Why I Build Custom Playgrounds
Building custom playgrounds is a rare occupation that only a handful of companies throughout the US continue to specialize in. My greatest reward is seeing children fully engaged in the play environments we build in contrast to facilities that are filled with commercial equipment without considering how the space will function. To build a true playground is to make a setting available for children that is conducive to their individualized interests and creative potential.
A
playground needs to be able to mimic the experience a child would have
outside of what can be considered an institutional or containing
environment. The communities children grew up in twenty to thirty years
are vastly different than what a modern life style accommodates. How often are children allowed the time or
freedom to discover their own neighborhood? Communities are no longer
places of exchange but rather a place to sleep.
Well intentioned parents are often inquiring about residential play structures which further isolates a child from the greatest element of play - having access to a friend. In a preschool environment, friendships are not founded within the structured time of the classroom but instead they are best developed during outdoor free-play activities. Unfortunately, this "free" time is often limited to one hour which dwindles to almost nothing as they progress through an education system that measures aptitude by higher test scores (contrary to what most child development experts support!).
In the early 1990s, many city and state agencies opted to dot our schools and public parks with the same cookie, cutter approach to playground improvement. I was enthusiastic at first with my job as the leader of a crew of playground builders, but increasingly, I became dismayed at the short sited approach which left very little to offer kids except a means to possibly "burn energy". I also realized that the structures we were erecting were not designed to last more than 10 years.
Most of the new playground structures in Hawaii were built on the premise of safety. It was assumed that children were now safer and lawsuits could be avoided because industry standards for playground safety were followed. On a national level, there is no evidence that the inundation of manufactured products kids now play on has had any effect on the number or severity of accidents. Playground safety guidelines introduced in the Handbook for Playground Safety (CPSC, 1997) brought an end to custom playgrounds as people became more fearful of anything that was not strictly commercial. The playgrounds that we grew up with were bulldozed with our childhood memories and replaced with plastic and steel structures that had no connection to the environments they were erected in. Regardless of following playground safety standards, lawsuits are still being filed but hardly ever brought to court since it is less costly to settle instead of going through the expense of a court decision.
The first playgrounds I built were an affirmation for me because I saw a dramatic difference in children's behavior once they had more play outlets and spaces to explore. A trike path was not simply a concrete sidewalk but was full of texture, obstacles, a bridge and a tunnel. Children also appeared to remain amused long after the safety fencing was removed. I was relieved that I had introduced something that they seemingly enjoyed and even more relieved when observing children exploring and utilizing the space independent of staff interaction.
It is to everyone's benefit to view playgrounds more comprehensively than just responding to liability concerns. A custom playground is the best way to match children with a play environment that they can call their own.
Building custom playgrounds is a rare occupation that only a handful of companies throughout the US continue to specialize in. My greatest reward is seeing children fully engaged in the play environments we build in contrast to facilities that are filled with commercial equipment without considering how the space will function. To build a true playground is to make a setting available for children that is conducive to their individualized interests and creative potential.
A
playground needs to be able to mimic the experience a child would have
outside of what can be considered an institutional or containing
environment. The communities children grew up in twenty to thirty years
are vastly different than what a modern life style accommodates. How often are children allowed the time or
freedom to discover their own neighborhood? Communities are no longer
places of exchange but rather a place to sleep. Well intentioned parents are often inquiring about residential play structures which further isolates a child from the greatest element of play - having access to a friend. In a preschool environment, friendships are not founded within the structured time of the classroom but instead they are best developed during outdoor free-play activities. Unfortunately, this "free" time is often limited to one hour which dwindles to almost nothing as they progress through an education system that measures aptitude by higher test scores (contrary to what most child development experts support!).
In the early 1990s, many city and state agencies opted to dot our schools and public parks with the same cookie, cutter approach to playground improvement. I was enthusiastic at first with my job as the leader of a crew of playground builders, but increasingly, I became dismayed at the short sited approach which left very little to offer kids except a means to possibly "burn energy". I also realized that the structures we were erecting were not designed to last more than 10 years.
Most of the new playground structures in Hawaii were built on the premise of safety. It was assumed that children were now safer and lawsuits could be avoided because industry standards for playground safety were followed. On a national level, there is no evidence that the inundation of manufactured products kids now play on has had any effect on the number or severity of accidents. Playground safety guidelines introduced in the Handbook for Playground Safety (CPSC, 1997) brought an end to custom playgrounds as people became more fearful of anything that was not strictly commercial. The playgrounds that we grew up with were bulldozed with our childhood memories and replaced with plastic and steel structures that had no connection to the environments they were erected in. Regardless of following playground safety standards, lawsuits are still being filed but hardly ever brought to court since it is less costly to settle instead of going through the expense of a court decision.
The first playgrounds I built were an affirmation for me because I saw a dramatic difference in children's behavior once they had more play outlets and spaces to explore. A trike path was not simply a concrete sidewalk but was full of texture, obstacles, a bridge and a tunnel. Children also appeared to remain amused long after the safety fencing was removed. I was relieved that I had introduced something that they seemingly enjoyed and even more relieved when observing children exploring and utilizing the space independent of staff interaction.
It is to everyone's benefit to view playgrounds more comprehensively than just responding to liability concerns. A custom playground is the best way to match children with a play environment that they can call their own.