Posts Tagged ‘playground’

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If it’s good enough for President Obama…

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

If it’s good enough for President Obama, then one Philly town figures it’s good enough for them. That’s what the town said when they replaced their playground dirt with recycled tires. The rubber playground mulch will now provide a safe cushion for the kid’s who play there.

The borough used a community development grant to pay for the rubber mulch. The cost for two playgrounds was $56,434 and is the same surface used at the White House for their playground.

Rubberecycle gave 8 tons of green, recycled tires called Playsafer Rubber Mulch to the White House about a year ago.

The tires used to make the surface are chopped up in a million bits and come in different colors. This particular playground was a blue color.

“We use only tires taken freshly off rims from tire centers. We do not use any that are found along the side of the road or in a landfill. We shred them and recycle the steel and make the mulch,” according to Keith Sacks of Rubberecycle.

The benefits include

  • needs no maintenance
  • is safer for children who may fall
  • non-toxic
  • odor-free
  • non-staining
  • non-abrasive

Borough Mayor Bob Lebo said he’s pleased the council decided to buy the rubber mulch. “I think it’s great. It is much safer for our children and the other benefits certainly will pay off,” he said.

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Study Confirms Safety of Rubber Turf

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

There have been repeated questions about the safety of rubber mulch for playground cover or synthetic turf fields. That’s despite studies that show no elevated health risks for children or adults due to these surfaces.

Recently another study confirmed this. On July 30, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced a new study of the risks to children and adults playing on synthetic turf fields containing crumb rubber infill also presents no elevated health risks.

This validates conclusions from recent studies done by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other governmental agencies, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health, the New York City Department of Health, and the California EPA.

The study provides valuable guidance to municipalities, schools and others who operate or are considering installing artificial playing fields.”

Four state agencies – the University of Connecticut Health Center, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) – collaborated on the study. Nine scientists from the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) were asked to review the study and issue its own report.

Key points from major findings of the study:

  • “Outdoor and indoor artificial turf fields are not associated with elevated health risks from the inhalation of volatile or particle bound chemicals.”
  • The readings at the indoor field (in a building with a broken exhaust system) showed higher levels of chemical emissions, but, as noted above, below levels of concern. The DEP recommends ventilation of indoor fields.
  • The Department of Environmental Protection evaluated the environmental risk associated with storm water runoff from the artificial turf fields tested in the air study. They concluded there is no risk to drinking water from this runoff, but a potential risk exists for surface waters and aquatic organisms.

“In over 40 years of EPA oversight and OSHA regulated manufacturing, there has never been an instance of illness attributed to synthetic turf. This study and numerous others validate the long-term human health and environmental safety of synthetic turf systems,” said Rick Doyle, president of the Synthetic Turf Council.

The Connecticut study can be viewed at www.ct.gov/dep/artificialturf.

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Crews Rush to Rescue Children at Pennsylvania Playground

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Is your Playground Surface Safe?

A playground in Cambria County has had crews called in once again – and while the playground was safe – there can still be safety problems. Firefighters stopped at Diamod Playground in suburban Johnstown to rescue kids who got stuck and needed help. It illustrates our theme of playground safety.

A young child got wedged in between the tube slide and the slide’s bracing after climbing up the outside of the slide. Fire crews had to pry the child from the equipment. The same story repeated another time when a 9-year-old got stuck in a baby swing.

Wargo said all the playground equipment is up to code on safety inspections and it is only about seven years old. The issue is the parents keeping watch and making sure children use the equipment in safe ways. There were warnings written at the playground.

We urge parents to supervise their children. Encourage them to observe playground safety guidelines.

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How to Become a Certified Playground Safety Inspector

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Official Logo of NRPA "Mission, Vision, G...
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There are 8,000 Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI) worldwide. These are folks who are credentialed to inspect playgrounds for safety issues. They help ensure each playground they inspect is up to current national standards and is done in coordination with the NRPA who offers training courses.

Even if you’re not official, you can look out for unsafe conditions at playgrounds.

Is your Playground Surface Safe? Here are some guidelines to help you find out:

• There should be no missing, broken or worn-out components
• All hardware should be secure
• The wood, metal or plastic should not show signs of fatigue or deterioration
• All parts should be stable with no apparent signs of loosening
• Surfacing material must be maintained
• Check for signs of vandalism

Learn more about the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) training and certification program

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Imagination Playground Opens in New York

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

On Tuesday the 4. 5 million dollar “Imagination Playground” opened in New York. Instead of the usual playground equipment, the playground features large foam movable parts, sand, and water.

The playground is located at Burling Slip and South Street in New York. Like Disneyland its creator David Rockwell is a dad who wanted to build something engaging for his kids.

The problem I imagine with such playgrounds is keeping them from wearing out or walking off. There’s a solution for that (and yes it costs money). There are “play workers” keeping watch. It seems like this type of playground equipment would be ideal for rec centers or day cares. Or even at home in the back yard. It just may get a bit unwieldy for cities to manage. Still, the idea is fun and it looks like they have created plenty of that.

Read more: http://dnainfo.com/20100727/financial-district-battery-park-city/new-seaport-playground-encourages-kids-use-their-imagination#ixzz0uv84Ro82

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Is your Playground Surface Safe?

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Here is a sad statistic about America’s playgrounds. That is, that some are not safe. “It is estimated that, each year, more than 200,000 playground-related injuries occur, and approximately 15 children will die as a result of a playground accident.” That is according to the NRPA.

NRPA’s National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) has identified 12 of the leading causes of injuries on playgrounds. They have what they call “The Dirty Dozen – A Checklist for Safe Playgrounds,” which is a brochure that identifies and discusses the 12 most common safety concerns and leading causes of injuries on playgrounds.

#1 The Playground Surface

Of course this is the issue we focus on the most — is your playground surface safe?

Here’s what they say:
Improper surfacing material under playground equipment is the leading cause of playground-related injuries. Over 79% of all accidents on playgrounds are from children falling.

The surface or ground under/around the playground equipment should be soft enough to
cushion a fall. A fall onto one of these hard surfaces could be life threatening and there are
many surfaces that offer protection from falls.

Good playground surfaces
• Sand / Pea Gravel
• Synthetic / Rubber Tiles
• Shredded Rubber
• Mats
• Poured-in-place rubber

Not good
• Concrete
• Blacktop
• Packed Earth
• Grass

Most loose-fill surfacing must be maintained at a depth of 12 inches and be free of standing water and debris.

Is your playground safe for kids? More of the dirty dozen coming soon…

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KaBOOM! issues “Park a Day” Summer Challenge

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

KaBOOM! a nonprofit that builds playgrounds has a summer challenge to help inspire parents and kids to go to the park. They have chosen 9 parents who take their children to a new park every day this summer, starting July 1. The parents are telling their stories and sharing pictures of their experiences.

Why not take the playground challenge yourself? Go to a different playground each day for a week. Have kids help you make simple scrapbooks with things they learned, did or collected at the playground. Choose your family favorites. Get involved. Most of all help your kids get outside and moving. It’s even good for the grownups.

We like the photo of the dad lying in the shade created by playground equipment to try to stay out of the hot sun (plus the surface is — you guessed it – rubber mulch!)

Source: http://kaboom.org/blog/park_a_day_summer_challenge_week_1

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How the White House Plans to Fight Childhood Obesity

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Did you know there was a Childhood Obesity Task Force? Their aim is to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. They have a new report and got  input from 12 federal agencies. Citizens also weighed in with 2,500 submissions  from parents, teachers, doctors, nurses and others. The Let’s Move program has a YouTube channel that you can check out.

Quick Facts about Childhood Obesity

The report makes recommendations on how to fight childhood obesity in 5 key areas:

  1. Getting children a healthy start on life which means good prenatal care.
  2. Empowering parents and caregivers with clear information to help make healthy choices for children
  3. Providing healthy food in schools and educating kids about healthy food choices.
  4. Improve access to healthy, affordable food and reducing hunger.
  5. Getting children more physically active which includes “improving access to safe parks, playgrounds, and indoor and outdoor recreational facilities.”

I’m impressed by the effort and involvement of citizens and we’re glad that you’re building playgrounds around the country where kids can be active.

Please tell us ways your community is getting involved or what you’re doing as a parent to prevent obesity. As for me – my son is so skinny that so far it hasn’t been a worry – I worry more about keeping him well fed!

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Report Gives America an ‘F,’ and that Stands for ‘Fat’

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

“Marx once predicted that the capitalist countries would become so bloated that the bourgeoisie would actually pay to lose weight.” – From a comment on USAToday

That prediction has come true – the rich and poor are paying to lose weight. Many people in America are not only overweight — we’re getting fatter. If they were being graded on it, we’d get an F. This is according to a report by the Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Two-thirds of adults are overweight, which is double what we were in 1980. Too many of our children and even our pets are overweight. (see Quick Facts about Childhood Obesity)

Utah, Colorado and California, are doing better than the rest of the nation but are also gaining. Issues like  poverty, a sedentary work force and less time for recess and play at schools and child care centers factor in, according to Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America’s Health.

“Millions of Americans still face barriers, like the high cost of healthy foods and lack of access to safe places to be physically active, that make healthy choices challenging.” It’s worse for low-income Americans and minorities.

A 2008 survey in Utah found that 21.5 percent of elementary students were overweight. In this survey a sampling of students were weighed and measured —  unlike this national survey which was done by telephone. I find that a frightening number.

We spend a lot of time sitting in cars, then on couches and not nearly enough time in playgrounds, outside or moving around. Exercise was once built into our life but now we have to make time for it. Also, you have to go out of your way and it’s more expensive to eat healthy than it is to prepare food that is healthy.

Are we headed towards life like is shown on the movie Wall-e where we get so fat we are carted around all on a platform and have machines take care of us? What do you think we should do about the issue?

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Here’s an Idea to Get Kids Playing! Host a Play Day

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

We’ve been writing a lot about Michelle Obama’s efforts to get kids moving. Here’s a great way you can get involved and meet others in your community with similiar goals: Host a Play Day.

The nonprofit organization KaBoom! is organizing the day to get kids out and improve playgrounds.  You can organize efforts to clean up or do things like  plant flowers or trees, build new amenities like benches or picnic tables, paint murals, and more.

If you use the KaBoom Play Day Planner, you could also get some cash in the form of grants to help fund bigger improvement projects. They will give 5 Play Day grants: one $10,000 First Place, one $7,500 Second Place and three $2,500 Runner-Ups. You’ll also get access to the online Play Day tools, and ideas to make your event successful. Other participants will share ideas.

Get started now for this event that starts Sept 18, 2010. More at http://playday.kaboom.org/why

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