Add as a preferred source on Google

Industry Playground Safety Experts Highlight Benefits of Free Play, Playground Safety Resources during 2015 National Playground Safety Week

  • 04/20/15

Harrisburg, Pa., – The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), the playground industry's leading playground safety certification organization, will celebrate National Playground Safety Week (April 20-24) this week by highlighting the organization’s popular materials and resources to educate about playground safety and the scientific benefits about play.

"Through the efforts of many, the playground industry has continued to push the limits of creativity and innovation in design, while maintaining safety standards that help minimize risk,” said Richard Hawley, president, IPEMA. "The resources we offer, from the Play Pledge, to our surfacing guide and checklist, help remind parents, educators and playground owners and operators about ways they can encourage free, safer play every day. National Playground Safety Week is the ideal time to build momentum for play."

IPEMA’s resources for education about free play and play safety include:

  • The Play Pledge – by downloading and signing this simple pledge, parents and children are committing to making play a priority for at least one hour of outdoor play a day at home and/or at school.
  • The Checklist for Access – This checklist provided by IPEMA is intended to help owners of public play area’s understand how to use the Department of Justice’s 2010 Standards for Accessible Design. The Checklist provides everything you need to know about access route dimensions, surfacing requirements and play equipment ramps and transfer stations for playgrounds of all sizes.
  • The Surfacing Guide for ADA Compliance – the surfacing guide provides a complete source of regulations concerning proper installation and maintenance of all IPEMA certified playground surfaces, including: artificial turf, engineered wood fiber, interlocking tile, poured-in place and rubber mulch.

Playground Safety Tips and Resources
Additionally, IPEMA and the Voice of Play will be sharing research, facts and educational materials for parents and caregivers about helping to increase safety on the playground. Tips and information can be found on the Voice of Play website, and the organization's Facebook and Twitter pages. Tweets surrounding National Playground Safety Week will include the hashtag #SafePlay15 on Twitter.

Featured

  • Minnesota Middle School Finishes $23.5M Addition and Modernization

    Highland Park Middle School in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $23.5-million addition and remodel project, according to a news release. Saint Paul Public Schools partnered with ATS&R Planners, Architects & Engineers for its design and Kraus-Anderson for its construction.

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

Digital Edition