Public Playground Resource Sheet

Thank you very much for your interest in ChildLife^® brand residential play systems. As the original wooden play system manufacturer in the USA, ChildLife has always kept the safety of the children using our equipment as the highest priority.

While we sincerely appreciate your interest in our residential products, the playground site you described appears to be what is broadly defined as a "public playground". If your play system is not going to be used in a private residential setting or in a small home child care center (with 10 children or fewer), you need to purchase playground equipment that has been designed for "public" use.

Some examples of settings that should purchase public playground equipment are:

Country Clubs, Resorts, and Hotels
Churches, Temples, and similar places of public assembly
Child Care Centers
Schools
Public Parks
Condo Associations

The resources listed below can help you to become more informed in your search for public playground equipment:

Make sure that any public playground equipment you purchase meets the guidelines set forth in the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Publication #325, Handbook for Public Playground Safety. This free 46-page publication is intended for use by child care directors, parks and recreation personnel, school officials, equipment purchasers, and installers. It may be ordered by calling (800) 638-2772, or downloaded from the CPSC web site at www.cpsc.gov. The Sales Representative should be able to give you documentation certifying that their products meet these guidelines.
Make sure that any public playground equipment you purchase meets the standards set forth by the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) in their publication entitled Standard F-1487, Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use. While somewhat technical and written for use by playground equipment manufacturers and designers, it may be ordered by calling (610) 832-9585, or from the ASTM web site at www.astm.org. The Sales Representative should be able to give you documentation certifying that their products meet these standards.
Make sure that you purchase proper safety surfacing that meets ASTM Standard F-1292, Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment. The Sales Representative should be able to give you documentation certifying that their products meet these standards.
Make sure that any public playground equipment you purchase meets all applicable local or state safety guidelines and/or legislation. For child care regulations, contact the Office for Children at your state capitol. For elementary school regulations, contact your state Department of Education.
Contact the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS), which was established in 1995 through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Located at the University of Northern Iowa, NPPS is a public resource for the latest information on playground safety and injury prevention. The NPPS web site has links to dozens of playground safety resources. You can also ask for a free copy of their three documents Planning a Play Area for Children, Tips for Playground Fundraising, and Inspection Guide for Parents. Call (800) 554-PLAY, or visit their web site at www.uni.edu/playground/.
For a parent's playground safety checklist, contact the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) at (800) 423-3563. You can also visit their web site at www.udel.edu/bateman/acei/.
For more information, contact The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation's largest organization of early childhood professionals dedicated to improving the quality of early childhood education programs for children from birth through age eight. NAEYC includes a national network of more than 400 affiliated local, state, and regional early childhood organizations. Call (202) 232-8777 or visit www.naeyc.org.
For a comprehensive listing of manufacturers of public playground equipment, and links to their sites, visit the World Parks & Recreation, Products and Services Web Directory at www.world-playground.com.

Children deserve a safe play area. Do your part by investing in public playground equipment and surfacing which is appropriate for your specific site and needs. With careful thought and planning, you can make a playground in which children can have fun while playing safely. In addition, you will be helping to limit any liability your organization may incur as a result of installing playground equipment that is not suitable for your application.

Let's all work together to make sure that America's playgrounds are SAFE!