Playgrounds
Adventure Playgrounds
The original concept for adventure playgrounds began in Europe in 1931. C. Th. Sorensen, a Danish landscape and playground designer, saw children playing everywhere except at the traditional cement and asphalt playgrounds. The idea that children would rather play with dirt, rocks, lumber, etc. started a revolution in the playground industry.
Destination Playgrounds
Destination playgrounds are typically larger playgrounds set in a location that may require a drive to reach. Destination playgrounds draw crowds from surrounding areas for their unique themes and offerings for a wide range of children and adults alike.
Engineered Wood Fiber
Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) is an economical playground surfacing that is made of processed wood that is ground to a fibrous consistency randomly sized typically to not over 2" in length.
Glamis Adventure Playground
Glamis Adventure Playground is a free supervised playground that provides a wide range of child-centered and child-driven activities. A hand painted sign at the entrance declares the inclusive nature of Glamis Adventure Playground, "There is no war here. We are all fantastic."
Installers
Playground installers are the individuals who assemble and build playgrounds. Installers work for contractors, the companies that contract with the owner to construct the playground. There are a wide variety of chores that must be performed for a successful playground build. A playground construction project may include excavation, concrete work, drainage systems, installation of the playground equipment, and resilient surfacing work.
Maintenance Kits
Many manufacturers of playground equipment supply the playground owner with a maintenance kit to help preserve the aesthetics, usefulness, and safety of the equipment. These maintenance kits range from a maintenance record-keeping document to extra tools and hardware (nuts and bolts).
Morgan’s Wonderland
Morgan's Wonderland is an all-inclusive, ultra accessible theme park for guests of all ages and of all physical and cognitive abilities. Located near San Antonio, Texas, it is a place of "smiles and laughter" where "the common element of play creates an atmosphere of inclusion for those with and without disabilities, encouraging and allowing everyone to gain a greater understanding of one another."
Natural Energy Park
The Natural Energy Park is an experiential playground design that focuses on how movement, the sun, magnets, and water create power to operate different parts of the play equipment.
PolyFiberCrete
PolyFiberCrete is a lightweight synthetic concrete-sandstone textured material molded into solid play structures and site furnishings. Using a patented process of cellular concrete, polymer additives, molds, sand, air bubbles, and sandblasting, UPC Parks makes grip-textured climbing rocks and walls, caves, ledges, benches, planters, and playground sculptures.
Poured in Place
Poured in Place is a unitary safety surfacing that is used for playgrounds, water parks, dog parks, sports and fitness facilities, and many diverse applications. It is a visually attractive, versatile, durable, and nonslip surfacing that minimizes the impact of falls to the surface and meets Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.
Sand Gardens
Sand play areas for children in large cities were originally known as sand gardens and were subsequently called playgrounds as their popularity increased. The introduction of sand gardens in Boston in 1886 has been credited as the beginning of the playground movement in America.
Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse
Built in the late 1890s, Richard and Sarah Smith set up a trust to create the play mansion and playground in memory of their adult son, Stanfield. Philadelphia's Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse offers unstructured creative play for children of all abilities ten years and younger.
Universal Design
The purpose for utilizing the Principles of Universal Design for children’s playgrounds is to provide inclusive play where every child, regardless of ability or disability, is welcomed and benefits physically, developmentally, emotionally and socially from the environment.
