our society the joy of playing, listening and co-creating music by creating musical parks in every community.

With outdoor musical instruments, creating beautiful music is not reserved for highly trained musicians – it's available to all. Musical parks open an avenue for untrained musicians to make music because there are no wrong notes, only pure, soothing sounds. Creating repeated patterns of melody, harmony, and rhythm open the door to exploring and interacting with music. This exploration is invaluable to the player as both a musician and a person. It inspires a sense of freedom and nurtures personal and professional growth.

Musical parks are environments that ensure inclusivity; they are useable by all, accommodating an increasingly diverse culture that includes those who are differently-abled as well as an aging population.

“The joy of creating music is so strong,” said Richard Cooke (Inventor and Chief in Artistry) at Freenotes Harmony Park, “I believe if most people could have that ability themselves, their lives and society itself, could be changed for the better. Freenotes are designed for everyone, including anyone who believes they can’t play music. With Freenotes everyone can play.”

Build Community Enhance Communication Music Parks Rock!

Express Your creativity

Have fun, No amps required Everyone Can play!

FreenotesHarmonyPark.Com | 970.375.7825

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Christy Cooke (Owner) and Lisa Byrne (Product Awareness Manager) of Freenotes Harmony Park both have a strong passion for music education, improvisational music and the outdoors.

They agree that it is essential for people to express their innate creativity and with Freenotes this is immediately possible.

They can be reached at 970.375.7825

www.FreenotesHarmonyPark.com www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

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SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 15

by Nora VandenBerghe

s k r a P g Do

in Your Community s n o i t c e n e Con v i t i s ng Po i d l i Bu LIKE MANY creative endeavors, the first dog park came about as a social experiment. Less surprising may be the location of that inaugural park in Berkeley, California. Yes, the same free-spirited, progressive city well-known for the hippie movement of the 60s had a decidedly petfriendly point of view. The Ohlone Dog Park opened in 1979 and since then has elicited one of the most popular forms of recreation in a parks system. According to a study by The Trust for Public Land, dog parks are growing faster than any other park category across the US, seeing an annual growth of 30% compared to 3% for traditional parks. There are now over 500 off-leash areas in the largest US cities alone, and dogs are welcome in nearly three quarters of the most visited parks in America (including Central Park in New York, Boston Common in Massachusetts, and Venice Beach in California).

So what makes dog parks unique to account for such rapid growth? Several reasons. They provide multi-generational recreation, they’re cost effective, and lastly, there are five million more households in the US with dogs than with children.

Let’s break down some of the misconceptions about dog parks.

“Why should we have a dog park in our community? Dogs don’t vote or pay taxes!”

Some people think dog parks are just for dogs. Sure, they are to a certain extent, but dog parks are really parks for people and their pets. And even though dogs aren’t eligible to vote, their guardians are.

In Meridian, Idaho a recent community survey showed that approximately 45% of households had at least one dog and nearly 35% had more than one dog.

Without a dedicated off-leash park, Meridian was missing an important amenity for that population, and fortunately a dedicated group of citizens formed committees to advocate for a park, and their voices were heard. The mayor made a community promise that a dog park would be built, and she honored that promise in August of 2015.

Within a few short months of opening its gates, the Story Bark Park was presented with the annual Idaho Recreation and Parks Association Outstanding Facility & Parks award. Not only was this the first dog park in Idaho to receive this award, the criteria included considerations such

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as: Maintenance/Operation, Visibility & Appearance, Innovative Design and/or Equipment, and several other categories all of which also covered a variety of parks and recreation facilities. Receiving this award was not only meaningful for the city, but it was also a testament to the value dog parks add to a community.

Outside of the fact that dog parks provide recreation, there is also a social aspect of off-leash areas that contributes to their popularity. Shelley Houston with the City of Meridian reports the dog park has, “already improved the quality of life for Meridian residents, as it provides opportunities to foster positive social interactions.” Because dogs are natural ice breakers; they can help to spark a conversation that might otherwise not happen.

Discussing the breed of their dogs, temperaments, and funny quirks are all topics you might overhear during a visit to a local park, not unlike parents discussing their children playing on the playground.

For people new to a community, a dog park can provide a much needed sense of belonging and stability. This is where creative programming can make all the difference. In Marilynn Glasser’s book, Dog Park Design, Operation and Development, she

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states she has personally heard recreation professionals say: “If dog-oriented program opportunities are offered, they will come.”

It meaning that people will gladly, almost eagerly, register for those events, and show up looking forward to a fun experience with their pets. So, whether a seasonal party such as Howl-O-Ween, a Yappy Hour to welcome new park users, or even a fundraiser to support a local humane society or rescue, dog parks can be used for much more than off-leash playtime.

One important factor that sets dog parks apart from other forms of recreation is that the parks are used nearly year round. Shelly Houston noted, “Of the approximately 20 parks in Meridian, the Storey Bark Park certainly sees the most wintertime usage”. This is not unusual.

Whereas children’s playgrounds typically have the most use in sunnier weather conditions, you’ll see dog parks being enjoyed regardless of the rain, sleet, snow, or other conditions Mother Nature has provided.

“Dog parks are expensive!”

Can a dog park be part of a million dollar project? Of course, but most communities find they are able to develop a secure off-leash play area with agility equipment for significantly less. A recent article in the Washington Post noted that several traditional parks in the DC area cost an average of over 1 million dollars to build. Why? Children’s playgrounds have www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

changed significantly over the past 20 years. Whereas a slide or swing set used to be acceptable, there are higher expectations now and modern playgrounds may feature sculptures, climbing nets, splash pads, bridges, and more. With the typical costs for a small community playground ranging from $40 to $100k or more including curbing, surfacing and installation, dog parks provide a unique opportunity for adult and family recreation at roughly half the cost. In addition, playgrounds typically provide recreation for only 2 to 12 year old users, whereas a dog park can offer economical year-round outdoor exercise for users from 16 to 80 years old, and beyond.

One distinguishing feature of dog parks is the amount of community support they can generate. With limited park budgets, off-leash organizations often coordinate to help fundraise and facilitate either building the park itself or outfitting it. The Rebecca Weitsman Memorial Park in Owego, N.Y. is a good example. A close partnership between ODOG, the Owego Dog Owners Group, the town and a generous benefactor was formed and after five years of careful planning - and a few setbacks, the park opened in September of 2015 to much enthusiasm. Steve Paul of ODOG reflects on the success of the park and mentions, “At the outset, you need to crystallize – and capture in writing – the specific

functional requirements and conceptual design for what you seek to achieve. If you hope to build something more than a fence in a field, it needs to be spelled out in detail so that all interested parties share a common understanding of the essential features.”

With this particular agreement, ownership of the park lies with the town of Owego, which is responsible for mowing the grass within the perimeter of the fence, while overall management and the bulk of maintenance falls to ODOG. The organization has a comprehensive system in place to manage park crews, who are on hand during peak hours to answer questions, replenish supplies and take care of general housekeeping duties. Those duties include patrolling areas for waste and/or debris, inspections of equipment and fencing, and other responsibilities helping to ensure the park is safe and enjoyable for all.

Some of the essential features include agility components, separate large and small dog areas, a custom dog house that also functions as a storage shed and information kiosk. During ODOG’s presentation to the town, the group noted, “A feature that will make this park truly special is the dedicated area in which dog agility equipment will be installed for obedience, control and skills training, and the agility gym will set this park apart from all others as a 5 star facility.”

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 17

“Dog Parks are Smelly and Dangerous!”

There are different perspectives regarding the overall safety of dog parks. Some folks think they are inherently unsafe due to concerns about dangerous dogs, management of park users, communicable diseases, the environmental impact, and liability. These fears can be alleviated through education and proper planning both with the park user and the municipality. Most responsible dog guardians will educate themselves on canine behavior and decide if their pet(s) have the right temperament for the social aspect that dog parks provide and will also ensure their dogs have the proper vaccinations the park may require.

Programming such as offering a free class with a local trainer on a topic like, ‘Is My Dog Right for the Dog Park?’ could be valuable. An easy way to encourage park safety is through pet registrations and the required use of a tag or license to enter the park. In order for park users to receive the tag, they agree to provide vaccination certificates, as well as, agree to terms of use which may include rules excluding young children, breed restrictions, food and beverage restrictions, and more. Standard dog park rules vary from city to city, and many of them can be easily found online.

Another option, utilized by ODOG, is an Accident and Information form.

Though scuffles are few and far between, a simple document allowing people to

quickly share contact information can help make a stressful situation a little easier to manage. These forms can also help to track certain behaviors, park conditions, and other contributing factors.

One of the biggest complaints about dog parks is pet waste, which often times can be a deal breaker for neighboring homes and worried residents. Proper surfacing and irrigation are both effective ways to combat this perceived issue.

Decomposed granite, although affordable at the outset, compacts quickly and becomes quite fragrant – especially in warmer climates. Grass is always a viable choice if regular watering and maintenance is feasible; if not, engineered wood fiber from companies such as Fibar™ offers ADA accessibility and unlike regular mulch, is much more comfortable for dogs’ paws as the wood shreds are smaller than traditional mulch and less likely to become wedged between the pads of the foot. Another perk is that it is also certified non-toxic (for those dogs who experience the world by tasting anything and everything that looks interesting).

It may seem counterintuitive, but dog parks actually help to control pet waste.

As communities become more populated with both dogs and people, dog parks help facilitate responsible pet ownership by providing a dedicated area where canines are welcome, thus helping to prevent waste from impacting other areas such as community ballfields.

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“We don’t have room for dog parks or pet-friendly recreation.”

Urban sprawl, a park’s worst enemy.

Often cities with the least amount of available space need it the most, such as a pet-friendly city like Seattle. The Seattle Animal Shelter recently stated that there are approximately 150,000 dogs in city limits. However, there are only 14 official dog parks to be found within the over 400 traditional parks and open space according to the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. Those dedicated dog parks comprise less than one percent of the entire parks system. The city understands how important pets are to its residents and recently completed a study as to how they can meet the needs for more petfriendly recreation including the development of a long term plan. The plan states, “The Off-leash Area (OLA) Strategic Plan will be a long term plan which will guide the operations of existing OLAs, explore alternative service models and create a strategy for the potential acquisition and development of future OLAs. It will also provide direction on how to spend Park District funding designated for OLAs in ‘2.5 Improve Dog Off-Leash Areas’ funding initiative described in the six year Park District spending plan (2015-2020).”

In the meantime, the city of Seattle has found creative ways to repurpose land that would otherwise go unused. The I-5 Colonnade park which utilizes a parcel under the freeway is a good example. The www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

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perks? It’s covered from the elements so it provides all-weather recreation, offers over an acre of open space and because parks (and dogs for that matter) can help to deter crime, it may actually be a safer place than it was previously. Other communities are successfully repurposing underutilized park spaces, such as tennis courts, taking advantage of existing fencing to create almost instant low-cost dog park.

So what does the future of dog parks look like? Based on current trends that include more dog agility equipment, water features, shade shelters, furniture, and other user amenities; dog parks are becoming much more than just a fencedin area. With the help of community members and off-leash organizations, parks departments can count on assistance to offset the cost of building these popular parks and help to provide recreation for users both two and four-legged.

YOUR SOURCE FOR PET-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS DOG PARK AGILITY EQUIPMENT SHADE SHELTERS SITE FURNISHINGS DRINKING FOUNTAINS PICK-UP BAG DISPENSERS SURFACING SOLUTIONS

NORA VANDENBERGHE Pet owner, dog lover, and dog park specialist at Dog-ON-It Parks.

www.dog-on-it-parks.com www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

1 877 348 3647 dog-on-it-parks.com SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 19

Outdoor Fitness Spaces The Growing Trend in Exercise to Fit Every Body

By Anne-Marie Spencer

FITNESS TRENDS seem to pop up faster than toast, every day it seems we get bombarded with messages about the latest ‘get fit now’ ideas. The question is, which ones are here to stay, and which are simply fads? To answer that, it's important to look at the overall benefits, adherence, and adaptability, because if a fitness initiative cannot be adapted into our day to day lives, there is little evidence that it will be beneficial over a lifetime.

It's no secret that we face a health crisis in America today. The American Heart Association states that more than one third of adults are obese,1 and estimates the cost of preventative health consequences due to obesity amounts to $254 billion per year in lost productivity and direct medical costs. If obesity continues on its current track, the total annual healthcare costs attributed to obesity could reach $957 billion by 2030, which would account for almost 20% of all health expenditures in the United States.2 Obesity has surpassed smoking as a health risk and has now adversely affected more people than alcoholism or poverty. It is linked to large increases in chronic medical conditions and significantly ever rising financial health expenditures. So what are some of the newest fitness trends that people really are embracing?

Trainers are incorporating gym equipment in Outdoor Fitness park classes to offer a rich workout experience

When it comes to finding exciting ways to get some exercise, think outside the box - or just outside. With most of us spending our working, sleeping, and eating hours inside, it seems like exercise time is the perfect time to get some fresh air. Interestingly, studies show that working out in the great outdoors may be more beneficial than we realize. According to several reports cited in Outdoor Adult

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Fitness Parks, Best Practices for Promoting Community Health by Increasing Physical Activity, people who exercise outside tend to repeat the behavior, and work out longer than indoor exercisers. Additionally, outdoor exercise helps improve mental wellbeing and physiological health, provides a greater feeling of revitalization and positive enjoyment, and decreases tension, confusion, anger, and depression. Add to that the www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

access to green environments, the benefits of interacting with nature, and exposure to vitamin D, and it’s easy to see why outdoor exercise is increasingly popular.3 Parks and public spaces are embracing and growing the trend in a big way by creating outdoor spaces for adults to exercise, and there is mounting evidence that providing these spaces can improve health.4 Outdoor fitness spaces do not require gym memberships, can encourage communication and camaraderie between users, and are easily accessed when and where people need them. They can be challenging in some respects, as there is usually much less equipment than in an indoor gym, and sometimes the environment isn’t planned to offer a well rounded workout. In order to develop overall fitness, an environment needs to offer opportunities to promote aerobic activity, muscle development, core development, and balance/flexibility. The latter, which is one of the greatest concerns for aging people, is often the most overlooked in an outdoor gym, while upper body development may be overemphasized to the detriment of other areas of development.

Outdoor fitness parks that feature the equipment spaced along a trail can utilize walking or running between stations as the aerobic element.

In Chattanooga, TN, the city has added several outdoor fitness options to attract a variety of users. In Warner Park, a popular family destination with a zoo, baseball fields, playground, and recreation center, an outdoor adult fitness trail provides

space for adults to exercise. The space is often attended by runners who use the exercise stations in addition to laps on the trail for a full body workout. Across town, another outdoor fitness area called Main Terrain caters to several nearby crossfit boxes, incorporating adult size traverse rings, pull up bars, climbing walls, and pommels into a walking/running trail.

Art installations and plantings ensure that the space is usable by people of all abilities, not just those who want to develop advanced fitness skills. Both Main Terrain and Warner Park's fitness areas are used by the city to train firefighters, who can be found going through the paces in full gear. Ralph Aaron, a fitness trainer with the city stated, "We've eagerly embraced the outdoor trails as a valuable addition to our training arsenal for firefighters, as well as for others." By communities empowering their residents to effectively advocate for outdoor adult fitness spaces, fitness is becoming more readily available to a greater number of people.

It is important to think of all ages when planning recreation spaces so that families are encouraged to spend time together. Family time fosters emotional development in children and promotes the feeling of being connected for all.

Children tend to do what their parents do, so if parents have an active lifestyle, so will their children. For older children and teenagers, exercise is an important part of mental health and can relieve stress and excess energy, while helping teenagers feel they are taking care of their bodies

Evidence Based benefits of Outdoor Exercise � Improved mental well-being and physiological health � Disease prevention � Improved adherence to regular exercise, thereby driving positive health behavior change � Greater feelings of revitalization and positive enjoyment � Decreases in tension, confusion, anger, and depression � Increased energy � Greater satisfaction levels � Greater pleasant affective states, enjoyment, and intention for future participation � Higher level of physical activity in seniors � Access to green environments � Exposure to vitamin D through sunshine

Boot camps are taking to the outdoors to promote health and wellness in fresh air www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 21

Outdoor adult fitness spaces are a fun, social way to make exercise part of a daily routine

in a positive manner. A family-oriented outdoor fitness trend that is taking hold in parks (and schools) is the permanent obstacle course, like the Challenge Course found at Hornet’s Nest Park in Charlotte, NC. Children, teens, and adults can be found competing on the course, encouraging active time for the whole family, where no one is sitting on the sidelines in an observer role. The courses are modeled after popular obstacle race courses (one of the fastest growing sports in the world today) but require small footprints.

Families asked to describe the one at Hornet’s Nest say it’s a combination of Ninja Warrior and the NFL Combine.

Empty nesters and baby boomers are also embracing outdoor exercise as a social way to get fit. The indoor mall walkers of decades past are moving to the outdoors and seeking outdoor fitness spaces as a way to expand their modality beyond walking and to promote strength and balance which are critical in helping to avoid injuries sustained by inadvertent falls. According to Dr. Anthony Komaroff of Harvard Medical School, “Every year, one in three adults 65 or older falls at least once. In older people, falls can be serious, more than 90% of hip fractures result from

falls. Falls also often lead to fractures of the spine, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm and hand. These injuries can undermine your independence. Hip fractures, in particular, also can increase the risk for early death.5” Practicing balancing exercises and muscle strength that promote good balance is an important part of functional fitness that ensures people can live active lives long into their senior years.

Functional fitness is a discipline that is not set to go away anytime soon as people are interested in maximizing the ability to move. Functional fitness is one of the biggest buzz terms in fitness right now, and stems from people's desire to avoid injury and encourage enjoyment of life. Simply defined, functional fitness is applying strength training to maximize a person's real world experiences. It's not new, but has recently expanded in popularity, as people are focusing on exercising as a way to improve their life quality. For most of us with sedentary occupations, sitting at desks, computers, etc. can cause poor muscle tone, bad posture, and lack of mobility. Functional fitness therefore is of great interest, not necessarily to become a super athlete, but to be able to carry groceries, run for the bus, or play with

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grandchildren. Sports trainers have long known the value of functional training, as different players on a team may need different skills to be successful in their position. Similarly, people need different fitness abilities to be able to function in their life position. Take the grandparent who wants to lift their grandchild as an example. Without the correct muscle tone, this action could easily lead to injury.

Building those muscles, perhaps by swinging a light kettlebell, then building to heavier weights as they develop tone, can help them gain the ability to lift with less risk of injury. Functional fitness should be considered a priority for older adults since people lose strength, elasticity, and endurance as they age. One of the best ways to reduce the risk of this loss is to engage in exercises to help promote balance, flexibility, movement, and quality of life.

Functional fitness continues to grow in popularity across a wide range of ages and abilities and for people looking to improve and extend their quality of life, range of motion, and ability to move more effectively, it is a welcome discipline. A fitness company out of Knoxville, TN, recently introduced an outdoor functional fitness kit in a bag that trainers can use to lead www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

classes in parks or other public outdoor spaces. Filled with all the equipment and instructional cards to lead a functional fitness class, the contents zip up into a portable rolling bag. With companies focusing on ways to make outdoor class facilitation easy, outdoor fitness is certain to continue to grow in the future.

Wearables, though not an exercise, are certainly a growing trend in outdoor fitness. It seems every month there are new wearables to track everything from distance traveled, steps taken, and calories burned to heart rate, sleep quality, and correct posture. Wearable technology continues to evolve, and it’s not difficult to imagine a health tracker that can serve as fitness coach, dietary advisor, and health metric tracker in the not too distant future. Take for example the Qualcomm Tricorder contest, launched in 2012. If you’re a Star Trek fan, you know every visit to the sick bay began with a scan of the handheld tricorder to measure vitals and make a diagnosis. Qualcomm challenged teams to make the fantasy a reality and create a handheld diagnostic tool for people's health. In 2015, the seven finalists were named, and testing is underway to determine the grand prize winner. Apps are also helping to promote

outdoor fitness; there are apps to map where you run/walk, like Map My Walk and Runtastic, and even apps to encourage healthy competition, like Fitocracy, GameTime, and Every Move. One of the latest connections between outdoor fitness and apps is the growth of virtual runs: where a runner registers for a “race” of predetermined distance, runs it in their locality- tracking their time/distance with a tracking app, then uploads it as proof of completing the “race.” Once they have proved completion, the race organizer sends them a finisher medal.

It’s pretty clear that health wearables will only grow more useful, provide more data, and continue as a popular trend in modern fitness, as they put the power of data into a user’s hands. It will be interesting to see how the smart watch, like Apple Watch or Moto 360, will affect screenless wearables like Jawbone or Fitbit. Either way, the wearable as a fitness tracker is here to stay.

No matter which way you approach fitness, there will always be new innovative ways to get outdoors and measure an effective workout. With all the benefits associated with the behavior, there’s no reason to delay finding the method that works for you!

Footnotes

1. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/WeightManagement/Obesity/ObesityInformation_UCM_307908_Article.jsp 2. https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_319588.pdf 3. PlayCore, Outdoor Adult Fitness Parks, Best Practices for Promoting Community Health by Increasing Physical Activity, 2013, pp15-16 4. Gies, E. 2007. The Health Benefits of Parks.

San Francisco: The Trust for Public Land 5. http://www.askdoctork.com/why-are-balanceexercises-important-as-we-age-201301114100

ANNE-MARIE SPENCER Anne-Marie Spencer is the Corporate VP Of Marketing for PlayCore and works in their Center for Professional Development. In her spare time she is an avid outdoor enthusiast and obstacle racer.

www.playcore.com

People of many ages love competing on Challenge Courses www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 23

Prefabricated Restroom Facilities Leading the Way As the movement for more green space continues to build momentum across the country, parks directors, planners, and designers are looking to streamline their park development projects.

Leading the way to ease this process is typically the most overlooked amenity, the park restroom. This process comes in the form of prefabrication. Taking the headache and worry out of the hands of the park professional, today's prefab buildings are ADA compliant, built to high standards, long lasting, and are good looking.

First, let's take a look at the prefabrication process. A modern prefab building is much more than the solid concrete bunker building of the past. Today's prefab build-

by Hector Garcia ings are constructed much the same way as a site-built building, but built in an enclosed environment. Adhering to strict federal, state, and local building codes these restroom facilities are built using traditional site-built materials including CMU Block, wood stud, and steel stud framing.

While prefab buildings may use the same materials, they utilize much different construction processes. As an example, a prefab wood frame building will have its walls framed on tables with set templates and stops, assuring that all walls are plumb and true. Not only is the framing done on a table, but the inner and outer "skins" of 5/8th's osb and the internal wall's frp treatment is also applied on dedicated framing

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tables. When all walls are completed, they are brought to their specifically prepared 8" concrete foundation for erection. Once assembled you can rest assured it will be a structurally sound, plumb, and true building. This is only one example of how this type of construction leads to a high quality, long lasting building. There are similar processes for every type of material and phase of construction.

In addition to the elevated construction process, the environment in which construction takes place is another factor that favors the prefabrication process.

Prefabricated restroom facilities are built in enclosed manufacturing plants from Marble Falls, Texas to other parts of the United States. Building in an enclosed environment ensures that there isn't any damage or delays due to rain, snow, sleet, or other inclement weather. There is also the added peace of mind that there will be no theft of construction materials, as has been the case in many site-built projects.

Building off site, in a plant, also mitigates the liability risk to the owner associated with a traditional site-built project.

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Not only are prefabricated modular restroom buildings built to a high standard, they are built to look great. The construction process lends itself to customization both inside and out. Interior layouts can be modified or custom designed to accommodate most any owner’s needs. From adding on family rooms, storage, and showers to ticket booths, locker rooms, hospitality rooms, and full concession areas a prefab restroom building can be developed into whatever the owner needs to complete his or her park, splash pad, or sportsplex. To take it a step further, these buildings can be architecturally designed to match existing buildings or to blend in with the surrounding environment. Exterior materials such as natural or cultured stone, brick, stucco, natural plank or Hardie siding, or most any other exterior material in the construction industry can be used to deliver a desired look and feel. Even roof lines can be developed to the specifications of clients. Roof styles include flat, arched, gabled, hip, shed, and others. Essentially, you can start with a floor plan then design from there. A building can be given most any type of architectural element to blend in seamlessly. From colonial details, to modern lines and colors there is very little that cannot be done to get the wanted

look. When incorporated into an existing park or other recreational area a properly designed prefabricated building, after being installed, will look like it was built when the park was built.

Taking the worry out of compliance is one of the most important factors when deciding to use a prefab builder.

Prefab restroom facilities builders do one thing and they do it right. When your only business is building restrooms you become experts in the field, that includes compliance. A strict adherence to ADA Compliance is a top priority.

Case in point, I was given the opportunity to bid on a 2 restroom building project. Unfortunately the project was not awarded to me, but a few months later I had the opportunity to visit the location.

While touring a few park sites with the owner we drove up to the site of the "lost" project. I was then told that that job had been given to a local site-built contractor. The contractor had even been given a set of plans from a prefab builder to use as reference to what the owner wanted.

The builder was told that ADA compliance was of the utmost importance, and then he proceeded with the project. The buildings were completed and looked like the prefab design on the outside, but then came the real test. A thorough ADA inspection was completed on the buildings and they failed horribly. Not only did they fail, but the owners repeated calls to the builder went unanswered. It was now up to the owner to find someone else to fix all of the issues. At the end of this conversation he told me he had learned a valuable lesson, and would be going with a prefab builder on future projects. His exact words were, "Next time, I will leave it to the professionals."

In addition to ADA compliance, a prefab builder will also comply with building, energy, health, as well as regional codes.

Keep in mind that a prefab builder will deliver buildings across the country, or in some instances outside of the country.

One manufacturer even delivered structures to the McMurdo Research Center in the Antarctic. No matter where a building is delivered, it will be built to both federal and that areas specific building code.

Transferring that burden over to the manufacturer saves not only hours or days of time researching code, but also the worry of impending inspections.

Installation is a breeze. In most cases, installation of a prefab building is as easy as grading down approximately 10 inches, compacting the soil to 95% compaction, trenching out areas for a supplied underground plumbing kit (yes, the underground plumbing for the building is supplied by the manufacturer), and back filling the trenches after the plumbing kit is installed. About 2 inches of clean sand will then be spread over the pad site. A crane will then lift the building off of the transport truck and onto the site. As the building is carefully lowered onto the pad, its foundation knock outs will line up with the underground plumbing stub ups. The building’s internal plumbing will then be connected to the underground plumbing.

All utilities will then be stubbed out about 6 feet from the building in the directions predetermined by the owner. For specific detailed instructions, please contact a prefab restroom facilities manufacturer.

Choosing to use a prefab restroom builder will save time, money, and will lessen the stress involved when building out a park, splash pad, or sportsplex project.

HECTOR GARCIA Prefabricated Restroom Consultant Corworth / RFL o. 800-447-6570 ext. 106 o. 512-222-5454 ext. 106 c. 512-230-8508 Hector@corworth.com

www.corworth.com www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 25

Photo courtesy of Boundless Playgrounds

Designing a Play Space for Everyone

by Tony Malkusak

“Hey, let’s go out to the park and play!”

A very common and innocent exclamation used by millions of children every day across the world. To be welcomed and included in a play episode. It signaled the beginning of a great adventure – where that adventure led was up to the imaginations of you and whoever joined in on the fun. Was it getting to the top of the “mountain” and looking across the vast wilderness? Or perhaps was it sharing stories with your best friend in a secret hiding place? Maybe it was using a swing, closing your eyes and taking off into outer space?

It has been stated and backed by research that play is a fundamental building block for children to learn about themselves and the world in which they live. These great adventures of play develop a child’s life-skills. To be included and experience being involved is part of the joy of play. That is really the essence of play and why it is so important to create

an environment where all abilities to play are valued.

For designers and owner-operators, creating and offering inclusive play environments has been, and continues to be, a learning process. Back in 1990, when the Americans With Disabilities Act came into being, we applauded the new Act and fully supported the notion all public spaces should be designed and maintained so everyone had the opportunity to access and participate. The challenge was we had no road map to make new and renovated spaces accessible for outdoor public play environments. How were we going to accomplish this task?

The beginning part of the process was to look at how the physical space itself was designed. For play areas, we wanted to make sure users were able to approach, enter, and use the play components within the playground. The design process centered on our ability to count components,

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elevate the ground level, and measure physical spaces, accessible routes, reach ranges, etc. It was a good first step in the process; however, we still needed a learning curve on understanding the range of abilities and users who had disabilities.

Having barrier-free access was a start for getting children of all abilities to a given playground, but offering compelling and challenging play components for children of all abilities became the mantra. In 1997, a working group of design professionals in the North Carolina State University developed the 7 Principles of Universal Design. Their purpose was to guide the process for design by identifying characteristics of products and spaces that would be more usable for consumers. The 7 Principles of Universal Design were: • Equitable Use • Flexibility in Use • Simple and Intuitive Use • Perceptible Information • Tolerance for Error • Low Physical Effort • Size and Space for Approach and Use Not only was it important for physical barriers to be removed so children and caregivers can get into the play area, but a road map was established for playwww.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

ground design so children of all abilities can engage in meaningful play episodes.

Playgrounds can be designed where all children can use the components.

How many children have disabilities?

What types of disabilities did these children have? According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in a study from 2008-09, a little over 13 out of 100 elementary & secondary school children had a disability. Of those 13 children; approximately 10% had physical disabilities such as mobility impairments, approximately 30% had sensory and/or communication disabilities such as hearing loss or speech/language, and approximately 60% had cognitive disabilities such as learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and autism. Armed with this information as a guide, we can better create environments that are inclusive of all abilities.

Mobility Impairments

The common perception of a child with mobility impairments is one who is confined to a wheelchair. Other devices are also used by children and can include canes, walkers, ankle-foot orthotic, or AFO’s; these devices become a child’s means to move about. In most cases, children do not want to leave their assistive devices. It can be a strength and/ or ability issue, or it could be a dignity issue as well. Special care and attention needs to given to ensure children, and adults as well, have the ability to be in the middle of a play episode of their desire. If there is that chance a child or adults wish to remove themselves from an assistive device, incorporating transfer stations can allow someone to participate in an activity and do it in a dignified way. For example, using a transfer for an elevated slide can be a way to open the possibility for sliding to more potential users (see photo below).

Providing ways in which a child can

Photo courtesy of Boundless Playgrounds

middle of a group of play components can allow a child who may not to be able to participate physically in a given activity, but because they are in a power position, may be able to be involved socially in the play episode (see photo above).

Sensory and/or Communication Disabilities

Inclusive play environments offer many different textures and sensations for users to experience. It could be using mist or fog, differing surface elements (as long as they comply with the ADA Standard), providing plant materials that give off a fragrance or make rustling noises in the gentlest of breezes, or using sound, light impulses, or vibration to guide users. For those children or users with cochlear implants, minimizing the electrostatic discharge, or ESDs, may be important.

Some believe there is the potential to demap the external device when exposed to a high rate of ESDs, while others say the technology is to a point where ESDs do not affect CIs. One may wish to take the side with most caution and offer non-plastic sliding activities or use grass turf surfacing that contains an anti-static agent.

of persons. Within those cozy spaces, there can be some activity or component present to attract the child’s focus. Shade can also be an important inclusive play element.

There are some children who have trouble controlling their own body temperatures as a result of medication – shade would be very important for them. Simple movement, or vestibular play components may also be a stimulating activity for children as well. We are still learning more and more about inclusive play offerings for children with cognitive issues, those children in the autism spectrum in particular.

Many organizations have been created whose mission is to promote, design, and program inclusive play and playground for children of all abilities. Some of those organizations include; Boundless Playgrounds, Shane’s Inspiration, The Miracle League, The National Center for Accessibility, Unlimited Play, and KidSense. Through their hard work and persistence, inclusive play spaces are the expectation and right thing to do for all new play environments.

So, c’mon, let’s ALL go to the park and play!

Cognitive Disabilities

experience height is a way for a child with mobility impairments to be included.

Positioning a high point, or vista, in the www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

For children with cognitive disabilities, many factors play into the design development program for inclusive spaces. For instance, transitions and sensory overload can be a common issue for children leading them to act out. Providing many smaller spaces, or cozy spots can help a child to manage their emotions. The cozy spaces can be a space small enough for only one person, a space for an adult/ caregiver and a child, or for a small group

TONY MALKUSAK Tony Malkusak is President/Landscape Architect for Abundant Playscapes where he creates inclusive play environments using natural elements and spaces. He also is an instructor for the NRPA’s Certified Playground Safety Inspector training program.

www.abundantplayscapes.com

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 27

THE

NATURAL CONUNDRUM JAY BECKWITH

The Obstacles

tunity to interact and become friends.

Small spaces are easier to supervise as well which is a comfort for parents of small children.

The concern about overuse is not restricted to playgrounds. Most natural areas such as state and national parks have restrictions on where people can go and what they can do when they get there.

Playscapes blog is one of the very best resources. https://www.pinterest.com/ playscapesblog/water-playscapes/ Once you see some things you like you can visit the respective websites where the images are posted and you will often find resources that will help replicate the good ideas that have been found.

Wear and Tear

Water

Nature may abhor a vacuum but it’s also not too chummy with thousands of little feet, grasping fingers, and inquiring minds. Turning over a rock to discover the creatures living underneath is lots of fun. Doing it again and again, not as much fun since most of the residents will have moved out.

A playground is an activity center, the place where people, in this case kids, gather and we want that particular dynamic for various reasons. Small areas are easier to enrich with equipment, amenities, and safety features.

Small play spaces help children who do not know each other to have the oppor-

Nothing is more important, in terms of play value, than water. At the same time nothing is more demanding to implement. You know the litany: sanitation, drainage, slip and fall, excessive use, and cost.

Providing for water play can range from simply creating access to existing water on the site to using a commercial apparatus. Fully detailing out all of the choices is really a book length exercise and we can’t plumb those depths here.

Perhaps the best way to start is to think about what is currently available and what are your options and then start an Internet image search. Paige Johnson’s

While water as a play medium is fairly well understood, access to dirt play is a complete unknown. Well, unknown as far as park and playground design is concerned, but not unknown to kids. Remember the phrase, “Digging a hole to China.” Or making roads for toy vehicles and combining water and dirt to make poison potions.

As children, most of us had almost constant access to dirt. That is no longer the case in many places, especially those that are more urbanized. While fewer and fewer kids get to play in the dirt, science is finding out more and more about the importance of having contact with dirt frequently and at a

Ask anyone who’s tried it. Bringing natural elements to playgrounds is as they say … “muy dificil”. Let’s take a look at the obstacles systematically and then try to tease out design, programs and policies that will make “natural" play spaces more readily achievable and thus also more widespread.

Dirt

residents who will fall all over themselves with praise for a nature infused play space. But just as predictable, there will be blowback from those who go to the playground expecting a specific kind of experience. “Where are the swings?”, “My kid came home dirty!”, “There was nothing fun to do.” And on and on.

Strange, but you don’t hear the same complaints when the family comes back from a day at the beach or along the riverside. That’s because they know what to expect and come prepared for a natural experience. Plopping down a naturalistic playground without a massive effort to involve and educate the public is a prescription for disaster.

Image courtesy Goric Playgrounds

very young age.

It turns out that dirt, or more properly, soil is a living thing with trillions of bacteria and hundreds of species in every scoop. Ingesting these microorganisms is essential for creating a healthy digestive system. This is especially true nowadays when antibiotics, which kill the gut microbiome, are rampantly over prescribed. If the pace of discovery continues it will not be long before access to soil will become a health priority.

Standards Does a boulder need a fall zone? Does a tree need a landing surface? Is the branch on this bush an entrapment hazard? Do you have to provide ADA access to the top of a grassy mound?

Yes, lawsuits can and have been filed over such questions. That being said, I don’t know of any case where there was a judgment against a municipal agency from a nature play related injury. Let’s face it, a park department’s middle name is ‘risk’, from skateparks to soccer leagues, there isn’t anything more consistent than people getting hurt while recreating.

In my experience, injury judgments almost always come down to negligence.

Keep trees from having falling limbs and warn folks about the risks they may encounter, but using exposure to claims is a poor excuse for not providing the very best recreational experience we can devise.

Maintenance A well trained staff is essential to prevent the exposures noted above.

However, they may not be able to

maintain features in the environment for which they have not been trained.

Creative designers always have some great ideas but all they do is write the specs, they don’t provide a maintenance manual.

Going au natural on the playground can bring a world of hurt to park administrators. They can expect push back from the staff who may be rightly concerned that they don’t feel qualified to spot potential problems or to correct them. They can expect new and unbudgeted expenses for tools and equipment. And because we are talking about something that is as much a garden as it is a playground there will be constant change rather than the one-and-done of a hardscape only playground so constant vigilance is required.

Expectations In some communities there will be

Solutions Nature Play & Learning Places The best way to start the process of greening your playgrounds is to get connected with the Natural Learning Initiative. https://naturalearning.org They have just held their ninth annual Growing IN Place Symposiums focused on the urban community and neighborhood design for sustainable health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families, and Planet Earth, in the 21st century. The speakers and breakout sessions will give you direct access to some of the most knowledgeable experts in the field.

If starting right away, rather than waiting a year, download (free) or buy ($24.95) Nature Play and Learning Spaces. https://natureplayandlearningplaces.org These national guidelines were created through a partnership between the National Wildlife Federation

http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/ Kids-and-Nature/Programs/NaturePlay-Spaces-Guide.aspx and the Natural Learning Initiative https://naturalearning. org to bring nature play and learning to every community. It is an ideal and comprehensive handbook for those who create, manage, or promote the development of nature in the everyday environments of children, youth, and families, especially in urban/suburban communities.

Big Spaces The very best way to solve the overuse issue is with space. The bigger the play space the less impact on any specific area.

Oh sure, you say, I’ve got tons of unused space I can devote to a naturalistic playground. Well, in fact you do. You have all sorts of manicured spaces from ball fields to golf courses. These recreation spaces have been in place for decades without a critical review of their value to the community while the use patterns have changed over time.

I’m not kidding about converting your golf course. The number of Americans who said they played golf at least once last year has fallen to one of its lowest point in years, Sports & Fitness Industry Association data show. Even worse for the sport's future: The number of young people, aged 18 to 30, playing the game has sagged nearly 35 percent over the last decade. Can you really continue to justify the expenses and resources demanded by a dying sport? If you run the numbers you will quickly see that the cost of reverting

the course back to nature will pay for itself in a very few years.

Nature Itself Most long time gardeners know that the garden will teach you how to be successful.

By watching to see what thrives and which plants struggle the gardener learns what is best suited for each particular microhabitat. A naturalistic play space is no different and should be considered a living and evolving thing. This in turn suggests that the caretakers need to be keen observers and have the resources to adapt the environment over time to one that it truly selfsustaining.

Just because we know that the natural play space will change over time doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be planned with both deep consideration to what is likely to grow successfully, but also which plants have a lot of play value. The US Department of Agriculture has a searchable database http://planthardiness.ars. usda.gov/PHZMWeb that is a great guide to what grows in your area. Combining that resource with Plants for Play: A Plant Selection Guide for Children's Outdoor Environments by Robin C. Moore and you will be off to a great start.

Abundance While the Plants for Play book is a great resource there are some considerations that are go beyond play value and growth patterns and are non-obvious. For example, one of the goals of a naturalized play space is to design for what kids do automatically,

i.e. pick the flowers. This penchant is as predictable as the day follows the night.

The best way to deal with this is to select a significant percentage of the plant material that is extremely robust and prolific.

There are grasses for example that actually like to be cropped, as they would be naturally from herbivores, and spread accordingly. Sourgrass, aka Common Yellow Woodsorrel, has beautiful yellow flowers, which along with the leaves and green pods are edible. Unlike most wildflowers, when picked the flowers will last several days in water. The wild onion, Allium triquetrum, is another prolific plant that kids love because it tastes and smells like onion.

Mint is another perennial favorite for kids.

What do all of these plants have in common beyond robustness and play value?

They are very invasive weeds which are not exactly well aligned with the natural qualities you will be attempting to foster. The ones mentioned above are so aggressive that even containerization is not a barrier to their proliferation.

The point here is that you will certainly run into this design challenge of conflicting goals and benefits and there will be several others that are equally complex. The planning process needs to take this into consideration and allow sufficient time and resources to sort through all the considerations. It is also important that in promoting the project you don’t over promise or paint too specific a picture of the project so you will have design flexibility.

Interest Nodes Even if you have acres to work with, the most sensitive areas may experience more use than they should get in order to thrive.

The way to minimize that impact is by creating specific areas that predictably attract the most use. Such interest nodes can be elevated areas like climbable trees, rocks, and hills. Accessible water with playable features such as a fallen tree bridge or stepping stones will get lots of action. Hideouts, like a willow “teepee” are very appealing.

Providing shovels and tillable soil gets the kids into the dirt. Creating all of these and more will significantly reduce the impact on the surrounding areas that have nothing more going for them play-wise than that they are alive.

Community Gardens Image courtesy SCAPE / LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PLLC 30 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2016

New York City and a number of other cities have experimented with combining play areas and community gardens and www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

potential clients here in the U.S. that they could open up a branch here or we may see a startup come into the market.

The Natural Learning Initiative collaborated with PlayCore to produce a help guide, NatureGrounds http://www.naturegrounds.org, that provides excellent information on the selection of plant materials and integration of nature into play spaces and this is a great place to start.

Climate Change

Image courtesy Kukuk

these have been shown to synergize each other with the children getting to know about growing food and the gardeners coming to enjoy having children around.

Such synergy will be even more positive when community gardens are part of a naturalistic play space. For one thing, the garden is a perfect place to allow the children to play in the dirt.

It is estimated that over the next 25 years America will need over 700,000 new farmers and, because the average age of today’s farmers is 58 and they are beyond child bearing, so many of those new farmers will have to come from cities. With industrial farming becoming a problem and organic practices on the rise we will need even more farmers per acre than we do now. It is pretty clear that getting kids into soil will soon become a national priority and providing a way for city kids to access to dirt is a logical first step.

Stewards These days public-private partnerships are the most effective way to get things done. A nature-based play space will benefit from maximizing community engagement from the very beginning. The logical place to start is with groups that focus on nature such as the Audubon Society.

Branching out to garden clubs and schools begins to expand the conversation. As the concept and plan gains traction, service clubs like Rotary and Kiwanis are always ready to get involved.

The goal in this outreach effort is not just to get acceptance of the project, ideas, funding, and builders, but to also begin to www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

recruit potential stewards and docents to staff the play space going forward. There is an old saying that there are no gardens without gardeners and a natural play space is really like a garden in its development, use, and maintenance. Approaching the project much as you would developing a community garden is really smart.

There is very little doubt now that climate change is real and the impacts are coming sooner and harder than was expected. People are concerned about the future, about the use of resources, and learning to live more in-tune with nature.

While this is a serious issue, it is also an opportunity. By creating at least one natural play space in your system, you will be providing children and families an opportunity to reconnect with the living world.

THE And isn’t that what being aCONUNDRUM Playground NATURAL Professional is all about? J A Y B E C K W I T H

New staff Since a natural play space is a whole new concept you may have better success by hiring staff with a background in, and proclivity for, nature. For example, if converting a golf course, some of the former course employees may have the requisite skill sets but, more than likely, most of them won’t.

Manufactured Nature There is a role in some situations for manufactured elements in a naturalistic play space. In general, the smaller the play space and the greater the expected number of visitors the more you will have to rely on ‘hardscape’ rather than ‘naturescape’.

Even if you have to turn to manufactured elements you can make selections which have at least some of the qualities that real nature provides. For example, the precast concrete rock climbers from UPC Parks http://www.upcparks.com/rocks-&ropes.html have the same texture and thermal qualities of sandstone and are much more climbable than a rotocast plastic “rock.” KuKuk http://www.zumkukuk.de is a fascinating company in Germany that produces the majority of its play apparatus using real trees. There are probably enough

JAY BECKWITH

• Began designing play environments in 1970.

• Has written several books on designing and building play equipment.

• Is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector.

• Has written publications and developed programs for playground safety.

• Has consulted with playground manufacturers in their design process.

• Writes a blog at playgroundguru.org.

• Completed a comprehensive upgrade of the Gymboree Play and Music apparatus.

• Currently developing location based mobile games with the goal of using smartphones in outdoor play.

Read more by Jay Beckwith at

playgroundprofessionals.com

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 31

Follow Manufacturer Instructions

Learn About Your

Playground Amenities

By Butch DeFillippo and Nick Fazio

Research is a must to know what safety requirements should be met with what amenity are you planning to purchase. ASTM International, The Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the International Code Council are a few of the safety organizations that provide safety guidance. In the absence of any other agency to help you, the manufacturers of products are an outstanding, underutilized resource. The manufacturer of what is been bought understands the why, how, for whom, and what maintenance practices are required for what they create and sell.

Work with Public Safety Providers

It is essential that a meeting is set up with your police and fire safety providers. The police and fire personnel have a different, essential point of view that must be incorporated into our decisionmaking. We want the amenities you are purchasing to be enjoyed by your user group and not endanger the men and women who keep us safe.

Keep Things Clean

Often, when playground safety is brought up in a discussion, the focus centers on the playground equipment and surfacing.

The equipment and surfacing are extremely important elements of a playground and there are standards, laws, and guidelines that can and should be reviewed when designing, building, maintaining, and supervising playgrounds. There are other areas of play that should be reviewed. Playgrounds often have amenities that should be designed and kept as safe as possible.

32 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2016

There are many ways in which we can endanger our guest. Failure to keep things clean is one way. Exposure to trash, waste, blood and other unknown sticky, dirty things are not only unpleasant and disgusting, but can be a safety hazard. While keeping things clean we must also keep our staff safe. For example, the City of Miami, FL Parks and Recreation Safety Handbook states: 1. Employees who use steam cleaners must first be trained and authorized.

2. The supervisor will maintain a current list of personnel and will turn the steam on for authorized personnel.

3. Hearing protectors, goggles and cuffed gloves are required to be worn. Two workers are required to be present during the cleaning process.

4. Before leaving the steam cleaner area, employees will clean the area, roll up the hose and turn in the protective equipment.

Source: http://www.miamigov.com/ RiskManagement/pages/safety_unit/ Parks%20Handbook/12-P&R-IVGeneral%20Safety%20Rules.pdf www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

Some Amenities Examples The following are some items on which you may wish to conduct a safety review for your agency:

Water Fountains

The following information is provided

by Serenity Health & Home Décor.

Make your water fountain last with proper maintenance and upkeep.

Submersible pumps are the heart and soul of any indoor or outdoor water fountain. It doesn’t matter what the fountains are made of, what size they are, or how much they cost, water fountain pumps are what make them tick, or more accurately, flow. The secret to keeping your indoor or outdoor fountain in perfect working condition is in the pump. There’s no big secrecy around it. It’s really just a matter of common sense and basic know-how. Indoor pumps have somewhat different maintenance needs than outdoor pumps. For example, outdoor fountain pumps are more susceptible to becoming clogged with debris blown into the fountain by Mother Nature herself. They need to be taken right out of the fountain and periodically cleaned. That means that all debris (dirt, sand, leaves, grass, etc.) should we wiped out of the fountain regularly. Indoor fountain pumps aren’t exposed to harsh weather conditions, but may need to be adjusted or calibrated slightly (depending on the style of fountain) to adjust the noise level and make the most of the harmonious water sounds coming from the fountain. Be sure your fountain pump is completely submersed in water. When you first get your water fountain and run it for a few days you will see how often you will need to be adding water. This depends on the climate, atmosphere in your home, etc. The size of the fountain will also be a factor as larger www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

fountains such as a wall fountain will typically hold more water, thus no need to fill as often. Keep the fountain pump clean of debris and buildup. The pump will be the first thing to see buildup as this is what the water is flowing through and filtering the water. You can simply take the pump out of the fountain and wipe it clean with a sponge or cloth. Remove the cover of the pump and clean out the inside as well. If there are small areas in the pump, try using a toothbrush to scrub these hard to reach areas.

Keep your water fountains running all the time. This is a great tip for a couple reasons. First of all, if you keep your fountains on all the time it prolongs the life of the pump because it is not being turned on and off. If cared for properly, the pump should last at least a year, if not 3 to 5 years. Secondly, your water will stay cleaner. Still, stagnant water that is not moving will develop debris and buildup much faster. This is a great tip as many people think they need to shut their fountain off at night or when they leave for work. Using distilled water is the best way to prevent algae buildup in indoor water fountains. It is however, not required. If you don’t have access to distilled water you can also try a fountain care product such as Algae Control, White Scale Control, or No More Foam. There are also some great all natural fountain care products that are completely safe for pets and wildlife. Try a fountain protector such as Fountain Cleanser or Bird Bath Cleanser. These work great for outdoor fountains because they are safe for wildlife and distilled water is not always possible for larger outdoor fountains. Regular use of a fountain care product will help prevent algae and white scale buildup that happen from minerals and hard water. Clean the water fountain regularly. This will keep the water fountain beautiful on the outside, like a piece of art!

Most fountains can simply be emptied and wiped clean on the inside and out with a cloth or sponge. If there is stainless steel or copper on the waterfall see the care instructions provided below.

Cleaning Tips

TIPS FOR COPPER Water fountains made of copper will either be a natural copper or have a powder coat finish over the copper. Copper

with a powder coat, or clear coat finish has a clear heat-baked finish applied to all surfaces of the copper. This protects the copper from getting that greenish (patina) tint.

It also protects the beautiful (hand-applied) patina, and allows the copper to maintain its “new" and lustrous look over the years.

NEVER USE COPPER CLEANER on copper with a powder coat finish. It will remove the finish and cause the fountain to show aging (patina) faster. Simply clean the copper with Pledge or furniture cleaner and a soft sponge or cloth. You may also want to apply a turtle wax or car wax to the copper every couple months to protect the copper and keep it shining. If you experience white spots (white scale) on your copper they can be cleaned off with CLR (Calcium Lime Remover). Note: Powder coating does not completely stop the aging process of copper, over time, the copper will age and the powder coating will come off allowing your copper to oxidize as this is a natural material and a normal process. Care for Natural Copper Fountains: Simply use a furniture polish such as Pledge to keep your fountain clean and beautiful. You will want to be careful not to let water sit on the copper (all fountains have splash guard to minimize this) for a long period of time. NEVER USE Copper Cleaner or CLR as this will remove the patina finish that is hand applied to these copper fountains. Copper will oxidize and change color over time. You will see the copper on your fountain go through various stages of “weathering” typically starting with turning a darker color. The time it takes for this process to start is dependent on your climate.

Care For Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is very simple to care for and virtually maintenance free. It will not age like copper and has an excellent resistance to corrosion. It also has a smooth surface and because of this it is more difficult for bacteria to settle. To clean your stainless steel fountain simply wipe it clean with a dry or wet cloth. Do not use a harsh abrasive cleaner or any abrasive sponges or other abrasive cleaning products. Never use a disinfectant such as bleach or anything containing bleach on your stainless steel because it could eat away at the material. You can use a product such as No More White Scale if you start to notice white buildup on your fountain.

Source: http://www.serenityhealth.com/ wtr_water_fountain_care.html

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 33

Drinking Fountains

The following article in Recreation Management by Stacy St. Clair, Jenny E. Beeh and Kelli Anderson is very helpful.

Dirty drinking fountains do more than just turn off visitors. They also threaten their health. Recreation managers have a responsibility to provide their patrons with clean coolers that quench thirst and prevent contamination. Fortunately, with a little extra effort and the latest technology, clean drinking water can be within everyone's reach.

CHECK IT OUT Studies show the public won't drink from fountains they perceive as even slightly unclean. Make fountain checks a part of a regular maintenance schedule.

Have an employee check the fountains every two hours to ensure they are in clean, working condition. During big events, consider performing hourly inspections.

KEEPING IT CLEAN Water fountains should be cleaned at least once a day. When cleaning, first check the water flow. For sanitary reasons, the stream should be at least three inches away from the bubbler. Next, spray disinfectant cleaning solution on the inside surfaces of the mouthpiece and protective guard. Using a grout brush, scrub the inside and outside of the mouthpiece and protective guard. Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe down drinking fountain surfaces.

LIME AID Fountain maintenance also should include the removal of lime buildup. The first step is to spray descaler onto the bowl

and back of the drinking fountain. Once you've done this, saturate a clean, lint-free cloth with lime remover solution. Run the cloth directly over any surfaces with lime buildup. When removing the solution, use a brush or hand pad to remove the hard buildup if necessary. Wipe the area dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.

INDOOR DON'T If you're installing your water fountain inside a recreation facility, consider placing it in an area without carpeting.

Spillage can create moisture problems that encourage mold growth.

NON-POTABLE PROBLEMS With increased population and industrialization, the world's water resources become more stressed every day. The global challenge has given rise to the recycling of treated municipal wastewater for non-potable uses such as park and golf course irrigation. Non-potable water reuse often enables a community to supplement its water supply and reduce reliance on other pristine, yet quite limited, sources.

However, water reuse in park and recreational irrigation does not come without associated challenges. Wastewater, by its very nature, is highly contaminated. Only pathogens and some inorganic materials need to be removed for non-potable uses.

Though the nutrient-rich water benefits the landscape, it poses a threat to patrons if it comes in contact with nearby water fountains.

It's critical that public drinking fountains located on or directly adjacent to irrigated areas have separate irrigation streams. When drinking fountains are

34 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2016

located near irrigation heads, non-potable water can come in contact the drinking fountain's bubbler head, causing potential contamination problems. To remedy this, consider a device that shields the head.

The industry recently came up with a simple device that encases the bubbler head, protecting it from outside exposure and contamination, whether it be in a school room or on a irrigated ball field.

When the fountain button is pressed, the water line pressure forces the shield up, exposing the bubbler head and clearing the water flow. When the button is released, the water pressure's elimination lowers the shield and once again encases the bubble.

Source http://www.recmanagement. com/features.php?fid=200511fe01&ch=21

Benches

Manufacturers provided the following information from their websites.

CARE & MAINTENANCE OF WOOD FURNITURE Teak and balau are the premium choices of wood for outdoor furniture.

Teak and balau are beautiful and durable hardwoods that require little or no care to preserve its natural good looks and strength for decades.

THE WEATHERING PROCESS Remove any dust from manufacturing by lightly wiping the furniture with a damp cloth. New teak and balau furniture appears to have a polished sheen. This sheen is caused from the oil naturally occurring in balau wood. This surface oil will be washed away after a short www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

time outdoors. The oils and resins that remain inside give teak and balau their lasting durability. In the first few week of sun exposure, teak and balau will turn a beautiful golden color. Eventually, the weathering process will naturally age the furniture to a handsome silver-gray, leaving your furniture with a look of ageless beauty. This gradual aging process usually takes up to twelve months, depending on the amount of sunlight and rain exposure to the wood. After the wood has been exposed to moisture, the surface grain may rise slightly. The grain will return to its original smooth finish after the initial weathering process. You may even notice a few small cracks at the end grain, called ‘checking’. This is a natural weathering effect. The slight separation of the grain has no effect on the strength and longevity of the furniture. This ‘checking’ is caused when the wood expands and contracts slightly when left outdoors. Water spots or discoloration may also occur early in the weathering process. This spotting will eventually disappear as the teak wood ages to its uniform silver-gray color.

To quicken this aging process, simply clean the furniture as instructed below in annual cleaning.

ANNUAL CLEANING The only maintenance necessary for your furniture is a periodic cleaning. This cleaning should be done with a soft bristled brush and soapy water (mild detergent) to remove accumulated dirt. Most dirt and stains can be removed with soapy water and a brush. To eliminate any surface mold (black spots/color) add a half cup of household bleach to each one-gallon soapy water solution. Rinse well with clean water after washing. Avoid using a pressure washer because it can scour and roughen the wood surface and drive out the natural wood oils. Also, avoid the use of steel wool as it can leave a residue that can produce rust spots. A bronze wool pad will work.

STAINING Teak and balau are porous materials and will absorb unwanted liquids and food oils that will cause staining. To reduce staining, immediately wipe off up any spills as soon as possible. Scrub stain with a wet sponge and let dry. For stubborn stains and burns, it is recommend to do a light sanding in addition to cleaning. If previously sealed, follow sanding by resealing stained surface area. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

WOOD SEALER Should you prefer to keep the furniture the original golden color use a wood sealer. Oil based sealers will maintain the color for approximately one year and can be reapplied as needed. Wood sealers will also aid in reducing staining. Initial application of sealer should be applied after one or two weeks of outdoor exposure or after your furniture has been cleaned and completely dried. Avoid applying sealer in direct sunlight or extreme heat. Let dry for a day and buff with a clean towel.

DEEP CLEANING To restore your furniture to its original color, use a wood cleaner/brighteners.

Most cleaners/brighteners will restore the furniture to the original golden color regardless of age or surface condition.

These cleaners require no heavy scrubbing, easy to use and will produce dramatic results.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND USING TEAK OIL Using teak oil on outdoor wood furniture can leave a greasy or sticky residue which provides an ideal living condition for mold and mildew. This creates black spots on your wood furniture. We also advise against the use of paint, varnish or other similar finishes. These finishes tend to crack and flake from the surface and are not suited for outdoor applications.

Source: http://www.parkbenchdesigns. com/docs/WoodMaintenancePBD.pdf

Picnic Table & Park Bench Frames Maintenance Tips

Posted by Pilot Rock on August 19, 2015.

All outdoor park equipment requires periodic maintenance and repairs as the exposure to weather conditions and the human element takes a toll. We have compiled a list of maintenance tips for various pieces of park equipment. These tips are provided to advise about what needs to be done, when and how to do it. These tips may not cover all situations under all conditions, but are general best-practice tips.

In this series of four maintenance posts, we now review tips for picnic table and park bench frames.

DAMAGE FROM MOVING If you move or relocate any picnic tables or park benches, look for any frame components that may get damaged during this handling. If diagonal braces that support the frame structure get damaged, they should be replaced to keep the structure sound. Be sure to check all fasteners. They

can work loose over time, especially if the tables or benches are moved around.

RUST The most durable frame finish for outdoor furniture is galvanized. A galvanized finish is more durable and resistant to scratching and exposure over time than a painted finish. The best galvanized finish is called hot dip galvanized after fabrication. This process involves submerging the fully assembled frame component into molten zinc to completely coat all surfaces – including the inside and outside of all pipe components and all welds. These dipped components have a shiny finish that will weather to a dull gray over time.

This will require almost no maintenance under normal use. There are also frame components made of pre-galvanized steel.

These parts are usually lightweight and perform quite well in many applications.

However, any areas that have been cut or drilled will expose the underlying steel and may develop rust over time. Be most concerned about any points on pre-galvanized steel that have been welded. The welding heat can burn off the pre-galvanized finish exposing the steel. These weld points must be cold galvanized, which could be equated to a sprayed on painted finish.

Painted frame finishes are also very popular because many color options are available. Most manufacturers now use a dry powder coat paint application process vs. liquid paint. In most common installations, the painted finish will serve well for many years. However, if the paint is chipped or scratched, the exposed metal can begin to rust. For example, if picnic tables are dragged across a concrete surface, the paint can be scratched off the underside of the frame pipe. It won’t be visible on the bottom, but the steel will be exposed. These areas must be sanded and repainted before the rust expands too far. Use any spray paint that closely matches the color of the frame component. You should expect to do more touch up maintenance on painted steel components for park furniture used by the public. There are, however, environments where painted steel frame components do not hold up as well as galvanized finishes. We do not recommend painted finishes for steel in coastal and island environments, where there is a lot of humidity from the lake or ocean and a lot of salt exposure from that moisture. The combination of moisture and salt air will cause any steel exposed by a scratch in the paint to quickly rust and the rust will only grow

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 35

bigger. This can require frequent repair and repainting. The hot dip galvanized finish is less susceptible to this corrosive environment. http://blog.pilotrock.com/blog/picnictable-and-park-bench-frames-maintenance-tips

Dog Parks

According to the Travel Industry Association of America an estimated 29.1 million Americans say they have traveled with a pet in the past three years. Canines are the most popular travel companions.

As estimated 78% travel with their parents while felines take second place at 15%.

You may wish to add one next to your playground. Please take a look at the article Could a Dog Park Be The Key to a Healthier Community?: http://www.playgroundprofessionals. com/news/playgrounds/could-dog-park-bekey-healthier-community112

Bicycle Racks

Most of us would agree that we would like to see ourselves and our children go outdoors, become healthier, and have more fun. What better way to help with these activities than to ride our bikes to the playground? But, when we get to the playground what do we do with the bikes?

The Portland Police Bureau states that stolen bikes cost the city residents over $2 million a year and that at least 8 bikes are stolen every day. Bicycle racks are low maintenance items that can help your guest enjoy their playgrounds and keep their bikes.

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel You do not have to come up with site amenities by yourself. There are organizations and people which are around that have come up with great projects already.

How many times have you heard the old adage “work smarter, not harder”? This is an important lesson. Don’t get me wrong, we don’t mean to devalue the importance of hard work. True effort is always well recognized. However, in these times of stretched resources and limited staff, we should all be looking to make the most out of what we have. That often means working smarter…in addition to our constant hard work. More specifically, we mean that we should make use of ALL our resources, and there are many out there that go under-utilized.

Information and expertise are two things that we always seem to need more of. Additionally, there are huge benefits to having a person or team to serve as a sounding board. Occasionally you need someone to bounce ideas off of, even if they don’t have the same level of expertise or work in a different field. When you need extra help, ideas, research or expertise don’t forget to look in the following places: YOUR NEIGHBORS By neighbor, we are referring to the next town over, or one down the highway.

Maybe your college roommate is now a Parks and Recreation Supervisor in a different city. There’s a good chance you

don’t know any other agency professionals from surrounding communities. Either way, don’t hesitate to reach out to fellow departments in other places for help. As an industry, we tend to view other towns as competitors (for state funding, users or talented professionals), but we can’t forget that collaboration makes everyone stronger. Regional planning organizations are an excellent network for communities to come together and share ideas, staff, research and yes, sometimes the muchly-needed money.

Some metropolitan areas have very tight knit organizations with dozens of cities, towns and suburbs collaborating with one another on things from regional planning efforts, major multi-town projects and coordinated funding sources. Other metropolitan areas or rural counties have less formal networks, which means that oftentimes getting help and information from other peer communities can be tough.

Research other communities near you that are facing similar issues and get in touch.

All it takes is a quick email to reach out and make contact.

YOUR LOCAL UNIVERSITY Most cities and towns are within rela-

Photo courtesy of Dog-ON-It Park 36 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2016

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

tively easy reach of an institute of higher learning. Colleges and universities are great resources when your department has a specific problem to solve. These institutions have many people with lots of education and experience behind them. Many instructors are also professionals who have worked in the parks and recreation industry for years in different capacities.

Typically, community colleges have closeknit relationships to the communities they serve. Instructors and students are often your own employees, directors or vendors.

Keep them in mind, so when you have a question about what to plant in your agency’s new park, you may have more options than a high-priced landscape architecture firm.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS Other departments or agencies within your local government can be helpful too.

Fostering connections and relationships with your city’s planning department or public works agency can go a long way in making your job easier and less stressful.

Some cities have staff that work for multiple departments, especially when it comes to advertising, planning and public outreach. This strategy can make things more efficient and help create a unified vision and voice behind your agency’s efforts.

THE PUBLIC A mentor of mine once told me, “The public has all the answers.” Let’s not forget that we are in the business of creating a better quality of life for our community.

There are valuable things to learn from the public and they can provide a huge amount of help when needed, especially if funds are tight. Some projects can be done primarily with volunteers. Working with the public to raise funds is another benefit. Finally, crowdsourcing information and ideas will become more popular and accessible in the future. Planning efforts and decision-making will be opened to the public through social media, and allow the public to specifically impact the work you do. Engage them early and often, and it will work to your benefit. For examples of how the public is engaging in crowdsourced collaboration check out www.chicagocityscape.com, www.ioby.org and www.neighborly.com.

THE INTERNET Last but not least, there is the wonderful, nearly infinite thing we call the Internet. From Google Searches and Wikipedia, to eHow and YouTube tutorials, the Internet can be a constant friend and incredibly helpful resource when used www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

appropriately and effectively. Manufacturer recommendations, scholarly articles, opinion pieces, maintenance standards, operating manuals, customized help, simple tips, life hacks, and quite literally information of all types can be easily accessed with the click of a button. Make sure you know your agency’s Internet policy and always keep in mind that nothing accessed on a work computer is private. With proper knowledge and restraint, the Internet may be our most underutilized resource yet.

We have provided some examples of playground amenities, some great information that is easily discoverable, and some tips on using all your resources more effectively. Remember that when it comes down to problem solving or getting a question answered, you are never alone and there is always help available to you. We believe that any provider of playground amenities should have an understanding of why they want to use an item at a playground and how to keep it maintained and safe.

I understand that you and your staff are stretched thin, but you cannot allow yourselves to be pressed to the point that someone could be injured or killed!

Maintaining your parks and playgrounds just got a lot easier.

877.984.0418

info@playgroundguardian.com

BUTCH DEFILLIPPO Owner of PlaySafe, LLC, the Premiere Recreational Consulting Company. PlaySafe, LLC assists municipalities, schools, childcare providers, communities and other recreation-providing entities by offering playground equipment and safety audits, inspections, testing, and training throughout the United States.

www.play-safe.com

Replacement Parts for: Playgrounds • Parks • Field Sports Fast Patch Repair Kits Maxx Clear Surface Conditioner Call Us: 888.760.2499 discountplaygroundsupply.com SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 37

The Playground as Theater

MAKING THE CONNECTION between playgrounds and theater is nothing short of brilliant, and nothing even shorter of obvious. Playgrounds, after all, are theater.

Just ask the little actors running around shouting, "Watch me!" to their parents.

By making the connection even more obvious, by designing a playground even more for the purpose of being theaterlike, one of our favorite playground design companies, Monstrum ( http://www.monstrum.dk/en/ ), has created what I hope will prove another paradigm for playground design. Because this one invites imagination, fantasy, pretend play; invites more of the child - both mind and body; invites social interaction - as actors and audience; invites fun.

They call this one Theater Park. I quote ( http://www.monstrum.dk/en/ pages/164 ): “Remember to bring your costumes when you visit the Theater Park. Here you have plenty of opportunities to express your inner actor! You’ll find hats, drums and play masks to hide behind and put

your arms through. Everything on the playground is in some way inspired by the world of theater. On the big stage the actors can overlook the cheering crowd, who just bought their tickets and some goodies from the Movie Kiosk. A little further away you will find the spinning Theatre – by spinning it, you can switch between four different scenarios. In another stage the scenery can be pushed from side to side, and there’s even a box to the prompter so he can whisper the lines if the actors suddenly forget what to say.”

Forgive me if I over-enthuse, but this prompter box (bottom left of center image, second row) is just the kind of detail that represents the best of Monstrum's play/work: a small feature, yet one that adds a whole new level (literally and figuratively) to the kind of play this park invites. No matter how it gets used (it could just as easily be a “box seat” for the fortunate few, or a place for the proverbial critic to stand and launch critical nerf balls, or a cubby for constructive kibitzing, or a platform for the budding

38 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE SPRING 2016

by Bernard DeKoven

playwright/director).

And then there's the "spinning theater" which not only provides actors with a choice of scenery, but also the opportunity to get spun while simultaneously allowing for the employment of a stagehand or several. And, of course, the instant costumes (second row, left). And the ticket booth (first row, left) to legitimize the whole endeavor.

Look at the pictures again. Imagine yourself (yes, you grown-up person you, your very own self) in each (you might also need to imagine yourself small enough, or the buildings large enough).

Imagine how encouraged you'd be to pretend that you were really an actor, a thespian, in fact, of the highest order. Or a ticket-taker. Or a stage-hand. Imagine how each element would help in supporting this fantasy, would contribute to your imagined brilliance. Imagine organizing a special performance of an improvised version of Hamlet. And charging admission even. www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

Play Support Buyers Guide

No matter the park, it needs to be furnished with safe and reliable equipment and fixtures.

Playground Repair and Maintenance • Fast Patch Repair Kits • Maxx Clear Surface Conditioner

AMERICAN SWING PRODUCTS

DISCOUNT PLAYGROUND SUPPLY

DOG-ON-IT-PARKS

GAMETIME

877-348-3647

256-845-5610

800-433-2573

888-760-2499

dog-on-it-parks.com

gametime.com

americanswing.com

discountplaygroundsupply.com

LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES INC.

RJ THOMAS MFG. COMPANY INC.

888-438-6574 playlsi.com

800-762-5002

THE PLAYGROUND SHADE AND SURFACING DEPOT

pilotrock.com

(817) 585-INFO

DOTY & SONS CONCRETE PRODUCTS INC

KINGS RIVER CASTING INC

POLLY PRODUCTS

play | climb | create | connect

IDSCULPTURE 970-641-1747 idsculpture.com

ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND SYSTEMS 713-935-9684

ALUMINUM ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT COMPANY

800.233.3907

FIFTHROOM.COM

800-523-5471

888.293.2339

BELSON OUTDOORS INC.

GERBER TABLES AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS DIRECT

800-323-5664

BEST LITTER RECEPTACLES, INC.

888.545.5157

KOMPAN, INC 800-426-9788

LEATHERS AND ASSOCIATES 877-564-6464

314.389.4140

TAILWIND FURNITURE TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES, INC 800.237.7798

PLAY & PARK STRUCTURES, A PLAYCORE COMPANY

970-641-1747

800.727.1907

JAYPRO SPORTS, LLC

PLAY MART INC

860-447-3001

800-43-PLAYS

KAY PARK RECREATION

PLAYKIDS INC

800-553-2476

800.958.5437

800-853-5316

SPORTSPLAY EQUIPMENT, INC.

603-228-0476

INTEGRATED DESIGN SOLUTIONS, LLC (IDS)

BYO PLAYGROUND

805-481-5686

HUNTER KNEPSHIELD

BISON INC.

330.258.0168

SPORT ROCK INTL INC

800.393.9923 800.626.6530

BRIGHT IDEA SHOPS LLC

517.649.2243

NATURAL PLAYGROUNDS CO.

800.526.1322 800-247-7668

playgroundshadeandsurfacing.com

www.playgroundprofessionals.com/magazine

815-895-4247

ULTRAPLAY, A PLAYCORE COMPANY 888.403.7684

UPC PARKS 530-605-2664

XCCENT 800-933-4748

SPRING 2016 PLAY AND PLAYGROUND MAGAZINE 39