Standards for site selection, construction, maintenance, and use of a playground

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STANDARDS FOR SITE SELECTION, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND USE OF A PLAYGROUND

A P ro ject P resen ted to The F a c u l t y o f t h e D e p a r tm e n t o f E d u c a t i o n U n iv e r s ity of S o u th ern C a lif o r n ia

In P a r tia l F u lfillm e n t o f t h e R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e Degree. M a s t e r of S c i e n c e i n E d u c a t i o n

by James F r e d W i t h e r s Ju n e 1950

UMI Number: EP46148

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'SO

U/ ?S V Y r

71A/j p r o j e c t r e p o r t , w r i t t e n u n d e r the d ir e c t io n o f the c a n d i d a t e ’s a d v i s e r a n d a p p r o v e d b y h i m , has been p r e s e n t e d to a n d a c c e p t e d by the F a c u l t y o f th e S c h o o l o f E d u c a t i o n in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f the r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r th e d e g r e e

of M a s te r of

S c i e n c e in E d u c a t i o n .

____

Adviser

< £L ~ . (R .'S S Y Dean

TABLE OP CONTENTS CHAPTER I.

PAGE

THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITION OP TERMS U S E D .................... The p r o b le m

........................................................

1 2

S t a t e m e n t of t h e p r o b l e m ..............

2

P u r p o s e o f t h e s t u d y ...................................

2

I m p o r t a n c e o f t h e p r o b l e m ..................

2

L i m i t a t i o n s a n d w e a k n e s s e s ...........................................

4

Scope o f t h e p r o b le m

4

..................................................

Method o f p r o c e d u r e .........................

. ................

D e f i n i t i o n o f t e r m s .............................. Playground, p l a y f i e l d ,

4 5

o r p l a y a r e a ......................

5

...

5

S ite S t a n d a r d s ...............................................................

5

H e a l t h f u l n e s s ...................................

5

S afety

6

C o n stru ctio n

................ ..................

6

D e s i g n ...................................

6

G r a d in g ..............................

6

T u r t l e - b a c k method ...................................

6

D r a i n i n g ................

6

S u r f a c e ......................................................

7

A b r a s i v e ...............................................

7

R e s i l i e n c e ..................................... M a i n te n a n c e .................................

...

7 7

iv

CHAPTER

PAGE A p p a r a t u s .........................................................................

7

Clamp ......................................

8

"S" h o o k ...............................................

8

Use ...............................................

8

The o r g a n i z a t i o n o f r e m a i n i n g c h a p t e r s ........... II.

THE SELECTION OP A S I T E ............................................ D eterm ining th e s iz e

10 13

H e a lth f u ln e s s and s a f e t y

16

Summary

IV.

10

L o c a t i o n o f a p l a y g r o u n d .....................

C ost

III.

................

8

........................................

.....................

17

................

18

PLAYGROUND CONSTRUCTION ...........................................................

21

D e s i g n i n g t h e p l a y g r o u n d ....................................................

21

G r a d in g a n d d r a i n a g e ..............................................................

25

Surface m a te ria ls

26

..............................

F e n c i n g .....................

29

L i g h t i n g ..........................................................................

31

T r a f f i c l a n e s a n d w a lk s ......................................................

32

S u m m a r y .............................................................................................

32

MAINTENANCE...............................................................

34

Inspections

............................................................................

34

Common r e p a i r s

............................................................................

36

S u m m a r y ............................ V. , DIRECTION AND U S E ..................................................

42 45

CHAPTER

PAGE

D i r e c t i o n ................ Use of f a c i l i t i e s

V I.

45 ......................................

49

Use o f a p p a r a t u s ........................................................................

52

S u m m a r y ................. . ............................................................

56

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................................

59

Summary ................................................................

59

F i n d i n g s o f t h e s t u d y ....................................................

60

C onclusions

62

BIBLIOGRAPHY

.....................

...........................................................

64

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED Many c o m m u n itie s a r e s e e k i n g t o u s e t h e s c h o o l r e c r e a ­ t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s f o r b o t h t h e s c h o o l a n d t h e community a c t i v i ­ t y program s.

As a r e s u l t , t h e y o f t e n f i n d t h a t t h e s c h o o l

p la y g ro u n d -is too sm all or oth erw ise in a d eq u ate to p erm it s u c h an a r r a n g e m e n t .

In order to c o rre c t t h i s d i f f i c u l t y , i t

i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e r e s p o n s i b l e p e r s o n s t o be a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e s t a n d a r d s s e t up by l e a d i n g e d u c a t o r s a n d r e c r e a t i o n a l experts.

At th e p r e s e n t , th e s ta n d a r d s a r e s c a t t e r e d th r o u g h ­

o u t t h e e d u c a t i o n a l a n d r e c r e a t i o n a l l i t e r a t u r e a n d a r e some­ tim es d i f f i c u l t to l o c a t e .

A fte r review ing th e se sta n d a rd s,

one i s l i k e l y t o f i n d t h a t t h e d i f f e r e n t s o u r c e s p r o v i d e d i f ­ f e r e n t p o i n t s o f v ie w .

To cope w i t h t h e l o c a l p r o b l e m , t h e

s t a n d a r d s may have t o be s t u d i e d a n d t h e ones most d e s i r a b l e f o r th e l o c a l s i t u a t i o n used t o guide th e t r a n s i t i o n program . I n r e c e n t y e a r s , many s c h o o l s i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e com­ m u n i t y r e c r e a t i o n a l p r o g r a m have f o u n d t h a t t h e i r p l a y f a c i l i ­ t i e s w ere n o t s u f f i c i e n t t o m eet t h e n e e d s of t h e i n c r e a s e d en rollm ent.

The s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n was t h e n c o n f r o n t e d

w i t h t h e t a s k o f making t h e f a c i l i t i e s m e e t t h e e d u c a t i o n a l and r e c r e a t i o n a l needs of th e s t u d e n t s .

Here a g a i n , t h e p r e ­

s e n t s t a n d a r d s s h o u l d have b e e n r e v i e w e d f o r i d e a s o f i m p r o v e ­ m ents.

2;

I.

THE PROBLEM

S t a t e m e n t of t h e p r o b l e m .

Many s c h o o l s a n d c o m m u n ities

have p o o r and i n a d e q u a t e p l a y a r e a s .

I n f a c e of t h i s s i t u a ­

t i o n , t h e y have t o a l t e r t h e f a c i l i t i e s

on hand o r c o n s t r u c t

new c e n t e r s t h a t can be u s e d f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l a n d p h y s i c a l a c ­ tiv itie s.

B e f o r e a n y t h i n g can be done t o r e c t i f y t h e s i t u a t i o n ,

some i d e a a s t o t h e l a t e s t s t a n d a r d s i n p l a y g r o u n d s i t e s e l e c ­ t i o n , c o n s t r u c t i o n , m a i n t e n a n c e a n d u s e must be o b t a i n e d . P u r p o s e of t h e s t u d y .

The p u r p o s e o f t h e s t u d y was t o

a c c u m u l a t e some o f t h e s t a n d a r d s s e t up by e d u c a t i o n a l a n d r e c r e a t i o n a l e x p e rts r e l a t i n g to playground s i t e s e l e c t i o n , c o n s t r u c t i o n , m a in te n a n c e , and use.

I t was a l s o d e s i r e d t h a t

t h i s s t u d y h e l p i n t e r e s t e d p e r s o n s become b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e p r a c t i c e s u s e d i n c o n s t r u c t i n g and m a i n t a i n i n g a modern p l a y g r o u n d . Im portance of th e problem .

C. E. S p e n c e r s t a t e s ,^

"In

o r d e r t o c a r r y on a p r o g ra m of p h y s i c a l a n d h e a l t h e d u c a t i o n t h a t w i l l m eet t h e s o c i a l a n d p h y s i c a l n e e d s o f t h e c h i l d r e n , a d e q u a t e eq u ip m e n t and s u p p l i e s a r e n e e d e d . "

He c o n t i n u e s ,

"Where f a c i l i t i e s a r e i n a d e q u a t e , e f f o r t s s h o u l d be made t o

1 J . H. H i g h s m i t h a n d o t h e r s , Handbook f o r E l e m e n t a r y and Secondary S chools ( P u b l i c a t i o n #21 9 ; R a le i g h , N orth C a ro lin a : S t a t e S u p e rin te n d e n t of P u b lic I n s t r u c t i o n , 1940), p . 16.

im prove t h e m . 11 These f a c t s have become r a t h e r o b v io u s t o most of t o d a y ’ s e d u c a t o r s ; h o w ev e r, some may be r e l u c t a n t t o a d m it it. I t i s i m p o r t a n t f o r a c h i l d t o become s o c i a l l y e f f i c i ­ e n t a n d g r o u p games and c o m p e t i t i v e a t h l e t i c s a r e e x c e l l e n t m edia f o r d e v e l o p i n g a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r human n a t u r e .

On t h e p l a y g r o u n d , a c h i l d has a n o p p o r t u n i t y

t o i n t e r p r e t a s i t u a t i o n c o r r e c t l y by t h i n k i n g q u i c k l y and t o make a n d a c t upon a c c u r a t e d e c i s i o n s .

A l l of th e s e f a c t o r s

c o n t r ib u t e to th e em otional s t a b i l i t y of a c h i ld .

Under e x ­

p e r t l e a d e r s h i p , p h y s i c a l a c t i v i t y may p l a y a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t 2 i n t h e g r o w t h and d e v e lo p m e n t of young p e o p l e . P lay is the r e a l e s t asp e c t of l i v i n g to the l i t t l e

c h i l d , and t h e p ro b le m s

of r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s s e r i o u s t o him a s a r e t h e p r o b le m s of l i v ­ ing to a d u l t s . ^ The m ain r e a s o n s f o r t h e n e e d of l a r g e r and b e t t e r p l a y a r e a s a r e ; ( l ) t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n of s m a l l s c h o o l s i n t o l a r g e r a n d more e f f i c i e n t o n e s ;

( 2 } t h e e x p a n d in g c u r r i c u l u m b a s e d on

t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e s c h o o l s s h o u l d e d u c a t e t h e s t u d e n t s more f u l l y and c o m p le te ly ;

( 3 ) th e enrichm ent of th e p h y s i c a l educa­

t i o n p r o g r a m ; a n d , ( 4 ) t h e n e e d f o r a d u l t r e c r e a t i o n and

~ 2 N a tio n a l E d u catio n A s s o c ia tio n , H e a lth E ducation ( 2 0 t h Y ea rb o o k ; W a s h i n g t o n , D. C . : N a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , 1 9 4 1 ) , p . 69. 3 W. W. P a t t y , T e a c h i n g H e a l t h and S a f e t y i n E l e m e n t a r y G ra d e s (New Y ork: P r e n t i c e - H a l l , I n c . , 1 9 4 8 ) , p . 308.

ed u catio n .4 sidered .

T h e r e i s a l s o a n o t h e r r e a s o n t h a t may he con ­

S c h o o l s of t o d a y a r e i n some i n s t a n c e s making t h e i r

f a c i l i t i e s a v a i l a b l e t o t h e community f o r a f t e r s c h o o l a n d sum­ mer r e c r e a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s . L i m i t a t i o n s and w e a k n e sse s. ti o n s and w eaknesses in t h i s

There a re s e v e r a l l i m i t a ­

study.

Some o f t h e t o p i c s may n o t

have r e c e i v e d a s much e m p h a s is a s t h e y d e s e r v e ; w h ereas', o t h e r s may have r e c e i v e d t o o much a t t e n t i o n .

i'h is stu d y i t s e l f i s

b a s e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y on m a t e r i a l t h a t i n d i c a t e d l i t t l e s t a t i s t i c a l foundation.

o r no

No a t t e m p t was made i n t h i s s t u d y t o

e s t a b l i s h s t a n d a r d s f o r a n y p a r t i c u l a r t y p e o f p l a y a r e a or f o r any s p e c i f i c l o c a l i t y .

R ather, i t

i s an o v e r - a l l p i c t u r e

o f t h e p r o b l e m s f a c e d when s e l e c t i n g a s i t e a n d c o n s t r u c t i n g , m a i n t a i n i n g , a n d u s i n g a s c h o o l o r community p l a y g r o u n d . Scope o f t h e p r o b l e m . s e l e c t i o n of a s i t e ,

T h i s s t u d y was l i m i t e d t o t h e

t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n , t h e m a i n t e n a n c e , and

t h e use of t h e p l a y g r o u n d .

No a t t e m p t was made t o d i s c u s s

p l a y g r o u n d e q u ip m e n t o r a p p a r a t u s o t h e r t h a n t h e : p r e s e n t a t i o n o f some p r o b l e m s o f m a i n t e n a n c e a n d u s e . Method o f p r o c e d u r e .

The d a t a f o r t h i s s t u d y was ob­

ta in e d through l i b r a r y r e s e a rc h .

A r e v i e w was made of s t a n d a r d s

4 J . -‘A. W i l l i a m s an d C. L. B r o w n e l l , The A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f H e a l t h a n d P h y s i c a l E d u c a t i o n ( 3 r d E d i t i o n ; London and P h i l a d e l p h i a : W. B. S a u n d e r s Company, 1 9 4 6 ) , p p . 7 1 - 7 2 .

s e t up b y l e a d e r s I n t h e f i e l d s o f e d u c a t i o n a n d r e c r e a t i o n a s w e l l a s p r o p o s a l s f o u n d i n some u n p u b l i s h e d m a t e r i a l s . D ata f ro m t h e s e s o u r c e s was s t u d i e d a n d t h e f i n d i n g s a p p e a r i n g t o be i n g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t w ere u s e d t o f o r m u l a t e t h e t e x t of t h i s s t u d y . II.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

T h ro u g h o u t t h i s s t u d y , t h e r e a r e te r m s w h i c h a r e some­ what t e c h n i c a l o r w h ic h may be i n t e r p r e t e d i n s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t w ays.

To a v o i d m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t h i s p o r t i o n o f t h e s t u d y

was i n s e r t e d t o e x p l a i n t h e s e te r m s a s t h e y a r e r e l a t e d t o t h e problem . P lay g ro u n d , p l a y f i e l d , or p la y a r e a .

Some l e a d e r s i n

t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l f i e l d s v ie w e a c h o f t h e s e term s as bein g d i f f e r e n t ty p e s of r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s .

In th is

s t u d y , t h e y a r e m eant t o mean a n y s p a c e t h a t p r o v i d e s r e c r e a ­ t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o t h o s e p e r s o n s u s i n g them. S ite.

A s i t e i s a p l o t o f g r o u n d t o be s e t a s i d e f o r

u s e a s a p l a y a r e a , w h e t h e r f o r community o r s c h o o l p u r p o s e s . . S tandards.

S t a n d a r d s a r e m odels o r g a g e s t h a t g u i d e

t h e r e s p o n s i b l e p e r s o n s i n b u i l d i n g an d m a i n t a i n i n g t h e p l a y ­ ground. H ealthfulness.

The h e a l t h f u l n e s s o f t h e p l a y g r o u n d

means t h a t t h e a r e a d o e s n o t h av e t h e p r e s e n c e o f f a c t o r s t h a t w i l l cause p h y s ic a l or m ental in j u r y to th o se u sin g i t . S afety .

S a f e t y on t h e p l a y g r o u n d i s i n t e r p r e t e d a s t h e

la c k of p o s s i b le o p p o r tu n iti e s to r e c e iv e i n j u r i e s w h ile using the f a c i l i t i e s . C o nstruction.

To make t h e s e l e c t e d s i t e u s a b l e f o r

r e c r e a t i o n b y t a k i n g t h e s t e p s n e c e s s a r y t o m e et t h e s t a n d a r d s s e t up by a u t h o r i t i e s i s r e f e r r e d t o a s c o n s t r u c t i o n . D esign.

D esigning a playground in v o lv e s th e d iv id i n g

o f t h e a r e a i n t o t h e v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s t o be u s e d f o r t h e d i f ­ f e r e n t a c t i v i t i e s t h a t a r e i n c l u d e d i n t h e p r o g ra m s e t u p . G rading.

I t i s u s u a l l y n e c e s s a r y t o remove t h e r i d g e s

an d f i l l i n t h e p o r t i o n s w h ic h a r e low i n o r d e r t o make t h e s u r f a c e sm ooth a n d r e a s o n a b l y l e v e l .

T h i s p r o c e s s I s commonly

known a s g r a d i n g . T u r t l e - b a c k m e th o d .

The t u r t l e - b a c k method i s a method

of g r a d i n g t h a t l e a v e s t h e m id d l e o f t h e a r e a h i g h e r t h a n t h e edges.

As a r e s u l t , a l l e x c e s s w a t e r w i l l f l o w t o t h e o u t ­

s k i r t s r a t h e r t h a n s t a n d on t h e p l a y i n g s u r f a c e o f t h e p l a y ­ ground. D raining.

Any s y s t e m d e v i s e d t o remove e x c e s s w a t e r

from t h e p l a y f i e l d i s commonly known a s a d r a i n i n g s y s t e m .

Surface.

A playground su rfa c e i s s o i l or m a te r ia l

u s e d t o c o v e r t h e p l a y a r e a t o make i t s m o o t h e r a n d more e f ­ ficie n t.

Such m a t e r i a l s a s c o n c r e t e , a s p h a l t , a n d s a n d - c l a y

a r e o f t e n s p r e a d o v e r t h e n a t u r a l s o i l t o make t h e p l a y g r o u n d more u s a b l e . A brasive.

A s u r f a c e -is c o n s i d e r e d t o b e a b r a s i v e i f i t

h a s t h e q u a l i t i e s n e c e s s a r y t o p r e v e n t c h i l d r e n from l o s i n g t h e i r f o o t i n g or s l i p p i n g w hile u s in g th e f a c i l i t i e s

i n the

u s u a l manner. R esilien ce.

The t e r m , r e s i l i e n c e , r e f e r s t o t h e a b i l i ­

ty of th e playground s u rfa c e to s p rin g back or r e t u r n to i t s u s u a l p o s i t i o n when i t r e c e i v e s a s e v e r e b lo w .

A surface th a t

d o e s n o t p o s s e s s t h i s q u a l i t y i s e a s y t o c h i p o r c r a c k and i s more l i k e l y t o c a u s e i n j u r y t o t h e body when someone f a l l s or slip s. M aintenance.

K ee p ing f a c i l i t i e s f r e e fro m d e f e c t s a n d

i n c o n d itio n to perform a t to p c a p a c ity w ith o u t endangering t h o s e p e r s o n s u s i n g them i s i n t e r p r e t e d a s m a i n t e n a n c e . A pparatus.

P l a y a p p a r a t u s i s c o n s i d e r e d t o be t h e

e q u i p m e n t p l a c e d on p l a y a r e a s t o p r o v i d e t h e u s e r s a n o p p o r ­ t u n i t y t o c l i m b , s w i n g , s l i d e , and a c q u i r e o t h e r form s o f e x ­ ercise.

E q u ip m e n t, s u c h a s s w i n g s , s l i d e s , a n d se e sa w s a r e

u s u a lly placed in t h i s category.

Clamp*

A clamp I s a d e v i s e u s e d on t h e p l a y g r o u n d t o

f a s t e n th e v ario u s p a r t s of the a p p a ra tu s to g e th er* hook*

An f,S tt hook i s a p i e c e o f h e a v y m e t a l b e n t

in to the

s h a p e of a n f,S n a n d u s e d t o a t t a c h two p a r t s o f

p ie ce of

apparatus to g e th e r.

some

I t i s o f t e n used to se c u re the

c h a i n s o f a sw ing t o t h e s e a t a n d t o t h e fra m ew ork c o n s t r u c t e d t o s u p p o r t t h e s w in g . Use.

I t i s o f t e n n e c e s s a r y t o s e t up r u l e s a n d r e g u l a ­

t i o n s o r s u g g e s t e d m e tho ds f o r a most e f f e c t i v e p l a y g r o u n d program .

These f a c t o r s a r e i m p o r t a n t i n c a r r y i n g o u t a ‘ p r o ­

gram a n d p e r t a i n t o t h e u s e o f t h e f a c i l i t i e s . Playground d i r e c t o r . study i s

The d i r e c t o r r e f e r r e d t o i n t h i s

th e p e rs o n i n com plete charge of th e playground p r o ­

gram, e q u i p m e n t , and p e r s o n n e l b u t who i s u n d e r t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e c o m m itt e e or b o a r d w h ic h a c t s a s h e a d o f t h e s c h o o l o r r e c r e a t i o n a l program . III.

THE ORGANISATION OP REMAINING CHAPTERS .

T h i s s t u d y was d e s i g n e d t o p r e s e n t t h e i m p o r t a n t p h a s e s of p la y g ro u n d c o n s t r u c t i o n and m aintenance i n t h e o rd e r t h a t th e problem s o cc u r.

C h a p t e r I I p r o p o s e s t o p r e s e n t some o f t h e

p r o b l e m s t h a t u s u a l l y f a c e c o m m itt e e s a p p o i n t e d t o s e l e c t a p layground s i t e .

I t a l s o c o n t a i n s some r e c o m m e n d a tio n s f o r

s o l v i n g t h e p r o b le m s a s s u g g e s t e d by e d u c a t i o n a n d r e c r e a t i o n

au th o rities. C hapter I I I p r e s e n t s th e l a t e s t id e a s p e r t a i n i n g to p l a y ­ ground c o n s tr u c tio n .

S tandards f o r g ra d in g , d r a in in g , s u r f a c ­

i n g , l i g h t i n g a n d f e n c i n g a r e some o f t h e p r o b l e m s d i s c u s s e d . C h a p t e r IV p r o p o s e s t o show t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f a good m a i n t e n a n c e p ro g ra m a n d some p l a n s f o r d e v e l o p i n g a n e f f e c t i v e system f o r c a r r y in g i t o u t.

I t a ls o contains d isc u ssio n s r e ­

l a t e d t o i n s p e c t i o n s and r e p a i r s . I n C h a p t e r V, t h e d u t i e s o f t h e p l a y g r o u n d p e r s o n n e l , t h e s e g r e g a t i o n of s t u d e n t s , t h e r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s n ee d ed t o c o n d u c t a n e f f i c i e n t p r o g r a m , and some p o s s i b l e s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e l a c k of f a c i l i t i e s a r e t h e main t o p i c s . C h a p t e r VI p r o p o s e s t o p r e s e n t c a r e f u l l y draw n con­ c l u s i o n s i n view of t h e f i n d i n g s o f t h e s t u d y .

Many o f t h e

t o p i c s of t h e s t u d y a r e c o n t r o v e r s i a l a n d i t would be d i f f i ­ c u l t t o make f r u i t f u l r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s ; t h e r e f o r e , recommenda­ tio n s a r e not p re s e n te d in the f i n a l c h a p te r.

Each of t h e

c h a p t e r s i n t h i s s t u d y c o n c l u d e s w i t h a summary of t h e main to p ics in d isc u ssio n s.

CHAPTER I I

THE SELECTION OP A SITE One o f t h e most o u t s t a n d i n g p r o b l e m s i n c o n s t r u c t i n g a p l a y g r o u n d i s t h e s e l e c t i o n o f a s i t e a n d p r o b a b l y t h e most i m p o r t a n t p h a s e s o f t h i s p r o b le m a r e :

(l)size;

(2)lo catio n ;

( 3 ) h e a l t h f u l n e s s and s a f e t y ; a n d , ( 4 ) t h e c o s t of th e s i t e . The p u r p o s e of t h i s c h a p t e r i s t o p r e s e n t some s u g g e s t e d ways o f m e e t i n g t h e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d s o l v i n g them a c c o r d i n g t o the h ig h e s t s ta n d a rd s . D eterm ining th e s i z e .

T oday, t h e g e n e r a l t r e n d i s

to w a r d a l a r g e r s c h o o l p l a y g r o u n d . i n r e l a t i o n t o a community p l a y a r e a .

T his i s p ro b a b ly t r u e I t is also lik e ly th at

th e tr e n d s f o r a l l p la y a r e a s a r e tow ard;

(l)g rea ter u t i l i ­

z a t i o n o f s i t e s ; a n d , (2 )c o m m u n ity a n d s c h o o l u s e o f t h e f a c i l i p ties. Each of t h e s e f a c t o r s may have a d e f i n i t e i n f l u e n c e on t h e a c r e a g e n e e d e d f o r a p u b l i c s c h o o l p l a y g r o u n d . T here a r e s e v e r a l ways by w h ic h t h e r e s p o n s i b l e b o a r d o r co m m itte e can d e t e r m i n e t h e s i z e o f t h e p l o t n e e d e d f o r a proposed r e c r e a t i o n a l a r e a .

P e r h a p s t h e f i r s t s t e p would be

t o p r e p a r e a map o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n t h a t w i l l be s e r v e d by t h e

1 E.' R. de Shaw, ' ' G r o u n d s , ” S c h o o l Management, 1 8 : 2 0 . November, 1946. 2 Loc. c i t .

11

play g ro u n d .

The p r e p a r a t i o n of such, a map c o u l d g i v e some

i d e a of t h e number of p e o p l e t o be s e r v e d .

.A fter o b ta in in g

t h i s d a t a , i t m i g h t be w i s e t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e number of b u i l d i n g p e r m i t s i s s u e d i n t h e p a s t f i v e y e a r s i n t h e com­ m unity.

Be p r e p a r i n g a map a c c o r d i n g t o t h e d a t a f o u n d i n

t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n some c o n c l u s i o n a s t o t h e p o p u l a t i o n s h i f t , i f a n y , c a n be r e a c h e d .

P a s t and f u t u r e p la n s of th e p u b l i c

u t i l i t i e s d e p a r t m e n t a n d a know ledge

of -the p r o p o s e d

ora n t i ­

c i p a t e d r e a l e s t a t e d e a l s may i n s u r e

a more a c c u r a t e

estim ate

of th e p o s s i b l e grow th or d e c r e a s e in p o p u l a t i o n .

Through

t h e s e s t u d i e s , t h e co m m itte e or b o a r d s h o u l d be a b l e t o a c ­ q u i r e i n f o r m a t i o n w h ich would make t h e r e s t of t h e o p e r a t i o n easier. Once a t h o r o u g h i n v e s t i g a t i o n h a s b e e n made o f t h e p o p ­ u l a t i o n , b o th p r e s e n t and f u t u r e , i t

i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t some

f o r m u l a f o r d e t e r m i n i n g s i z e s h o u l d be d e v i s e d .

On r u l e r e ­

g a r d i n g t h i s p h a s e i s t h a t t h e a r e a s h o u l d be l a r g e enough t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e l a r g e s t number of g r o u n d s a t a n y one t i m e . 3

p e o p l e who w i l l

In reaching th is

be on t h e

c o n s lu s io n , those

i n v o l v e d would do w e l l t o c o n s i d e r t h e a g e g r o u p s of t h e p o p u l a t i o n w h ic h w i l l u s e t h e p l a y g r o u n d .

S eparate plans are

u s u a l l y n e c e s s a r y when b a s e b a l l a n d f o o t b a l l f i e l d s a r e t o

3~«J. H. H i g h s m i t h a n d o t h e r s , Handbook f o r E l e m e n t a r y and Secondary Schools ( P u b l i c a t i o n #255; R a le ig h 7 N orth Car­ o l i n a ; S t a t e S u p e r in te n d e n t of P u b lic I n s t r u c t i o n , 1947). p . 48. '

be I n c l u d e d i n t h e p r o g r a m . separate a tte n tio n a re : b all;

O th e r a c t i v i t i e s t h a t may r e q u i r e

(l)ten n is;

( 4 ) t r a c k and f i e l d ;

(2 )b ask etb all;

(3 )vo lley -

(5)swim ming; ( 6 ) b a d m i n t o n ; a n d , ( 7 )

any o th e r a c t i v i t y t h a t r e q u i r e s a l a r g e sp a c e . A c o m m itt e e d e s i g n a t e d t o p l a n and c o n s t r u c t a p l a y ­ g r o u n d may s e t up i t s area is req u ired .

own f o r m u l a t o d e t e r m i n e how l a r g e a n

The r e s u l t s o f i t s p l a n n i n g may v a r y from

one l o c a t i o n t o a n o t h e r , b e c a u s e some c o m m u n itie s have a d e ­ q u a t e f a c i l i t i e s f o r swimming, b a s k e t b a l l , and o t h e r s u c h a c t i v i t i e s i n community b u i l d i n g s or r e c r e a t i o n c e n t e r s p r o ­ v i d e d f o r p u b l i c and s c h o o l u s e .

However, when p o s s i b l e , i t

i s p r o b a b l y b e t t e r t o have a l l f a c i l i t i e s

on o r a r o u n d t h e

same l o c a t i o n . The s u g g e s t e d number of s q u a r e f e e t t o be a l l o t t e d p e r p e r s o n r a n g e s from t h i r t y t o t h r e e h u n d r e d s q u a r e f e e t . ^ By f o l l o w i n g t h e f o r m u l a (,Xtf t i m e s

f,X" r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e

number of -p e o p le t o b e s e r v e d and

r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e number

of s q u a r e f e e t t o be a l l o t t e d t o e a c h p e r s o n , m a tte r to d eterm in e the s i z e p l o t r e q u i r e d . ed f o r a t h l e t i c f i e l d s

i t may be a s i m p l e I f the space need ­

or c o u r t s a r e n o t t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a ­

t i o n when d e c i d i n g how many f e e t w i l l be a l l o t t e d t o e a c h p e r ­ s o n , i t s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d s e p a r a t e l y and a d d e d t o t h e f o r ­ mula w i t h due c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o p o s s i b l e f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t s .

~ _ 4 _ J . _ P . W i l l i a m s a n d C. L. B r o w n e l l , The A d m i n i s t r a t3-on o£ H e a l t h a n d P h y s i c a l E d u c a t i o n ( 3 r d E3TFiFri; F > h ila d e lp h i a and London: W. B. S a u n d e r s Company, 1 9 4 6 ) , p . 307.

13

If it

i s d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e p o p u l a t i o n w i l l grow, t h e e x p e c t ­

ed g r o w t h s h o u l d a l s o he r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e f o r m u l a . When a co m m itte e makes a c a r e f u l s t u d y o f t h e communi­ t y n e e d s a n d p o s s i b l e f u t u r e n e e d s , i t i s l e s s l i k e l y t o make a m i s t a k e w h ic h may c a u s e s e r i o u s c o m p l i c a t i o n s I n t h e f u t u r e . Had t h e r e s p o n s i b l e p e r s o n s o f t h e p a s t b e e n more c a r e f u l and mad©1 a b e t t e r a t t e m p t t o f o r e c a s t t h e f u t u r e ,

t h e y m i g h t have

e l e m i n a t e d some o f t h e p o o r c o n d i t i o n s t h a t e x i s t t o d a y . Location of a playground.

Hew a n d b e t t e r means o f t r a n s ­

p o r t a t i o n have done much t o s i m p l i f y t h e p r o b le m o f p r o p e r l y lo c a tin g a playground.

Due t o t h e e x t e n s i v e u s e o f autom o­

b i l e s a n d b u s s e s , i t i s e a s i e r f o r p e o p l e t o g e t t o a n d f ro m recreatio n al areas.

I n vie w o f t h i s , i t i s no l o n g e r e s s e n ­

t i a l t h a t r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s be l o c a t e d i n t h e c e n t e r of t h e com m unity.

I t m ig h t be w i s e r t o l o c a t e them on a b e t t e r

a n d l a r g e r s i t e on t h e o u t s k i r t s o f town t h a n t o crowd them i n among t h e h e a v y t r a f f i c l a n e s , f a c t o r i e s , a n d o t h e r h a ­ z a r d s f o u n d i n a community.® When i t c a n be a r r a n g e d , t h e p l a y g r o u n d s h o u l d be l o ­ c a te d n e a r th e l o c a l school.®

T h i s would make t h e f a c i l i t i e s

more c o n v e n i e n t f o r a f t e r s c h o o l p l a y a n d may a l s o c o n t r i b u t e t o th e s c h o o l program by a d d in g t o i t s f a c i l i t i e s .

5 I b i d ... p . 87. 6 I b i d . , p . 306.

14

S i n c e t h e s c h o o l s of t o d a y a r e s a c r i f i c i n g c e n t r a l i t y f o r s p a c e , i t may be p o s s i b l e f o r t h e s c h o o l t o combine w i t h t h e community r e c r e a t i o n d e p a r t m e n t i n b u i l d i n g a p l a y g r o u n d w h ic h w i l l s e r v e t h e e n t i r e community.

S uch a p l a n c o u l d make

i t p o s s i b l e f o r th o s e u s in g th e p l a y f i e l d t o use th e sch o o l u tilitie s,

d r i n k i n g f o u n t a i n s a n d t o i l e t s , a n d i n so d o i n g ,

reduce the c o s t of c o n s tr u c tio n .

As a r e s u l t , t h e s c h o o l

c o u l d be u s e d f o r a d u l t c l a s s e s s p o n s o r e d by t h e c i t y , and a t t h e same t i m e , make t h e s c h o o l p l a n t more e f f e c t i v e .

Thus,

t h e s c h o o l would s e r v e a s a community r e c r e a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n cen ter. C a r e f u l t h o u g h t s h o u l d be g i v e n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f t r a n s ­ p o rtatio n .

When s e l e c t i n g a p l a y g r o u n d s i t e ,

i t i s recommend­

ed t h a t a bus l i n e and a p a v e d r o a d l e a d t o a n d from t h e a r e a by a w e l l p l a n n e d r o u t e . ^

T h i s n ee d s s p e c i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n

s i n c e t h e p e o p l e must be a s s u r e d o f s e r v i c e a n d a s a f e j o u r n e y b e t w e e n t h e i r home and t h e p l a y a r e a . People a re u s u a l l y a t t r a c t e d to b ea u ty ; t h e r e f o r e , the l o c a t i o n s e l e c t e d m ust have s u r r o u n d i n g s w h ic h a r e a t t r a c t i v e an d p l e a s a n t .

In th e event i t is not p o s s i b l e to o b ta in a

p l o t w i t h s u c h f a v o r a b l e s u r r o u n d i n g s , some p l a n s f o r d e v e l o p i n g

7 N a tio n a l E ducation A s s o c ia tio n , H ea lth Education ( 2 0 t h Y ea rb o o k ; W a s h i n g t o n , D. C . ; N a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n A s s o ­ c i a t i o n of th e U n ite d S t a t e s , 1941), p. 233.

15

a b e a u t i f u l a n d r e s t f u l e n v i r o n m e n t must be made. A n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t i t e m t h a t n e e d s t o be s t u d i e d b e f o r e p u r c h a s i n g a s i t e i s t h e t y p e of s o i l a n d t h e amount o f g r a d ­ in g t h a t w i l l be n e c e s s a r y .

A sm ooth l e v e l a r e a i s p r e f e r r e d

o v e r one w h i c h i s r o c k y and made up of h i l l s a n d g u l l i e s . choosing w is e ly ,

By

i t i s p o s s i b l e t o save a g r e a t d e a l of tim e

and money on c o n s t r u c t i o n . One o f t h e common f a u l t s

of t o d a y ' s p l a y g r o u n d s i s t h e

poor l o c a t i o n of s i t e s in r e l a t i o n to s a f e t y h az a rd s.

Q

To

p r e v e n t s u c h a p r o b l e m , t h e co m m itte e c h o s e n t o s e l e c t a p l a y a r e a would have t o be q u i c k t o d e t e c t a n y h a z a r d on or n e a r t h e s i t e in q uestion.

Here a g a i n , t h e y may be a b l e t o s a v e much

e x p e n s e a n d g r i e f by k e e p i n g t h e p l a y g r o u n d away from r a i l ­ r o a d s , swamps, s t r e a m s , h ea v y t r a f f i c l a n e s and a n y o t h e r f a c t o r s w h i c h may become a s a f e t y p r o b l e m .

By e l i m i n a t i n g a l l

p o s s ib le u n h ealth y or unsafe o b s t i c l e s , the p la y f a c i l i t i e s w i l l p r o b a b l y be more h i g h l y a p p r e c i a t e d by t h e c h i l d r e n and t h e a d u l t s who u s e th em . Those i n c h a r g e s h o u l d a l s o p r e v e n t t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f p l a y g r o u n d s n e a r r a c e t r a c k s , g a m b lin g h o u s e s , b a r s , o r o t h e r s o c ia l hazards.

Very few p a r e n t s w i l l e n c o u r a g e t h e i r c h i l d r e n

~ r 8 J . P . W i l l i a m s and P. B. Shaw, M a t e r i a l s a n d Methods of H e a l t h E d u c a t i o n (New Y orkt The R o n a ld P r e s s fiomnanv. 1 9 3 6 ) , p . 87: 9 R. A b e r n a t h y , ,rP l a n n i n g E d u c a t i o n - R e c r e a t i o n A r e a s , * ’ S c h o o l E x e c u t i v e . 6 7 ; 4 7 , A u g u s t , 1948.

16

t o go I n t o a n a r e a w h ic h may have u n d e s i r a b l e e f f e c t s on them.

Any o f t h e s e p r o b l e m s s h o u l d b e s o l v e d t h r o u g h a

c a r e f u l p la n n in g b e f o r e choosing a s i t e . H e a lth fu ln e s s and s a f e t y .

I n o r d e r t o make t h e r e c r e ­

a t i o n a r e a more i n v i t i n g a n d a p p e a l i n g t o t h e p u b l i c , a n y f a c ­ t o r s w h ic h m ig h t i n j u r e t h e h e a l t h o f t h o s e who a t t e n d t h e a r e a s should be av o id ed .

T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l p r e c a u t i o n s t h a t must be

taken to av o id u n h ea lth y c o n d itio n s .

F i r s t , t h e f a c t o r s w h ich

a r e p o s s i b l e s a f e t y h a z a r d s o u g h t t o be e v a d e d . factory,

Second, any

i n c i n e r a t o r o r o t h e r smoke p r o d u c i n g s t r u c t u r e w i l l

c o n t a m i n a t e t h e a i r a n d may have a bad e f f e c t on t h e h e a l t h of p e r s o n s u s i n g t h e f a c i l i t i e s .

T h i r d , t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of

p l a y a r e a s n e a r s e w e r a g e o r g a r b a g e d i s p o s a l p l a n t s w h ich c r e a t e u n p l e a s a n t o d o r s s h o u l d be a v o i d e d .

F o u rth , a l l care

must be t a k e n t o i n s u r e a g a i n s t e x c e s s n o i s e by p u r c h a s i n g a s i t e i n d e p e n d e n t o f p l a n t s t h a t u se h e a v y m a c h i n e r y , a v i a t i o n f i e l d s , r a i l r o a d s , or an y o th e r so u rc e s of loud n o i s e . E i t h e r o f t h e above i t e m s can e f f e c t , d i r e c t l y o r i n ­ d i r e c t l y , t h e h e a l t h of c h i l d r e n or a d u l t s .

U n c l e a n a i r may

be h arm fu l to th e r e s p i r a t o r y t r a c t , and b e in g exposed to n o i s e c o u l d have a d e f i n i t e e f f e c t on t h e n e r v o u s s y s t e m o f b o t h t h e young a n d t h e o l d .

T herefore, a l l p o ssib le p recau­

t i o n s s h o u l d be t a k e n t o p r e v e n t i n j u r y t o p e r s o n a l h e a l t h . A p l o t t h a t d o e s n o t p r o v i d e good n a t u r a l d r a i n a g e p o s s i b i l i t i e s could prove hazardous to th o se u sin g i t w hile

17

i t i s s t i l l w et o r w ashed o a t by h e a v y r a i n s .

By s e l e c t i n g a

s i t e t h a t has good d r a i n a g e , s e r i o u s a c c i d e n t s , s u c h a s s l i p ­ p i n g o r s t u m b l i n g b y p a r t i c i p a n t s who a r e e a g e r f o r a p l a c e t o p l a y , may be r e d u c e d .

A l o c a t i o n o f t h a t t y p e would v e r y

l i k e l y h i n d e r t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l p r o g ra m a n d , t h e r e b y , d e s t r o y some o f i t s p o s s i b l e v a l u e t o t h e h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y o f t h e community. The h e a l t h f u l n e s s o f a s i t e i s r e f l e c t e d i n d i r e c t l y i n i t s s i z e . 1^

A p l a y a r e a s h o u l d be l a r g e enough t o p r o v i d e

a d e q u a t e a c t i v i t y s p a c e , s p a c e f o r d r i v e w a y s , a n d w a lk s t h a t provide landscapes ap p ealin g to th e c o m m u n i t y . P r e c a u t i o n s a l o n g t h e s e l i n e s c o u l d p r e v e n t some o f t h e a c c i d e n t s t h a t o f t e n o c c u r on o v e r c r o w d e d p l a y a r e a s a s w e l l a s have a more h e a l t h y e f f e c t on t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e c h i l d r e n t o w a r d o r g a n ­ ized p la y . I t would b e e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t t o f i n d a p l a y g r o u n d s i t e w h i c h r e q u i r e s no s a f e t y r u l e s o r e q u i p m e n t . it

However,

i s p o s s i b l e t o choose one w h ic h w i l l r e q u i r e v e r y few

ex tra sa fe ty devices.

T h i s c o u l d be a c c o m p l i s h e d by p u r c h a s ­

ing a p l o t t h a t i s alm o st f r e e of h a z a r d s .

I t is then p o s s i ­

b le to reduce the o b s t i d e s as th e b u ild in g p ro g re sses* C ost.

The amount o f money n e c e s s a r y t o p u r c h a s e a

10 J . FT W i l l i a m s a n d P . B. Shaw, l o c . c i t . 11 h o c . c i t .

18

s i t e may b e d e t e r m i n e d b y i t s l o c a t i o n a n d s i z e .

In other

i n s t a n c e s , t h e amount w h i c h can be s p e n t f o r t h e p l o t i s c o n ­ t r o l l e d by th e b u d g et.

R e g a r d l e s s of t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i t

would v e r y l i k e l y be b e t t e r t o sp e n d a l i t t l e more t o g e t a p l o t w i t h good p o s s i b i l i t i e s r a t h e r t h a n one w h i c h would r e ­ q u ir e c o n s ta n t r e b u i l d i n g or im proving.

By i n v e s t i n g i n a

s i t e w h ic h w i l l n o t s e r v e i t s p u r p o s e , a new l o c a t i o n i s l i k e ­ l y t o be n e e d e d i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e . .

I t may be b e t t e r t o w a i t

l o n g e r and a p p r o p r i a t e t h e e x t r a money n e e d e d t h a n t o s p e n d fo o lish ly .

A g r e a t d e a l o f i n f o r m a t i o n w h ic h m i g h t p r o v e

h e l p f u l i n s o l v i n g t h i s p r o b le m c a n be o b t a i n e d f ro m t h e s c h o o l p l a n n i n g b o a r d s t h a t e x i s t i n many s t a t e s .

1p

O t h e r f a c t o r s w h ic h h e l p t o r e g u l a t e t h e p r i c e o f a p l o t of la n d a r e th e econom ical s t a t u s of th e c o u n try , th e t y p e o f s o i l d e s i r e d , a n d t h e p a r t o f t h e c o u n t r y i n w h ic h t h e community i s l o c a t e d . w ith th o s e m entioned f a i r e s t i m a t e of

By c o n s i d e r i n g a l l t h e s e f a c t o r s a l o n g p r e v i o u s l y , one may be a b l e t o make a

t h e amount of money t h a t w i l l be n e e d e d t o

p u rch ase a playground s i t e .

T h i s p r o b le m s h o u l d be s t u d i e d

very c a r e f u l l y in order to g e t b e s t r e s u l t s . Summary. playgrounds t h a t

The g e n e r a l t r e n d i s to w a r d l a r g e r s c h o o l c a n be u s e d b y b o t h t h e s c h o o l a n d t h e

iS U~. ST E r w in , rfS t a t e S c h o o l h o u s e P l a n n i n g S e r v i c e s , S c h o o l E x e c u t i v e . 6 6 : 3 3 , F e b r u a r y , 1947.

19

community f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s . to accom plish t h i s ,

In order

t h e c o m m ittee o r b o a r d a p p o i n t e d t o p u r ­

c h a s e a s u i t a b l e s i t e must p l a n c a r e f u l l y by s t u d y i n g t h e com­ m u n it y n e e d s a n d c o n s i d e r i n g t h e p o s s i b l e community g r o w t h b e fo re f i n a l l y choosing th e s i t e .

By s e t t i n g up and f o l l o w ­

i n g a s i m p l e f o r m u l a , b a s e d on t h e number o f s q u a r e f e e t t o be a l l o t t e d t o e a c h p e r s o n t h a t w i l l u s e t h e p l a y g r o u n d , a n d by e s t i m a t i n g t h e s p a c e n e e d e d f o r p r e s e n t b u i l d i n g and f u t u r e g r o w t h , t h e number o f a c r e s n e e d e d can be q u i c k l y c a l c u l a t e d . G r e a t c a r e s h o u l d be t a k e n t o s i t u a t e t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l a r e a i n a s e c t i o n o f t h e community t h a t h a s t h e l e a s t number o f h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y h a z a r d s ..

P o o rly lo c a te d playgrounds e f ­

f e c t t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s , t h e h e a l t h an d s a f e t y of th o s e u s in g t h e f a c i l i t i e s , and th e a t t i t u d e of the community to w a r d p l a y a n d r e c r e a t i o n .

Too, i t

is im portant

t h a t a l l p e r s o n s o f t h e community have a c c e s s t o a n y p u b l i c r e c r e a t i o n c e n t e r a n d be a s s u r e d o f s a f e a n d c o n v e n i e n t t r a n s ­ p o r t a t i o n t o and from t h e a r e a . p ro ject,

I f i t i s t o be a p u b l i c

i t sh o u ld serve the p u b l i c .

T h ere a r e many f a c t o r s t h a t h e l p d e t e r m i n e t h e c o s t of a r e c r e a t i o n a l s i t e .

Some of t h e more i m p o r t a n t ones a r e

t h e l o c a t i o n , t h e s i z e , t h e economic s t a t u s o f t h e c o u n t r y , t h e p a r t o f c o u n t r y i n w h ic h t h e community i s l o c a t e d , and t h e t y p e of s o i l d e s i r e d .

S e l e c t i n g a good s i t e i s p r o b a b l y one

o f t h e most e s s e n t i a l p h a s e s of c o n s t r u c t i n g a p l a y a r e a .

C are­

f u l s e l e c t i o n c a n s a v e money, h e l p t h e r e c r e a t i o n p r o g r a m , a n d

20

ad d t o t h e h e a l t h of t h e community.

CHAPTER I I I

PLAYGROUND CONSTRUCTION The s e r v i c e w hich t h e p u b l i c w i l l g e t from a p l a y ­ g r o u n d w i l l d e p e n d l a r g e l y on i t s d e s i g n a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , t h i s p h a s e s h o u l d b e s t u d i e d and g i v e n t h o r o u g h t h o u g h t b e f o r e a c t u a l work b e g i n s .

C a r e f u l a n a l y s i s of th e

c o n s t r u c t i o n p l a n s c a n o f t e n s a v e t im e a n d money. Many p a r t s of t h e c o u n t r y s t i l l hav e p l a y a r e a s w h i c h a r e t o o s m a l l , p o o r l y d e s i g n e d and c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h l i t t l e r e g a r d to h e a l t h f u l n e s s and s a f e t y *

T h i s c h a p t e r aim s t o p r e ­

s e n t some o f t h e s t a n d a r d s , s e t up by l e a d i n g e d u c a t o r s , r e ­ g a r d i n g good c o n s t r u c t i o n p r a c t i c e s . D esigning th e p lay g ro u n d .

B efore a t te m p tin g t o con­

v e r t a p l o t of l a n d i n t o a p l a y a r e a , a m a s t e r p l a n , ing a b l u e p r i n t of th e p roposed f a c i l i t i e s ,

in clu d ­

s h o u l d be drawn

up a n d c a r e f u l l y s t u d i e d f o r p o s s i b l e im p r o v e m e n ts .

In o r­

d e r t o do t h i s e f f e c t i v e l y , t h e r e s p o n s i b l e p e r s o n s m ust know s o m e th in g o f t h e p l a y g r o u n d s t a n d a r d s .

Once a p l a n i s com­

p l e t e d a n d work h a s b e g u n , e a c h change o f p l a n s may a d d t o t h e c o s t o f c o n s t r u c t i o n due t o r e g r a d i n g , r e l o c a t i n g , o r a l t e r i n g p r o j e c t s t h a t a r e c o m p le t e d or n e a r l y c o m p l e t e d . Perhaps the f i r s t s te p in d e sig n in g a r e c r e a t i o n a l area i s to la y out th e area in to th e spaces re q u ir e d f o r t h e v a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s a n d t h e a r e a s t o be a s s i g n e d t o t h e

22

d i f f e r e n t age l e v e l s .

I n t a k i n g t h i s s t e p , some g e n e r a l i d e a

can he drawn a s t o w here t h e e x t r a s p a c e w i l l a p p e a r .

Then

p r o p e r a l t e r a t i o n s can he made t o make t h e e x t r a s p a c e a p p e a r w here i t i s m ost d e s i r e d .

B e f o r e a t t e m p t i n g t o make t h i s s e ­

cond s t e p , a l l a c t i v i t i e s , a p p a r a t u s , d r i v e w a y s , w a l k s , l o a d ­ i n g z o n e s , l a n d s c a p i n g , and b u i l d i n g s have t o be r e v i e w e d t o d e t e r m i n e where t h e y s h o u l d be l o c a t e d and t o make s u r e enough s p a c e i s a l l o t t e d t o each.'*' Some of t h e l e a d i n g e d u c a t o r s have s e t up s t a n d a r d s t h a t may h e l p t o d e c i d e l o c a t i o n s f o r eq u ip m e n t a n d a r e a s . F o r most e f f e c t i v e s e r v i c e ,

the a r e a s e t a s i d e f o r th e use

of t h e s m a l l e r c h i l d r e n s h o u l d be s i t u a t e d n e a r t h e b u i l d i n g a n d away from p l a y f a c i l i t i e s d e s i g n e d f o r s u c h games a s f o o t b a l l and b a s e b a l l .

p

They c o u l d a l s o be s u r r o u n d e d by n e u t r a l

z o n e s , when a f e n c e i s n o t p r o v i d e d , t o k e e p t h e c h i l d r e n o l d ­ e r o u t of t h e a r e a . I t i s recommended, a l s o , t h a t a l l f i x e d a p p a r a t u s be p l a c e d a l o n g t h e edge o f t h e a r e a so t h a t i t w i l l n o t c l u t t e r up t h e s p a c e s p r o v i d e d f o r p l a y a c t i v i t i e s . sib le,

When i t i s p o s ­

each l a r g e s t r u c t u r e , w hether i t i s a s l i d e or a b u i l d ­

i n g , s h o u l d be s e p a r a t e d from t h e r e s t of t h e f a c i l i t i e s by

I N . C . V iles, 2 7 : 1 1 , March, 1948.

"Safe P layg ro u n d s," S a fe ty E ducation,

2 J . F. W i l l i a m s and C. L. B r o w n e l l , The A d m i n i s t r a ­ t i o n of H e a lth and P h y s ic a l E d u ca tio n (3 rd E d iti o n ; P h i l a d e l p h i a ; W. B. S a u n d e r s Company, 1 9 4 6 ) , p . 3 09.

23

a fence.

S a f e t y c a n be f u r t h e r i n s u r e d by e n c l o s i n g a l l

p a r k i n g a r e a s , b i c y c l e r a c k s , a n d l o a d i n g z o n e s w i t h a low fence.

A r e a s p r o v i d e d f o r t h e s e p u r p o s e s o u g h t t o be s i t u ­

a t e d so t h a t t h e y w i l l i n no way i n t e r f e r e w i t h a c t i v i t i e s . I t may a l s o be w i s e t o a r r a n g e t h e s e a r e a s so t h a t t h e c h i l d r e n w i l l n o t have t o go n e a r o r a c r o s s them when e n t e r i n g or le a v in g the r e c r e a t i o n grounds. C are must b e t a k e n t o p l a c e h e d g e s and t r e e s i n location s th a t are l i t t l e l e s s a c t i v e gam es.

u s e d e x c e p t f o r q u i e t games o r t h e

A sm all garden lo c a te d in a corner near

t h e s e c t i o n a s s i g n e d t o s m a l l e r c h i l d r e n may p r o v i d e f u r t h e r e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s and add to t h e a t t r a c t i v e n e s s . ^ Space p r o v i d e d f o r boys and g i r l s , from t h e a g e t e n t o f o u r t e e n , a n d f o r h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s s h o u l d a l s o be sp ecified .

Each s e c t i o n must be s e p a r a t e d f ro m t h e o t h e r .

The games p l a y e d i n t h e s e a r e a s a r e d i f f e r e n t and s h o u l d be a d j u s t e d t o t h e n e e d s o f t h e age l e v e l . ®

In e i th e r case,

t h e c h i l d r e n do n o t l i k e f o r o l d e r o r y o u n g e r c h i l d r e n t o in terru p t th e ir a c tiv itie s .

T h i s s e g r e g a t i o n seems t o be

t h e b e s t m ethod of p r e v e n t i n g u n p l e a s a n t s i t u a t i o n s .

A fter

a r e a s a r e s i t u a t e d , each a c t i v i t y to be used i n th e program,

3 N. E. V i l e s , l o c .

c it.

4 J . P . W i l l i a m s and C. L. B r o w n e l l , o p . c i t . , p . 308 5 Loc. c i t .

24 at

th e varous age l e v e l s ,

a llo tte d

to each.

a c tiv itie s

ought t o be c o n s id e r e d and sp ace

I t may b e p o s s i b l e

on o n e a l l o t t e d

space;

t o c a r r y on s e v e r a l

f o r exam ple, bad m in to n

a n d v o l l e y b a l l c a n b e p l a y e d on t h e b a s k e t b a l l c o u r t b y a l ­ terin g

t h e m a r k i n g s , a n d h o c k e y o r s o c c e r c a n b e p l a y e d on

the f o o t b a l l f i e l d a c tiv itie s, in to

if necessary.

th e e n t i r e program

¥/hen a l l o t t i n g

of a c t i v i t y

space fo r

sh o u ld be ta k e n

co n sid eratio n .

Such d e t a i l s a s l i g h t i n g , f e n c i n g , and d r a i n i n g n e e d t o be i n c l u d e d i n t h e b l u e p r i n t s a l s o .

T hese a r e i m p o r t a n t

i t e m s i n p l a y g r o u n d s a f e t y and s e r v i c e a b i l i t y .

L ight p o le s

a r e b e s t l o c a t e d when t h e y a r e p l a c e d a s c l o s e a s p o s s i b l e t o t h e f e n c e or t h e edge of t h e p l a y a r e a .

A ll p lay f a c i l i t i e s

which a r e s m a ll and a d j a c e n t t o t r a f f i c l a n e s or o t h e r h a z a rd s n e e d a f e n c e a r o u n d them.

F’e n c e s u s u a l l y s u r r o u n d t h e p l a y ­

g r o u n d a s w e l l a s a n y s e c t i o n or i t e m on t h e p l a y g r o u n d t h a t may be c o n s i d e r e d a s a f e t y h a z a r d . ^ Some k i n d o f d r a i n a g e s y s t e m i s a l s o n e c e s s a r y on most larg e p la y fie ld s .

D e f i n i t e p l a n s a l o n g t h i s l i n e s h o u l d be

c o m p le t e d b e f o r e c o n s t r u c t i o n s t a r t s t o e l i m i n a t e l a s t m i n u t e alte ratio n s.

6 D. C. S e a t o n , S a f e t y i n S p o r t s (New Y ork: P r e n t i c e H a ll, I n c . , 1948), p . 3 ^ 7 J . H. S c h o t l a n d , " F a c i l i t i e s a n d Equipment on S c h o o l P l a y g r o u n d s , " S c h o o l E x e c u t i v e . 6 7 : 4 0 , A u g u s t , 1948.

G r a d in g a n d d r a i n a g e .

A l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e no s e t s p e ­

c i f i c a t i o n s f o r g r a d i n g a s i t e t o be u s e d f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s , t h e r e i s a recommended way w h ic h w i l l g i v e good resu lts.

However, a s k i l l e d e n g i n e e r s h o u l d be a c q u i r e d t o

s u p e r v i s e t h e w ork.

A long w i t h t h e e n g i n e e r , o n l y e x p e r t

m ach ine o p e r a t o r s s h o u l d b e c o n t r a c t e d t o do t h e a c t u a l g r a d ­ ing.

T h is i s v e r y I m p o r t a n t I n t h a t s m a l l e r r o r s i n c a l c u ­

l a t i o n can a d d t o t h e e x p e n s e o f t h e work a n d p r o v i d e p r o b ­ lems w h ic h w i l l become r e a l h e a d a c h e s i n t h e f u t u r e .

I t may

be w is e t o p l a c e t h i s t a s k

in the

hands o f t r u s t y e x p e r t s .

I f a good s i t e

in the

b e g i n n i n g , t h e p r o b le m s and

is selected

e x p e n s e o f g r a d i n g c a n be r e d u c e d t o a minimum.

T h i s c a n oc­

c u r t h r o u g h t h e r e d u c e d movement o f s o i l a n d t h e e l i m i n a t i o n of th e p o s s i b le co m p lic atio n s

t h a t may d e v e l o p i n a c q u i r i n g

a good d r a i n a g e s y s t e m . P o s s i b l y t h e b e s t a n d most u s e d method of g r a d i n g f o r in s u r e d d ra in a g e i s th e t u r t l e - b a c k m ethod.8

To a c c o m p l i s h

t h i s , t h e p l a y a r e a i s made l o w e r on a l l s i d e s t h a n i t I s i n th e m iddle.

An e n g i n e e r w i l l v e r y l i k e l y be a c q u a i n t e d w i t h

t h i s p a t t e r n a n d c a n d e t e r m i n e j u s t how much h i g h e r t h e m id­ d l e of th e a r e a sh o u ld be th a n t h e o u t s k i r t s .

The u s u a l p r o ­

c e d u r e i s t o have a s l o p e of s i x I n c h e s t o e a c h one h u n d r e d f e e t w i t h t h e s l o p e to w a r d t h e o u t s i d e . 9

"

R e g a rd le s s of th e

8 L o c . “c i t . 9 J . F . W i l l i a m s a n d G. L. B r o w n e l l , o£. c i t . . p . 312.

'CJ

26

g r a d i n g p l a n u s e d , c a r e must be t a k e n t o e l i m i n a t e i t s w a t e r . Such p l a c e s o n l y s e r v e to hamper t h e p r o g r a m . The c h i e f n ee d f o r a d r a i n i n g s y s te m i s t o remove e x ­ c e ss ground and s u r f a c e w a t e r .

L a r g e p l a y g r o u n d s u s u a l l y have

i n l e t s and c a t c h b a s i n s t o c o l l e c t e x c e s s w a t e r .

I n most

c a s e s , t h e s e i n l e t s a n d b a s i n s a r e c o n n e c te d , by an u n d e r g r o u n d p i p e s y s t e m t o a s t o r m se w e r or a n e a r - b y s t r e a m .

The u n d e r ­

g r o u n d w a t e r can be e l i m i n a t e d t h r o u g h a n a r r a n g e m e n t o f d r a i n tile

i s u s e d c h i e f l y i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s p e c i a l game a r e a s

and a t h l e t i c f i e l d s .

S m a l l p l a y g r o u n d s som etim es d r a i n s u f ­

f i c i e n t l y w i t h p r o p e r s u r f a c e m a t e r i a l and a s a t i s f a c t o r y contour . S urface m a t e r i a l s .

D e c i d i n g on a s t a n d a r d m a t e r i a l

t h a t can be u s e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s would be d i f ­ ficu lt.

The r e a s o n f o r t h i s I s t h e wide v a r i e t y o f c l i m a t e s

t h a t e x i s t and th e d i f f e r e n c e s in s o i l .

To f i n d t h e m a t e r i a l

b e s t s u i t e d f o r a s p e c i f i c l o c a l i t y r e q u i r e s a g r e a t d e a l of study.

At t h e p r e s e n t , no a v a i l a b l e s u r f a c e c o n t a i n s a l l t h e

d esired q u a litie s .

However, a p l a y g r o u n d s u r f a c e s h o u l d b e:

( l ) p o r o u s enough t o a l l o w q u i c k d r a i n a g e ; t o s t a n d up u n d e r h a r d u s e ;

( 2 ) compact enough

( 3 ) f r e e of mud i n wet w e a t h e r ;

and, ( 4 ) f r e e of d u st in dry w eath er.

A non-porous s o i l ,

such

10 N a t i o n a l R e c r e a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n , I n t r o d u c t i o n t o Community R e c r e a t i o n (End E d i t i o n ; New Y ork; M cG raw -H ill Book Company, I n c . . , 1 9 4 9 ) , p . 171.

27

a s c l a y c o m p o s i t i o n , r e q u i r e s a deep f o u n d a t i o n .

J u s t the

o p p o s i t e , a p o r o u s s o l i would r e q u i r e a r e a s o n a b l y s h a l l o w fo u n d atio n .

T hro u g h e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n , t h e i n g r e d i e n t or

com bination of m a t e r i a l s b e s t s u i t e d to th e p a r t i c u l a r s o i l can b e d e t e r m i n e d . B e f o r e d e c i d i n g on a s u r f a c e , t h e f o l l o w i n g i t e m s must be c o n s i d e r e d : (3)safety ;

( l ) i n t e n d e d program;; ( 2 ) c o s t o f c o n s t r u c t i o n ?

( 4 ) r e s i l i e n c e ; {5 ) f i r m n e s s ; ( 6 ) a b r a s i v e n e s s ;

sm oothness;

(B )d u rab ility ;

(9)drainage;

(10)appearance;

(7) (11)

fre ed o m f r o m d u s t a n d mud; ( 1 2 ) e f f e c t on e q u i p m e n t ; a n d , (1 3 ) e f f e c t on c l o t h i n g .

12

I t i s recommended b y 0. R. B a r k d o l l 15 t h a t raw r o c k a s p h a l t b e u s e d on a r e a s t h a t w i l l p e r m i t t h e u s e o f a h a r d surface.

He c o n t e n d s t h a t t h i s k i n d o f s u r f a c e w i l l p e r m i t

a l l w e a t h e r u s e , be f r e e of d u s t , f r e e o f d i r t and g r i m e , a n d not produce g l a r e . and elbow s.

I t w i l l save c lo th e s ,

shoes, knees, hands,

These t h i n g s p l u s t h e f a c t t h a t i t c o s t s o n l y

a b o u t f i v e d o l l a r s a y e a r p e r p u p i l and can be p u t on by u n ­ s k i l l e d l a b o r make i t i d e a l f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l p u r p o s e s .

Mr.

B a r k d o l l s t a t e s , a l s o , t h a t t h e c o s t c a n be d e t e r m i n e d by ob­ t a i n i n g t h e c o s t o f a s p h a l t p e r t o n from t h e n e a r e s t s o u r c e

11 J . P . W i l l i a m s a n d C. L. B r o w n e l l , o£. c i t . , p . 309. 12 I b i d . p . 3 1 0. 13 0 . R. B a r k d o l l , “A s p h a l t A i d s S a f e t y , * 1 S a f e t y E duca­ t i o n , 2 8 : 6 , A p r i l , 1949. ^ ---------

28

a v a i l a b l e and adding to t h a t th e f r e i g h t charges p e r to n . By c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t one t o n w i l l c o v e r a b o u t 175 s q u a r e f e e t a t a d e p t h of one a n d o n e - q u a r t e r i n c h e s , a c a l c u l a t i o n of t h e amount n e e d e d c a n be c o n c l u d e d .

By a d d i n g t h e c o s t o f a l l

m a t e r i a l s n e e d e d t o t h e c o s t of s h ip m e n t and i n c r e a s i n g t h e sum b y a b o u t f i f t y p e r c e n t , a c l o s e e s t i m a t e o f t h e s u r f a c i n g c o s t can be e s t a b l i s h e d . 14 T h e r e a r e o t h e r m a t e r i a l s t h a t c a n be u s e d f o r h a r d su rfacin g :

c o n c re te , a s p h a lt, a b ra siv e g r a v e l, crushed rock,

b i t u m i n o u s b a s e c o v e r e d w i t h one i n c h o f c o r k - a s p h a l t a n d o t h e r s . So f a r , n e i t h e r of t h e s e have p r o v e n e n t i r e l y s a t i s f a c t o r y . A g ra ss t u r f i s probably th e b e st su rfa c e fo r la rg e p l a y f i e l d s , b u t i t i s e x p e n s i v e a n d c a n n o t s t a n d up u n d e r h a r d u

s

e

.

o t h e r m a t e r i a l s t h a t a r e som etim es u s e d on l a r g e

a r e a s a r e s a n d - c la y and n a t u r a l e a r t h .

A gain, th e type of s u r ­

f a c e t o b e u s e d may d ep e n d on t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e community. P e r h a p s some d a y a m a t e r i a l w h ic h w i l l s e r v e t h e n e e d s o f a l l p arts

of t h e c o u n t r y w i l l be d e v e l o p e d .

- The s u r f a c e w h ic h w i l l have a l o n g l i f e may n o t be t h e b e s t f o r t h e com munity. b i l i t y fo r safety .

I t may be n e c e s s a r y t o s a c r i f i c e d u r i -

However, t h e f o l l o w i n g e s t i m a t e o f t h e l i f e

o f v a r i o u s s u r f a c e s m ig h t h e l p i n s e l e c t i n g one o f two p o s s i b l e

14 h o c , ' c i t . 15 J . H. S c h o t l a n d , l o c . c i t .

m aterials.

W i t h r e a s o n a b l e m a i n t e n a n c e , cem ent ( c o n c r e t e ) w i l l

l a s t about t h i r t y y e a r s ; bitum inous s u r f a c e , ab o u t tw enty y ea rs s a n d - c l a y , a b o u t e i g h t y e a r s , a n d n a t u r a l e a r t h , o n l y one y e a r . A fte r looking a t th ese f i g u r e s , i t

i s o b v i o u s t h a t t h e most

d u r a b l e m a t e r i a l s may a l s o be t h e m ost e x p e n s i v e .

Y e t , due t o

r e d u c e d m a i n t e n a n c e c o s t s , t h e y would p r o b a b l y be c h e a p e r . I t i s v e r y l i k e l y t h a t p l a y f i e l d s w i l l have two o r t h r e e d iffe re n t surfaces:

a h a r d t o p f o r t h e a p p a r a t u s and s m a l l ■»

c h i l d r e n ' s a r e a , t u r f f o r t h e l a r g e game a r e a s , a n d s a n d - c l a y o r some o t h e r m a t e r i a l f o r t e n n i s c o u r t s .

T h i s may be n e c e s ­

s a r y t o r e d u c e m a i n t e n a n c e c o s t s and t o m e e t t h e n e e d s o f t h e program . F e n c i n g .- F e n c e s may be' u s e d e f f e c t i v e l y on a l l p l a y ­ grounds.

However, t h e y a r e n e e d e d m o s t l y on s m a l l a r e a s t h a t

have t o s e r v e a cially

l a r g e number o f c h i l d r e n . T h i s i s t r u e e s p e ­

when t h e f a c i l i t i e s a r e s u r r o u n d e d

z a r d s a s heavy t r a f f i c

by such s a f e t y ha­

lanes, r a ilr o a d s , r i v e r s ,

o r swamps. ^

Too, t h e s e f e n c e s add t o t h e s e c u r i t y o f t h e c h i l d r e n from o u t ­ s i d e r s i n t r u d i n g on t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s .

When t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l

a r e a i s of ample s i z e f o r b a l l games w i t h o u t t h e b a l l ' s r o l l i n g o r b e i n g k n o ck e d i n t o t h e s t r e e t , a h i g h f e n c e i s n o t a s n e c e s ­ sary.

I n t h i s c a s e , a low f e n c e , p o s s i b l y , f o u r f e e t h i g h , may

16 J . F. W i l l i a m s a n d C. L. B r o w n e l l , o|>. c i t . , p . 3 1 0 . 17 N. E. V l l e s , l o c . c i t .

be s u f f i c i e n t .

The r e a l - p r o b l e m l i e s i n t h e s m a l l p l a y g r o u n d s .

When t h e s m a l l e r p l a y g r o u n d i s u s e d by c h i l d r e n o f a l l a g e s , t h e f e n c e s h o u l d be a minimum o f f i v e f e e t i n h e i g h t .

Spaces p r o ­

v i d e d f o r o n l y e l e m e n t a r y a g e c h i l d r e n s h o u l d be a minimum o f four f e e t.

1R

I t would p r o b a b l y be b e t t e r t o e n c l o s e t h e s e c ­

t i o n o r a r e a d e s i g n a t e d f o r t h e u s e of boys and g i r l s

of th e

s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l ag e w i t h a t l e a s t a t e n f o o t f e n c e a n d a f i v e f o o t one f o r e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l c h i l d r e n . Some i m p o r t a n t p o i n t s t o remember when i n s t a l l i n g p l a y f ie ld fences a re :

( l ) a c h a in l i n k fe n c e sh o u ld be u sed w ith

t h e t u b u l a r framework;**-® ( 2 ) t h e f e n c e s h o u l d b e f a s t e n e d t o t h e p o s t s w i t h a minimum o f p r o j e c t i n g ’ s h a r p w i r e s ( 3 ) a l l g a t e s s h o u l d open properly;^-*- ( 4 ) t h e f e n c e s must n o t be con­ c e a l e d u n l e s s t h e y a r e i n hedge r o w s ; t h e n t h e y s h o u l d be v i s i ­ b le in o rd e r t o p re v e n t unusual h a z a rd s;* ^ ( 5 ) the p o s ts should be p l a c e d f i r m l y i n a c o n c r e t e b a s e t o i n s u r e s t r e n g t h . ^ F u r t h e r p r e c a u t i o n s may be t a k e n by s u r r o u n d i n g a l l

18 J . F . W i l l i a m s a n d c . L. B r o w n e l l ,

0£ .

c i t . , p . 308.

19 I b i d . . P* 72. 20 J . B a r b o u r , " S a f e P l a y g r o u n d E q u i p m e n t , ,r The N a t i o n ' s S c h o o l s , 4 1 : 6 0 , J u l y , 1948. 21 L o c. c i t . 22 N. E. V i l e s , l o c .

cit.

23 J . B a r b o u r , l o c . c i t .

31

p a r k i n g l o t s a n d b i c y c l e r a c k s w i t h a low f e n c e .

O ther ha­

z a r d s , s u c h a s l o a d i n g z o n e s , c o a l c h u t e s , a n d m a nholes may be s e t o f f from t h e p l a y s p a c e b y a s i m i l a r f e n c e . W e ll d e s i g n e d f e n c e s a r r a n g e d t o k e e p s t u d e n t s o f f t h e law ns a n d s h r u b b e r y c a n a d d t o t h e l a n d s c a p p i n g scheme. g o o d t y p e t o u s e h e r e may be t h e " p i c k e t . "

A

However, t h e

" p i c k e t s " sh o u ld n o t have sh a rp p o i n t e d t o p s .

They s h o u l d be

r o u n d o r c u r v e d f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f a nyone who m ig h t f a l l on them... L ig htin g.

P l a y f a c i l i t i e s d e s i g n e d f o r s c h o o l a n d com­

m u n i t y u s e s h o u l d have l i g h t s f o r n i g h t u s e .

These l i g h t s

s h o u l d be mounted on s t e e l p o l e s p l a c e d a r o u n d t h e edge o f t h e p lay a re a .

B r a c k e t s and w i r i n g s h o u l d be so a r r a n g e d t h a t

more l i g h t can be a d d e d i f n e e d e d .

A l l l i g h t i n g used needs

t o be a d j u s t a b l e to a l l o w p r o p e r f o c u s i n g f o r maximum l i g h t on t h e d e s i r e d a r e a s .

W ire s l e a d i n g t o and f ro m t h e l i g h t

p o l e s s h o u l d be p l a c e d u n d e r g r o u n d f o r s e c u r i t y a n d s a f e t y .

QA

W i th n i g h t f o o t b a l l a n d b a s e b a l l becom ing p o p u l a r a c ­ tiv itie s,

the a r e a s d e s ig n a te d f o r th e se a c t i v i t i e s should p ro b ­

a b l y have a s e p a r a t e s y s t e m .

One way t o r e d u c e the g r e a t e x ­

p e n s e of l i g h t i n g a f o o t b a l l f i e l d an d a b a s e b a l l f i e l d s e p a r a t e ­ l y i s to a r r a n g e the f i e l d so t h a t i t can be used f o r b o th a c ­ tiv itie s.

T h i s would e l i m i n a t e one l i g h t i n g s y s t e m b u t m i g h t

24 J . A. S c h o t l a n d , l o c . c i t .

32

r e q u i r e a few more l i g h t s t h a n a r e n e c e s s a r y i f u s e d f o r one activ ity . T r a f f i c la n es and w a lk s.

S p a c e s u s e d f o r w a l k i n g may

h e s t se rv e t h e i r u se rs i f they a r e paved. be f r e e of c u r b s C u r b s

However, t h e y s h o u l d

a l o n g w a lk s a n d d r i v e s may o f f e r

a d d itio n a l sa fe ty hazards.

When t h e y a r e n o t p r e s e n t , t h e r e

i s no ch a n c e of a p e r s o n ’ s t r i p p i n g o v e r them and f a l l i n g i n t o th e d r i v e or r e c e i v i n g p h y s i c a l i n j u r i e s .

A s p h a l t or cement

a r e p ro b ab ly the b e s t s u r fa c in g m a t e r i a l s f o r th e se f a c i l i t i e s . Summary.

B efore b eg in n in g th e c o n s t r u c t i o n of p la y

f a c i l i t i e s , a t h o r o u g h s t u d y s h o u l d be made o f t h e s p a c e a n d o f how e a c h p o r t i o n i s t o be u s e d .

The p r o g r a m d e c i d e d u p o n , t h e

e q u i p m e n t , s i z e , and t h e t y p e m ust be t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n . Even t h e most d e t a i l e d i t e m s must a p p e a r on a m a s t e r b l u e p r i n t , w h i c h s h o u l d be f o l l o w e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n p h a s e o f th e program .

S uch a b l u e p r i n t i s o f t e n u s e f u l f o r m a i n t a i n i n g ,

r e p a i r i n g , and expanding p u r p o s e s . ( 1 ) zoning,

The p l a n s s h o u l d i n c l u d e ;

(2 )d ra in a g e system , ( 3 ) b u ild in g s ,

( 5}fencing,

(6 )lig h tin g ,

( 4}apparatus,

( 7 )lan d scap in g , (8)w alks,

(^ d riv e­

ways, (lO )p a rk in g a r e a s , and ( 1 1 ) o th e r e s s e n t i a l ite m s . G r e a t c a r e s h o u l d be t a k e n to a c q u i r e knowing p e o p l e t o d i r e c t t h e g r a d i n g p r o c e d u r e a n d t o i n s t a l l a good d r a i n a g e

N. E. V i l e s , l o c . c i t .

system .

Before s u rfa c in g m a te r ia l s a r e s e l e c t e d , th e s o i l

m u st be a n a l y s e d a n d t h e m a t e r i a l c h o s e n a c c o r d i n g t o t h e fin d in g s.

Some s u r f a c e s a r e more d u r a b l e a n d s a f e r , a n d a

s e l e c t i o n s h o u l d b e made a c c o r d i n g l y P e n c e s c a n p l a y a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t i n c a r r y i n g o u t an a c t i v i t y p r o g ra m s u c c e s s f u l l y a n d s a f e l y .

It

is necessary

t o c h o o s e and c o n s t r u c t a f e n c e t h a t i s s t u r d y a n d d o e s n o t p re se n t unnecessary hazards. L i g h t s f o r n i g h t a c t i v i t i e s m ust be c a r e f u l l y s e l e c t e d a n d e r e c t e d so a s t o e l i m i n a t e e x t r a p r o b l e m s i n s a f e t y .

L ight­

i n g e x p e r t s may be a b l e t o g i v e a d v i c e on how t o s a v e money and how to g e t t h e m ost f r o m t h e m a t e r i a l a v a i l a b l e .

Increased

i n t e r e s t i n n i g h t a c t i v i t i e s makes l i g h t i n g n e c e s s a r y on commu­ n ity p lay field s. T r a f f i c l a n e s and w a l k s c a n become p r o b l e m s i f t h e y a r e n o t p r o p e r l y a r r a n g e d and c o n s t r u c t e d .

The c h i l d r e n s h o u l d

n e v e r have t o compete w i t h a u t o m o b i l e s f o r t h e r i g h t of way. Ample s p a c e f o r p a r k i n g makes a r e c r e a t i o n a r e a more a t t r a c ­ t i v e and l e s s h a z a r d o u s .

CHAPTER IV

MAINTENANCE P l a y c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e m e n t a l , e m o t i o n a l , and s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t of p e o p l e , and e v e r y t h i n g p o s s i b l e s h o u l d be done t o p r o v i d e a d e q u a t e and s a f e e q u i p m e n t .

B uilding a playground

and p r o v id in g th e n e c e s s a r y f a c i l i t i e s w i l l n o t i n s u r e th e p u b l i c of a s a f e a n d h e a l t h y p l a c e f o r r e c r e a t i o n .

In order

t o o f f e r t h e b e s t o p p o r t u n i t y , a c o n s t a n t m a i n t e n a n c e progra m m ust b e a r r a n g e d .

This c h a p te r p ro p o ses t o g u id e s u c h a p r o ­

gram b y o f f e r i n g s u g g e s t i o n s a n d s t a n d a r d s r e g a r d i n g t h e c a r e of a p la y area. In sp ectio n s.

B efore opening a playground to th e p u b l i c ,

a l l a p p a ra tu s and f a c i l i t i e s th o ro u g h ly .

s h o u l d be i n s p e c t e d and t e s t e d

I t i s recommended, a l s o , t h a t e a c h i n s t r u c t o r be

c a r e f u l t o d e t e c t a n y d e f e c t s vih. i c h a p p e a r d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d of use.

A n o t h e r i n s p e c t i o n may be made a t th e c l o s e o f e a c h

s c h o o l s e m e s t e r and r e p a i r s a n d r e p l a c e m e n t s made b e f o r e t h e next sem ester b eg in s.

An i n s p e c t i o n and i n v e n t o r y c o n d u c t e d

a t t h e end of e a c h s p o r t ’ s s e a s o n c o u l d be o f g r e a t v a l u e i n m ain tain in g th e r e c r e a tio n a l f a c i l i t i e s .

The l a t t e r p l a n can

i n s u r e c l e a n i n g , r e p a i r i n g , and r e p l a c i n g d e f e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t . A c h e c k l i s t may be d e v i s e d t o a s s i s t i n s u c h a s u r v e y , a n d r e p a i r r e q u e s t b l a n k s , f i l l e d o u t by t h e i n s t r u c t o r who f i n d s a f a u l t y p i e c e of equipm ent, can f a c i l i t a t e

the c o r r e c tio n

35

a n d som etim es e x o n e r a t e t h e t e a c h e r i n t h e e v e n t o f a la w ­ su it.

When p o s s i b l e , d e f e c t i v e a p p a r a t u s o f f a c i l i t i e s

should

be r o p e d o f f , p u t aw ay, o r some o t h e r p r e c a u t i o n t a k e n t o kee p t h e p u b l i c away from i t u n t i l i t i s r e p a i r e d .

I n many c a s e s ,

t h e c h i l d r e n c a n be a l e r t e d t o p o s s i b l e h a z a r d o u s c o n d i t i o n s a n d t a u g h t t o r e p o r t on them t o t h e r e s p o n s i b l e a u t h o r i t y . The p e r s o n m aking a n i n s p e c t i o n o f t h e p l a y g r o u n d a p ­ p a r a t u s s h o u l d examine t h e f o l l o w i n g ; 1. strid es,

A p p a r a t u s i n w h ic h wood i s e m ployed, s u c h a s g i a n t t e e t e r s , a n d s w i n g s , s h o u l d be i n s p e c t e d f o r s p l i t s

or worn p o r t i o n s a n d s l i v e r s . 2.

A l l a p p a r a t u s s h o u l d be c l o s e l y i n s p e c t e d f o r

c o r n e r s , p r o j e c t i n g c o r n e r s and b o l t s ,

l o o s e c l a m p s , and

rough n ail

h ea d s o r t i p s . 3.

A l l c h a i n s , r o p e s , f a s t e n i n g s , a n d clamps s h o u l a be

exam ined f o r e v i d e n c e o f d e t e r i o r a t i o n o r l o o s e n e s s . 4.

Any r e p a i r s o r a d j u s t m e n t s s h o u l d be made a s soon

as p o ssib le . 5. to prevent 6.

Any u n s a f e a p p a r a t u s s h o u l d be r o p e d o f f or moved use w hile i t

i s in a dangerous c o n d itio n .

A l l n e e d e d r e p a i r s o r p a r t s s h o u l d be r e p o r t e d t o

proper a u t h o r it ie s . 7.

A l l movable p a r t s and c o n n e c t i o n s s h o u l d be f r e q u e n t l y

1 D. C. S e a t o n , S a f e t y i n S p o r t s (New Y ork; P r e n t i c e H a l l , I n c . , 1 9 4 8 ) , p . 1 5 9 ' . , ---------------

i n s p e c t e d and l u b r i c a t e d . 8.

A ll exposed a re a s

a p reserv a tiv e

co atin g .

s h o u ld be t r e a t e d r e g u l a r l y w i t h

o

P l a y g r o u n d r e p a i r s a r e u s u a l l y made by t h e c u s t o d i a n or th e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t of g ro u n d s.

I t would p r o b a b l y be w e l l

I f t h e p e r s o n who makes t h e r e p a i r s would a l s o make f r e q u e n t in s p e c tio n s of th e p la y a r e a . making r e g u l a r i n s p e c t i o n s ,

W ith s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t p e r s o n s

th e chances of d e t e c t i n g any f a u l ­

t y e q u i p m e n t a r e b e t t e r a n d t h e r e s u l t may be s a f e a n d sound app aratu s. Common r e p a i r s .

I n c i t i e s t h a t combine t h e s c h o o l p l a y ­

g r o u n d s w i t h t h e community r e c r e a t i o n p r o g r a m , a m a i n t e n a n c e crew i s som etim es em ployed.

T h i s crew makes r e g u l a r v i s i t s

t o t h e d i f f e r e n t c i t y and s c h o o l p l a y g r o u n d s t o make a n y r e ­ p a i r s needed.

H aving s u c h a s y s t e m would n o t o n l y c u t down

t h e c o s t o f main-ta-inlng p l a y a r e a s b u t would p r o v i d e b e t t e r a n d more r e l i a b l e r e a p i r s .

The p e r s o n n e l , who make up t h e

crew , s h o u l d be t h o r o u g h l y t r a i n e d i n p l a y g r o u n d r e p a i r s .

Un­

d e r s u c h a p l a n , e a c h p l a y g r o u n d can be a s s u r e d o f c o n s t a n t and r e l i a b l e r e p a i r s as th e y a re needed.

I f a v i t a l p i e c e of

e q u ip m e n t becomes d e f e c t i v e o r f o r some o t h e r r e a s o n , m a i n t e ­ n a n c e i s r e q u i r e d , t h e s u p e r v i s o r c a n g e t em ergency work done

a N a tio n a l S a fe ty C o u n c il, S a fe ty in P h y s ic a l E ducation a n d R e c r e a t i o n ( C h i c a g o ; The C o u n c i l , 1 9 4 1 7 , p . 3 6 .

37

i m m e d i a t e l y by c a l l i n g t h e c e n t r a l r e p a i r s h o p . 3 By em p lo y in g one m a i n t e n a n c e crew f o r a l l c i t y r e c r e a ­ t i o n a r e a s , a l a r g e amount of money can be s a v e d .

S eparate r e ­

p a i r k i t s a n d r e p a i r s u p p l i e s would n o t h a v e t o be p l a c e d on each playground.

4

I n s t e a d of each sc h o o l having t o p u rc h a s e

p a r t s f o r ap p a ra tu s in sm all q u a n t i t i e s ,

t h e y c o u l d be p u r c h a s e d

in l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s and o f t e n a t a d i s c o u n t .

I t would a l s o be

q u i t e p o s s i b l e t o make some of t h e e q u ip m e n t a n d p a r t s i n t h e c e n t r a l sh o p ; s u c h a shop would p r o b a b l y be t o o e x p e n s i v e f o r the average school.

However, t h e c l e a n i n g a n d i n s p e c t i n g t h a t

s h o u l d be made r e g u l a r l y would have t o be t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e c u s t o d i a n o r someone employed f o r t h a t p u r p o s e .

This

p r o b l e m may a l s o b e s o l v e d by h i r i n g one p e r s o n t o c a r e f o r two s m a l l p l a y g r o u n d s l o c a t e d c l o s e t o g e t h e r .

These p e o p l e

w o u ld o p e r a t e on t h e same b a s i s a s t h e m a i n t e n a n c e crew .

They

would be r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c l e a n i n g , m a r k i n g , a n d i n s p e c t i n g . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e p l a y s u r f a c e be k e p t i n good p lay in g co n d itio n .

F r e q u e n t e f f o r t s s h o u l d b e made t o remove

r o c k s , h o l e s , or a n y o t h e r p o s s i b l e h a z a r d .

A f t e r heavy r a i n s ,

g r o u n d s n e e d t o be examined f o r p o o r d r a i n a g e o r w ashed o u t p l a c e s t h a t c o u l d c a u s e l i m i t e d u s e of t h e a r e a .

Any s u c h

3 N a t i o n a l R e c r e a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n , I n t r o d u c t i o n t o Comm u n i t y R e c r e a t i o n ( S e c o n d E d i t i o n ; New Y ork: McGraw-HilT“ Comp a n y , I n c . , 1 9 4 9 ) , p . 85. 4 Loc. c i t .

c o n d i t i o n s h o u l d he r e p o r t e d a t once t o t h e p r o p e r p e r s o n s C

a n d r e p a i r s made i m m e d i a t e l y . 0

C a r e f u l c o n s i d e r a t i o n m u st be g i v e n t o sw ings l o c a t e d on t h e p l a y g r o u n d s . k e p t f irm and s o l i d .

The u p r i g h t p i p e s o r s u p p o r t s n e e d t o be Cheap p i p e s s h o u l d be p a i n t e d a t r e g u l a r

i n t e r v a l s a f t e r ro u g h s p o t s a r e removed.

R ubber sw ing s e a t

c o v e r s o f t e n w e a r o r a r e t o r n a n d m ust be r e p l a c e d t o i n s u r e safety .

Each t i m e a s e a t c o v e r i s r e p l a c e d , and a t o t h e r op­

p o rtu n ities,

swing s e a t s o u g h t t o be c h e c k e d and r e p l a c e m e n t s

made i f t h e y a r e c r a c k e d o r o t h e r w i s e d e f e c t i v e .

A ll b o l t s or

rods t h a t hold the s e a t in p la c e r e q u i r e co n s ta n t c a re , a l s o . When s e a t c o v e r s a r e n o t p r o v i d e d , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o f i n d and remove s l i v e r s o r r o u g h p l a c e s t h a t m ig h t p r o v e i n j u r i o u s . R e g u l a r g r e a s i n g i s r e q u i r e d o f t h e tfS ,f hooks o r clam ps w h ic h s e r v e t o f a s t e n t h e s w in g s t o t h e c r o s s b a r .

These hooks and

clam ps w e a r q u i c k l y when n o t p r o p e r l y l u b r i c a t e d and s h o u l d be r e p la c e d a t th e f i r s t sig n of w eakness.

A l l ttSw hooks u s e d

i n t h e swing s t r u c t u r e m ust be k e p t c l o s e d t o p r e v e n t t h e c h i l d ­ r e n from u n h o o k in g them o r s n a g g i n g t h e i r c l o t h e s on t h e p r o ­ truding ends.

A number .0 8 c h a i n i s p r e f e r r e d f o r a l l e x c e p t

ch air-sw in gs.

P e r i o d i c a l l i n k b y l i n k c h e c k s s h o u l d be made,

a n d l i n k s show ing s i g n s o f w e a k n e ss s h o u l d be r e p l a c e d .

The

S H i g h s m i t h a n d o t h e r s , Handbook f o r E l e m e n t a r y a n d Secondary S ch o o ls ( R a le ig h , N o rth C a r o l i n a ^ S t a t e SuperTn^ t e n d e n t o f P u b l i c I n s t r u c t i o n , 1 9 4 7 ) , p . 48.

.0 5 c h a i n p r e f e r r e d f o r c h a i r - s w i n g s n e e d t h e same c a r e p r o v i d ­ ed t h e . 0 8 c h a i n s .

E x c e s s i v e w ear o f c h a i r - s w i n g s a f e t y arms

c a n he p r e v e n t e d h y shimming them w i t h m e t a l where t h e y c i r c l e th e sw ings.

I f t h e d o o r f l a n g e s a r e u s e d and a r e l o o s e , t h e y

w i l l s l i p and a r e l i k e l y t o c a u s e t h e swing s e a t t o be t o o n e a r a p o s t o r a n o t h e r s w in g .

When t h i s o c c u r s , t h e f l a n g e s s h o u l d

be moved b a c k i n t o t h e i r p r o p e r p o s i t i o n a n d t i g h t e n e d immedi­ ately . A n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t p r e c a u t i o n t h a t t h e m a i n t e n a n c e w o rk e r m u st t a k e i s t o make s u r e t h a t a l l b o l t s i n a n y p i e c e of e q u i p ­ ment o r a p p a r a t u s a r e s e c u r e d w i t h l o c k w a s h e r s W h e n t h e s u r ­ f a c e b e n e a t h t h e s w in g s I s dug o u t , due t o t h e c h i l d r e n s l i d ­ ing t h e i r f e e t ,

t h e h o l e s s h o u l d b e f i l l e d a n d l e v e l e d so a s

t o k e e p t h e sw ings i n p r o p e r a d j u s t m e n t a n d i n r e a d i n e s s . P l a y g r o u n d w o r k e r s have t o be c a r e f u l t o kee p s l i d e s i n good c o n d i t i o n .

They s h o u l d k e e p t h e h a n d r a i l s sm ooth and

th e s u p p o r ts and s t a y s s o l i d .

M issing or d e f e c t i v e s te p s need

t o be r e p l a c e d a s so o n a s t h e y a r e d e t e c t e d .

Wooden s i d e d s l i d e s

ought t o b e c h e c k e d w e e k ly a n d a l l p r o t r u d i n g b o l t s and n a i l s removed o r f i l e d f l u s h w i t h t h e s u r f a c e w i t h t h e t o p s i d e o f t h e s l i d e c h a n n e l k e p t sm o o th .

Each l a p i n t h e s l i d e c h a n n e l

h a s t o be s e c u r e l y f a s t e n e d t o p r e v e n t c u t s , s c r a t c h e s , or o t h e r m in o r i n j u r i e s .

Care s h o u l d be t a k e n t o e l i m i n a t e r o u g h s u r f a c e s ,

6 B. M. P e t e r s o n , " P l a y g r o u n d P r e c a u t i o n s , " S a f e t y Ed­ u c a t i o n , 2 9 : 1 1 , S e p t e m b e r , 1949.

a n d p r o j e c t i n g n a i l s or b o l t s on a n d a r o u n d s l i d i n g a n d c l i m b ing p o l e s . 7 When t r a v e l i n g r i n g s make up a p a r t o f t h e p l a y g r o u n d e q u i p m e n t , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o k e e p them i n t o p c o n d i t i o n .

If

t h e r i n g s a r e on t h e ends o f c h a i n s , t h e c h a i n s s h o u l d b e k e p t sm ooth t o p r e v e n t hand a n d f i n g e r i n j u r y .

I n s u c h a c a s e w here

r o p e s a r e u s e d i n p l a c e of c h a i n s , t h e y must be r e p l a c e d f r e ­ q u e n t l y due t o w e a r and r o t t i n g .

B e c a u se t h e y o f t e n s t r e t c h ,

ro p e s a l s o r e q u i r e c o n s ta n t a d j u s t m e n t , i n o rd e r to keep th e rin g s a t the proper heig h t.

Worn or damaged r i n g s s h o u l d be

r e p l a c e d , w i t h t h e s u r f a c e b e n e a t h t h e r i n g s k e p t sm ooth a n d l e v e l w ith the surrounding a r e a .

Q

A n o t h e r p i e c e o f e q u ip m e n t t h a t n e e d s r e g u l a r c a r e a n d r e p a i r i s th e seesaw. ' I f r u b b e r co v ers a r e p la c e d over each s e a t , a s t h e y s h o u l d b e , t h e y have t o be r e p l a c e d when t h e y a r e t o r n or become w orn.

Exposed p o r t i o n s of t h e b o a r d s m u st be

k e p t sm ooth a n d f r e e of s p l i n t e r s o r t h e c h i l d r e n a r e l i k e l y t o g e t m in o r s k i n i n j u r i e s . terio rated ,

it

When a b o a r d becomes worn o r d e ­

s h o u l d b e i m m e d i a t e l y r e p l a c e d w i t h a new on e.

The h a n d g r i p s p l a c e d i n f r o n t of e a c h s e a t , t o g i v e t h e c h i l d ­ r e n s o m e t h i n g t o h o l d , n e e d t o be t i g h t e n e d f r e q u e n t l y a n d r e ­ p l a c e d when t h e y show s i g n s o f w e a k n e s s .

A l l s e e sa w s s h o u l d

have a b l o c k u n d e r n e a t h e a c h s e a t t o a v o i d l e g a n d f o o t a c c i d e n t s

41

These b l o c k s o f t e n become worn o r l o o s e a s a r e s u l t of c o n s t a n t c o n t a c t w i t h t h e p l a y s u r f a c e a n d have t o b e r e p a i r e d a t t h e f i r s t e v i d e n c e of d e f i c i e n c y .

Seesaw s can be a c o n s t a n t s o u r c e

of tr o u b le i f they are n o t m aintained a t r e g u la r i n t e r v a l s . ^ The most d i f f i c u l t t a s k i n k e e p i n g s a n d b o x e s i n good c o n d i t i o n i s t h e s a n d p a p e r i n g a n d p a i n t i n g n e c e s s a r y when t h e s u r f a c e s become r o u g h . little

B a l a n c i n g b o a r d s or r a i l s n e e d v e r y

c a r e b u t s h o u l d b e c h e c k e d o f t e n f o r w ea k n ess o r o t h e r

m in o r h a z a r d s . However, t h e c a r e o f a p p a r a t u s i s n o t t h e o n l y t a s k t h a t a m a i n t e n a n c e w o rk e r h a s t o f a c e .

They a r e , u s u a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e

for; 1.

C aring f o r p l a n t s , g r a s s , and hedges.

2.

C leaning b u ild in g s and grounds.

3.

M ark in g game c o u r t s .

4.

K ee p in g s u r f a c e s s a t i s f a c t o r y a n d m a r k i n g p l a y c o u r t s .

5.

Changing w a t e r i n w ading p o o l s and c l e a n i n g them .

6.

K ee p in g s a n d b o x e s c l e a n , i n s p e c t i n g a p p a r a t u s , a n d

b r i n g i n g i n a n d s e t t i n g up e q u i p m e n t . 7.

K ee p in g t o o l s a n d eq u ip m e n t i n good c o n d i t i o n .

8.

I n s p e c t i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g f e n c e s and k e e p i n g g a t e s

a n d d o o r s I n good w o r k i n g o r d e r .

9 Loc. c i t . 10 N a t i o n a l R e c r e a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n ,

lo c. c i t .

42

Of c o a r s e , t h e w o r k e r i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r m a i n t a i n i n g any o t h e r equipm ent and p a r t s of th e p l a y a r e a n o t m entioned here.

These many a n d heavy c h o r e s would p r o b a b l y k e e p one

c a r e t a k e r busy e i g h t hours a day.

T h erefo re, before a person

i s chosen t o p erfo rm th e s e d u t i e s , th e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n sh o u ld be p o s i t i v e t h e a p p l i c a n t h a s a good a t t i t u d e to w a r d t h e a p ­ p e a r a n c e and c o n d i t i o n o f t h e p l a y g r o u n d .

T his f a c t o r goes

f a r i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e k i n d o f r e s p e c t t h e community has t o ­ w ard t h e r e c r e a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s A

sa fe and a t t r a c t i v e p la y ­

g r o u n d r e s u l t s f r o m r e g u l a r i n s p e c t i o n , good r e p a i r s , r e p l a c e ­ m e n ts o f o l d a n d worn a p p a r a t u s o r e q u i p m e n t , a n d t h e g e n e r a l make-up o f t h e a r e a . 12 Summary. the f u l l e s t ,

I f a p l a y g r o u n d i s t o s e r v e t h e community t o

i t must be k e p t a t t r a c t i v e a n d s a f e .

be a c c o m p l i s h e d by c o n s t a n t c a r e a n d m a i n t e n a n c e .

T h i s can P lay a re a s

a r e v i t a l p a r t s o f t h e modern ways o f l i f e a n d s h o u l d be t r e a t ­ ed a s s u c h . F re q u e n t and t im e ly i n s p e c t i o n s s e r v e t o d e t e c t d e f e c t s i n p l a y s u r f a c e s , a p p a r a t u s , e q u i p m e n t a n d t h e g e n e r a l make­ up o f a p l a y s p a c e .

T h e r e f o r e , g r e a t e m p h a s is s h o u l d be p l a c ­

ed on t h e n e c e s s i t y o f r e g u l a r and t h o r o u g h i n s p e c t i o n s .

The

s u p e r v i s o r , c u s t o d i a n , c h i l d r e n , and g e n e r a l p u b l i c s h o u l d

11 B. M. P e t e r s o n , l o c . c i t . 12 N a t i o n a l R e c r e a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n , o £ . c i t . , p . 2 8 6 .

43

r e c o g n i z e th e im portance of s a f e and s t u r d y f a c i l i t i e s and he q u i c k t o r e p o r t any e x i s t i n g h a z a r d s . By o b s e r v i n g a n d r e p o r t i n g t h e f a u l t y e q u i p m e n t and u n s a f e c o n d i t i o n s t h a t e x i s t on t h e p l a y g r o u n d , t h e a d m i n i s ­ t r a t i o n c a n so m e tim es a v o i d s e r i o u s l a w s u i t s .

P erio d ical in ­

v e n t o r y o f e q u ip m e n t h e l p s i n s t r u c t o r s e l e m i n a t e f a u l t y or worn o u t e q u ip m e n t and a s s i s t s t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n o r d e r i n g new m a t e r i a l s . T h ere a r e a number o f i t e m s w i t h w h ic h a n i n s p e c t o r s h o u l d be f a m i l i a r .

In d a i l y , m onthly, and y e a r l y i n s p e c t i o n s , th e

i n s p e c t o r m u st b e aw a re o f h i s d u t i e s a n d go t o g r e a t l e n g t h s t o c a r r y them o u t .

E ach c u s t o d i a n ,

i n s t r u c t o r , and s u p e r v i ­

s o r s h o u l d c o n s i d e r h i m s e l f an i n s p e c t o r when he i s on o r a b o u t th e p lay a re a . Some s c h o o l s p l a c e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f m a i n t e n a n c e i n th e hands of t h e c u s t o d i a n ;

o t h e r s have combined a n d a c q u i r e d

m a i n t e n a n c e crews w h i c h v i s i t e a c h p l a y a r e a r e g u l a r l y t o make necessary re p a irs .

The l a t t e r p l a n makes i t p o s s i b l e f o r e a c h

s c h o o l t o a c q u i r e e x p e r t r e p a i r s a n d p a r t s a t a minimum c o s t . A l l a p p a r a t u s p r o v i d e d f o r t h e p l a y a r e a must have s p e ­ c ia l care.

P i e c e s of eq u ip m e n t a r e b r o k e n a n d must be r e p l a c ­

ed ; o t h e r s hav e p a r t s w h i c h become weak o r worn from h e a v y u s e a n d m ust be r e p a i r e d .

C onstant care f o r a l l f a c i l i t i e s w i l l

do much t o a d d t o t h e r e c r e a t i o n p ro g ra m a n d t o t h e economy of i t s o p e ra tio n .

44;

P l a y g r o u n d c a r e t a k e r s s h o u l d be c a r e f u l l y s e l e c t e d a n d p r o p e r l y t r a i n e d , and- t h e y must have a good a t t i t u d e to w a r d r e c r e a t i o n and s a f e t y .

E ach p l a y a r e a w o r k e r n e e d s s p e c i a l

i n s t r u c t i o n i n t h e t a s k s w h i c h c o n f r o n t him , a n d he must be p r e p a r e d t o meet them e f f e c t i v e l y .

CHAPTER V

DIRECTION AND USE T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l r e s p o n s i h i l i t i e s and d u t i e s o f w h ic h t h e p l a y g r o u n d s u p e r v i s o r must he a w a r e .

I t is very im portant

t h a t he u n d e r s t a n d and c a r r y o u t c e r t a i n f u n c t i o n s r e l a t e d t o th e u s e , m a in te n a n c e , and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . D irectio n .

A l l p l a y a r e a s s h o u l d be u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n

o f a c o m p e te n t a n d w e l l t r a i n e d p e r s o n .

The t r a i n i n g a n d a -

b i l i t y of e a c h a p p l i c a n t s h o u l d be t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n b e f o r e he i s p e r m i t t e d t o assume t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f d i r e c t ­ ing a p l a y f i e l d .

A man o r woman a s s i g n e d t o a p l a y g r o u n d s h o u l d

be t r a i n e d i n a t h l e t i c s , g am es, a r t s ,

c r a f t s , d ram a , a n d o t h e r

a c t i v i t i e s w h i c h make up t h e p r o g r a m .

When one p e r s o n c a n n o t

e f f e c t i v e l y assum e a l l t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , t o p r o v i d e him w i t h a n a s s i s t a n t .

i t m ig h t be w i s e

To i n s u r e s u c c e s s , t h e s p e ­

c i a l s k i l l s , a p t i t u d e s , and p e r s o n a l i t i e s of w orkers and th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e community must a l l be tak en in to account.

I t i s so m e tim es w i s e t o have a man a n d a

woman w o rk in g t o g e t h e r . The d i r e c t o r s h o u l d be r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l a p p a r a t u s a n d o th e r equipm ent, d i s c i p l i n e , r e p o r t s and f o r th e a p p ro v in g of

1 N a t i o n a l R e c r e a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n , I n t r o d u c t i o n t o Comm u n i t y R e c r e a t i o n ( 2nd E d i t i o n ; New Y o rk : M cGraw -Hill Company, I n c . , 1949), p. 272.

46

c e r t a i n p r o g r a m s a n d s p e c i a l p rogram f e a t u r e s .

E ith e r the d i ­

r e c t o r or th e a s s i s t a n t d i r e c t o r ought to he p r e s e n t d u rin g a l l hours t h a t the f a c i l i t i e s a r e in o p e r a tio n .

O

I n many s c h o o l s ,

t h i s t a s k f a l l s upon t h e p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n d i r e c t o r .

When

t h i s i s t h e c a s e , s e v e r a l a s s i s t a n t s may he a p p o i n t e d t o a l l o w t h e p h y s i c a l e d u c a ti o n d i r e c t o r s u f f i c i e n t tim e t o p erfo rm h i s o ther d u tie s. S t u d e n t s may so m e tim es he u s e d e f f e c t i v e l y a s a s s i s t a n t s . Those s e l e c t e d f o r t h i s p u r p o s e s h o u l d he s t u d e n t s i n t e r e s t e d i n r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s and ones who c a n he d e p e n d e d upon t o assum e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s b e s t o w e d upon him.

A safety

p a t r o l , o r g a n i z e d by t h e s t u d e n t body g o v e r n m e n t , h a s b e e n u s e d % t o a s s i s t i n t h e s u p e r v i s i o n of t h e p l a y a r e a , 0 S e v e r a l s t u ­ d e n t s a p p o in te d to any of th e s e d u t i e s can h elp a g r e a t d e a l t o make t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n more e f f e c t i v e .

I t m ig h t a l s o s e r v e

t o c r e a t e a b e t t e r a t t i t u d e to w a r d t h e s c h o o l a u t h o r i t i e s and t h e f a c i l i t i e s a v a i l a b l e t o them. A p p r o p r i a t e s t e p s s h o u l d be t a k e n by t h e d i r e c t o r t o s e e t h a t t h e c h i l d r e n i n t h e s c h o o l and t h e p e o p l e o f t h e com­ m u n i t y who u s e t h e p l a y f a c i l i t i e s have s p e c i a l i n s t r u c t i o n s i n s a f e t y a n d t h e us-e o f e q u i p m e n t .

T h i s w i l l p r o b a b l y have

more e f f e c t on t h e a d u l t s a n d s e c o n d a r y s t u d e n t s t h a n on t h e

£ E>°e • ~ i t . 3 W. W. P a t t y , T e a c h i n g H e a l t h a n d S a f e t y i n E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l s (New Y ork: P r e n t i c e - H a l l , ' l n c . 7 “T 9 4 8 ) 9 p . 3 1 3 .

47

c h i l d r e n , a s s u c h d e t a i l s w ould a p p e a l n e i t h e r t o t h e i r im a­ g in a tio n nor t h e i r d e s i r e f o r a d v e n tu re . 4

C hildren lik e to liv e

t h r i l l i n g l y and a r e a t t r a c t e d to h az ard s by th e dangers t h a t e x i s t i n th e m .

R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e i r a t t i t u d e to w a r d s a s a f e t y

p r o g r a m , t h o s e u s i n g t h e p l a y a r e a s h o u l d be g i v e n e m p h a t i c t r a i n i n g in playground s a f e t y . upon them a t t h e t i m e ,

Even i f i t h a s l i t t l e

effect

t h e t r a i n i n g may show i n l a t e r l i f e .

An a l e r t w o r k e r w i l l p r o b a b l y become f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e h a z a r d s e x i s t i n g on t h e g r o u n d s a n d t a k e e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y t o a c q u a i n t t h e s t u d e n t s w i t h them . The p r i m a r y f u n c t i o n o f t h e p l a y g r o u n d w o r k e r i s t o c o n ­ d u c t a n d p r o m o te a c t i v i t i e s ;

t h e r e f o r e , t h e y s h o u l d be a s k e d

t o keep o n ly th o s e r e c o r d s t h a t r e q u i r e l i t t l e o f some v a l u e .

tim e a n d a r e

A w e e k l y r e p o r t on t h e a t t e n d a n c e , t h e a c t i v i ­

t i e s , th e a c c i d e n t s , th e club p r o j e c t s , and th e v o lu n te e r s e r ­ v i c e s s h o u l d be s u f f i c i e n t .

When t h e p l a y f a c i l i t i e s a r e u s e d

by b o t h t h e s c h o o l a n d t h e community, i t may be a d v i s a b l e t o k e e p t h e s c h o o l p r o g ra m r e c o r d s a n d t h e a f t e r s c h o o l p r o g ra m records se p arate ly .

The d i r e c t o r s h o u l d make f i n a n c i a l r e p o r t s

to the re s p o n s ib le a u t h o r i t i e s a t r e g u la r i n t e r v a l s . t o have on hand t h e r o s t e r s lists

He n e e d s

o f p l a y g r o u n d t e a m s , membership

of c l u b s , j u n i o r l e a d e r s , w i n n e r s of s o c i a l e v e n t s and

4: I b i d , p . 3 0 9 . 5 N a t i o n a l R e c r e a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n , op. c i t . , p . 2 8 6 .

48

t o u r n a m e n t s a n d t h e names o f c h i l d r e n e n t e r i n g c o m p e t i t i v e a n d in te r-p la y g ro u n d events.

fa

C e r t a i n p o l i c i e s or r u l e s a r e u s u a l l y needed f o r e f f i ­ c i e n t playground a d m in is t r a tio n .

T h e se s h o u l d be s e t up b y

t h e d i r e c t o r and s t r i c t l y e n f o r c e d . t o th e use of f a c i l i t i e s ,

The r u l e s s h o u l d p e r t a i n

t h e p e r i o d s when t h e g r o u n d s w i l l be

open, t h e d u t i e s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of w o rk e rs , and f i n a n c i ­ a l m atters.

T h ese p o l i c i e s a r e n o t o n l y n e c e s s a r y f o r good

managem ent a n d s e r v i c e b u t f o r l e g a l p r o t e c t i o n f o r t h e d i ­ r e c t o r , th e w o rk e rs , and the p la y g ro u n d o f f i c i a l s .

For t h is

r e a s o n , a l l p erso n s conn ected w ith th e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n need a c e r t a i n amount of i n s u r a n c e w h ic h w i l l p r o t e c t them a g a i n s t law su its. S e l e c t i n g c o m p e t e n t p e r s o n n e l i s one o f t h e b e s t ways to avoid le g a l d i f f i c u l t i e s .

The p u r c h a s i n g of s t a n d a r d e q u i p ­

ment a n d i n s t a l l i n g i t p r o p e r l y may p r o v e t o be a n a s s e t ; n o t only t o av o id l e g a l a c t i o n b u t to in s u r e s a f e t y .

Frequent i n ­

s p e c tio n s and e f f e c t i v e m aintenance a r e e s s e n t i a l f o r th e p r o ­ t e c t i o n of a l l connected w ith th e r e c r e a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s .

How­

e v e r , one o f t h e m ost e f f e c t i v e weapons i s t o have l e g i s l a t i v e e n a c t m e n t s a n d b o a r d r e g u l a t i o n s w h i c h a r e w i t h i n t h e power of the governing u n i t .

P l a y g r o u n d p e r s o n n e l must e n f o r c e

t h e s e r u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s i n o rd e r to s t a y c l e a r of l e g a l

6

I M d - . p . 2 91.

49

d ifficu lties Use o f t h e f a c i l i t i e s .

The p l a y f i e l d s h o u l d be d e s i g n ­

ed a n d c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h due r e g a r d t o a g e l e v e l s a n d t o z o n e s d e s i g n a t e d f o r t h e u s e of e a c h g r o u p and t h e i r v a r i o u s a c t i v i ­ tie s.

C h i l d r e n s h o u l d b e r e q u i r e d t o r e s p e c t t h e r i g h t s of

o t h e r s a n d t o n o t i n t r u d e on g r o u p s o f a d i f f e r e n t a g e l e v e l . A c c o r d i n g t o W i l l i a m s a n d B r o w n e l l , c h i l d r e n s h o u l d be c l a s s i ­ fied .

The c h i l d r e n of n u r s e r y s c h o o l a n d k i n d e r g a r t i n a g e n e e d

t o be a s s i g n e d t o a n a r e a s e t a s i d e f o r t h e i r e x c l u s i v e u s e . T h e ir f a c i l i t i e s a r e b e s t l o c a t e d n e a r th e s c h o o l b u i l d i n g and away from t h e p l o t s u s e d by o l d e r s t u d e n t s .

A lso, c h ild re n

from s i x t o t e n y e a r s o f a g e , boys from t e n t o f o u r t e e n y e a r s o f a g e , g i r l s f ro m t e n t o f o u r t e e n y e a r s of a g e , h i g h s c h o o l g i r l s , a n d h i g h s c h o o l b o y s s h o u l d ’ be a s s i g n e d t o s e p a r a t e areas.

8

By s e p a r a t i n g e a c h s e c t i o n w i t h a f e n c e , s e g r e g a t e d

p l a y may be f u r t h e r i n s u r e d .

Even t h o u g h o l d e r s t u d e n t s a r e

n o t l i k e l y to ru n over or i n t e r r u p t th e a c t i v i t i e s groups i n t e n t i o n a l l y ,

of younger

t h e y may become so e x c i t e d a n d i n v o l v e d

i n t h e i r own a c t i v i t y t h a t t h e y c r a s h i n t o t h e o t h e r p l a y a r e a s w ithout th in k in g . E v e r y p e r s o n t h a t u s e s t h e p l a y a r e a s h o u l d be f a m i l -

7 J . P. W i l l i a m s a n d C. L. B r o w n e l l , The A d m i n i s t r a t i o n of H e a lth and P h y s ic a l E d u catio n (3 rd E d itio n ; P h ila d e lp h ia ! ¥/. B. S a u n d e r s Company, 1 9 4 6 ) , p . 60. 8

I b i d . , p . 309.

50

i a r i z e d w i t h t h e r u l e s s e t up by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e u s e of t h e f a c i l i t i e s .

R u l e s s h o u l d a l s o be p o s t e d on t h e

b u l l e t i n b o a r d s and o t h e r c o n v e n i e n t p l a c e s f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f i n t e r e s t e d p e r s o n s and f o r a d d e d p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e m isuse of th e a r e a .

I t would be d i f f i c u l t f o r a p e r s o n t o

a b i d e b y r u l e s a b o u t which, t h e y a r e n o t f a m i l i a r . th e u se rs a re f a m i l i a r w ith the r u l e s ,

Even t h o u g h

t h e i n s t r u c t o r s or s u p e r ­

v i s o r s w i l l p r o b a b l y have t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f r u l e s a s one of his c h ie f d u tie s .

The h o u r s o f a c t i v i t y s h o u l d be a r r a n g e d by

t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e g r o u p and s t r i c t l y e n f o r c e d .

When t h e p l a y -

f i e l d i s lo c k e d a t n i g h t , a ta m p e r-p ro o f lo c k system s h o u ld be a r r a n g e d so t h a t a l l g a t e s a n d o t h e r e n t r a n c e s a r e s e c u r e ­ ly fa s te n e d .

0

A l t h o u g h c e r t a i n r u l e s a r e n e c e s s a r y , t h e y s h o u l d be l i m i t e d so a s n o t t o hamper t h e p r o g r a m .

F r e e p l a y s h o u l d be

e n c o u r a g e d ; t h e r e f o r e , r e g u l a t i o n s w h ic h s u p p r e s s t h i s t y p e a c t i v i t y m ust be o m i t t e d .

These r u l e s a r e u s u a l l y s e t up t o

r e g u l a t e t h e u s e of t h e p l a y a r e a s ,

the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of the

d e p a rtm e n t, and th e p e r s o n s u s in g th e a r e a s .

10

I f , f o r e x a m p le ,

t h e number o f t e n n i s c o u r t s p r o v i d e d do n o t m e et t h e n e e d s of t h e com munity, some i n d i v i d u a l s m i g h t r e f u s e t o g i v e up t h e courts to o th e rs d e s ir in g t h e i r u se.

In such a c a s e , a r u l e

9 J . B a r b o u r , uS a f e P l a y g r o u n d E q u i p m e n t , 1* The N a t i o n ’ s S c h o o l s , 4 1 : 6 0 , J u l y , 1948. 10 N a t i o n a l R e c r e a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n , op. c i t . , p . 2 8 6 .

51

i s n e e d e d t o e n f o r c e p e r s o n s w i s h i n g t o u s e t h e c o u r t s t o make r e s e r v a t i o n s a h e a d o f t i m e by c o n t a c t i n g t h e p l a y g r o u n d o f f i c e . At t h a t t i m e , t h e y w o uld b e g i v e n a c a r d show ing t h e i r r i g h t t o occ upy t h e c o u r t s f o r a d e s i g n a t e d p e r i o d of ti m e on a c e r ­ ta in date.

T h i s c a r d w ould t h e n be p r e s e n t e d t o t h e s u p e r v i ­

s o r on d u t y f o r a d m i t t a n c e .

O t h e r ways o f h a n d l i n g s u c h s i t u ­

a t i o n s a r e to charge a f e e f o r th e use of th e f a c i l i t y or to l i m i t th e use to c e r t a i n p e o p l e .

11

A lthough c i t y r e c r e a t i o n

d ep a rtm en ts charge f e e s a t tim es f o r th e use

of

certain recrea­

t i o n a l f u n c t i o n s , t h e s c h o o l may n o t be a b l e

to

do

so.In t h i s

c a s e , t h e y c o u l d l i m i t t h e u se o f c e r t a i n e q u i p m e n t o r t h e f a ­ c i l i t i e s t o p a r t i c u l a r g r o u p s on c e r t a i n d a y s .

But, i f e i t h e r

m ethod has t o be e m p lo y ed , i t s e r v e s t o show t h a t t h e r e i s a n e e d f o r more r e c r e a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s .

S i n c e one o f t h e

c h i e f aim s o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n and p h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n pro g ra m i s t o o f f e r t h e p u b l i c t h e s e o p p o r t u n i t i e s , im m e d ia te s t e p s

should

be t a k e n t o p r o v i d e a d e q u a t e f a c i l i t i e s . I t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e s c h o o l s c h e d u l e be a r r a n g e d so t h a t t h e o l d e r a n d t h e y o u n g e r c h i l d r e n a r e n o t on t h e p l a y ­ g r o u n d a t t h e same t i m e . 1 2

T h i s would f u r t h e r e l i m i n a t e t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y o f o v e r c r o w d i n g o r t h e i n t e r f e r e n c e of one g r o u p w ith an o th er.

11

The f i r s t few p e r i o d s i n t h e m o r n in g c o u l d be

Loc. c i t .

12 N. E. V i l e s , 2 7 : 1 2 , M arch, 1948.

"Safe P la y g ro u n d s ," S a f e t y E d u ca tio n , --------- ----------------- -

52

d e s ig n a t e d to th e o l d e r s tu d e n ts and th e l a t t e r p a r t t o th e sm all c h ild r e n .

A s i m i l a r a r r a n g e m e n t c o u l d b e worked o u t f o r

the a fte rn o o n p a r t i c i p a t i o n .

S c h o o l s t h a t have s m a l l p l a y g r o u n d s

m ust a d a p t t h e i r p r o g ra m t o t h e f a c i l i t i e s ; c a n be made .

13

no o t h e r p r o v i s i o n s

Even t h o u g h t h e s c h o o l p r o g ra m can som etim es

be w orked o u t i n t h i s m a n n e r , i t may be more d i f f i c u l t t o make p r o v is io n s f o r a f t e r sc h o o l program s.

Perhaps the w is e s t th in g

i s t o s e t up a pro g ra m w h ic h w i l l f i t t h e p l a y g r o u n d . Use o f a p p a r a t u s .

C h i l d r e n e n j o y e q u ip m e n t t h a t w i l l

g i v e them s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d p r o v i d e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o c l im b a n d take r i s k s .

A p p aratu s p r o v id i n g th e s e p o s s i b i l i t i e s always

p r o v i d e s h a z a r d s , e s p e c i a l l y on s m a l l p l a y g r o u n d s .

To e l i m i ­

n a t e t h e s e h a z a r d s a s much a s p o s s i b l e , t h e c h i l d r e n must be t a u g h t how t o u s e t h e e q u ip m e n t s a f e l y . I n s t r u c t o r s u s u a l l y become a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e h a z a r d s t h a t e x i s t when t h e a p p a r a t u s i s i n u s e .

Knowing t h e s e u n s a f e

c o n d i t i o n s , he s h o u l d be q u i c k t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f e a c h o p p o r ­ t u n i t y t o p o i n t them o u t a n d w arn t h e s t u d e n t s .

He can make

f r e q u e n t i n s p e c t i o n s and encourage th e c h i l d r e n to r e p o r t any d e f e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t w h ic h t h e y o b s e r v e .

The p u p i l s s h o u l d be

a w a r e , t o o , o f t h e d i f f e r e n t a c c i d e n t s t h a t may o c c u r on t h e v a r i o u s p i e c e s o f p l a y g r o u n d a p p a r a t u s a n d o f t h e ways of

13 C. E. S p e n c e r a n d o t h e r s , P h y s i c a l a n d H e a l t h Edu­ c a t i o n f o r E lem entary and Secondary S chools (R a le ig h , N orth C a r o l in a : S t a t e S u p e r in te n d e n t of P u b lic I n s t r u c t i o n , 1940), p . 16.

a v o i d i n g them.

1 4-

T e a c h e r s can o f t e n g e t b e s t r e s u l t s from t h e i r r u l e s i f t h e y can make t h e s t u d e n t s u n d e r s t a n d t h e s p i r i t b e h i n d t h e reg u latio n s.

Some have f o u n d i t h e l p f u l t o l e t t h e c h i l d r e n

p a r t i c i p a t e in fo rm u latin g the r u l e s .

No d o u b t , , t h i s g i v e s them

a g r e a te r re sp e c t fo r the r e g u la tio n s .

S a f e t y p a t r o l s made up

o f s t u d e n t s may a l s o be u s e d t o g r e a t a d v a n t a g e on t h e p l a y ground.

T h ese s t u d e n t s c o u l d be o f g r e a t a i d i n c o n t r o l l i n g

t h e g r o u p s and e n f o r c i n g t h e r u l e s o f s a f e t y a n d u s e . I t -may be n e c e s s a r y t o a s s i g n s m a l l c h i l d r e n t o t h e d i f f e r e n t a c t i v i t y a r e a s and s u p e r v i s e th e use of a p p a r a t u s . Perhaps th ro u g h c lo se s u p e rv is io n i n th e b eg in n in g , th e c h i l d ­ r e n c a n be t a u g h t t o r e s p e c t t h e r i g h t s a n d s a f e t y o f o t h e r s w e l l enough t o e l i m i n a t e many f u t u r e p r o b l e m s a l o n g t h e s e l i n e s . Prom t h o r o u g h i n s t r u c t i o n ,

t h e c h i l d r e n can be made

a w a re of t h e r i g h t s o f o t h e r s a n d t h e n e e d f o r s a f e t y vshile u s in g th e equipm ent.

A t t h e same t i m e , t h e t e a c h e r s w i l l be

d o i n g a g r e a t d e a l o f f u r t h e r i n g t h e e d u c a t i o n of e a c h c h i l d . F o l l o w i n g a r e some p r a c t i c e s t h a t a n i n s t r u c t o r or t e a c h e r can s t r e s s i n th e use of p la y a p p a r a t u s .

When a b a s e b a l l game i s

i n p r o g r e s s , c h i l d r e n can be t a u g h t t o d r o p t h e i r b a t a f t e r

14 W. W. P a t t y , -1-5

o p . c i t . , p . 3 13.

Loc. c i t .

16 B. M. P e t e r s o n , " P l a y g r o u n d P r e c a u t i o n s , " S a f e t y E d u c a t i o n , 2 9 : 1 1 , S e p t e m h e r , 1949.

h i t t i n g th e h a l l i n s t e a d of s l i n g i n g i t and en d an g erin g th e sp ectato rs.

However, t h e b y s t a n d e r s s h o u l d be made c o n s c i o u s

of t h e d a n g e r a n d e n c o u r a g e d t o k e e p a s a f e d i s t a n c e from t h e a re a of a c t i v i t y .

B e f o r e b e g i n n i n g a game t h e p l a y e r s s h o u l d

s e l e c t a n a r e a w e l l away f ro m t h e o t h e r c h i l d r e n a n d k e e p t h e i r e y e s a n d e a r s open f o r p o s s i b l e d a n g e r s a t a l l t i m e s .

One o f

t h e s e d a n g e r s , f o r i n s t a n c e , i s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of a b a l l ’ s r o l l i n g i n t o t h e s t r e e t i f t h e p l a y g r o u n d i s n o t e n c l o s e d by a fence.

A l l p l a y e r s m ust be w a r n e d i n a d v a n c e o f s u c h a h a p ­

pening. The s w in g s l o c a t e d on t h e p l a y a r e a p r e s e n t h a z a r d s w h i c h ca n b e e l i m i n a t e d by show ing t h e u s e r s t h e d a n g e r s t h a t e x i s t when m i s u s e d .

S w i n g in g a t a n g l e s o r i n c i r c l e s can be d a n g e r ­

ous t o t h o s e u s i n g o t h e r sw in g s and t o p e r s o n s p l a y i n g n e a r b y . When u s i n g a s w i n g , o n l y a s t r a i t b a c k w a r d s a n d f o r w a r d s m o t i o n is accep tab le.

F u r t h e r s a f e t y p r e c a u t i o n s c a n be t a k e n b y r e ­

f r a i n i n g f ro m ju m p in g f ro m moving sw ings a n d by m aking s u r e t h e sw ing i s n o t l e f t i n m o t i o n when i t i s a b a n d o n e d .

A ccidents

may be i n d u c e d by a l l o w i n g more t h a n one p e r s o n t o occ up y one swing o r b y one p e r s o n ’ s s t a n d i n g i n i t . ta to rs

H ere a g a i n , t h e s p e c ­

s h o u l d be k e p t a t a s a f e d i s t a n c e , a n d when t h e y must

approach th e a r e a ,

t h e y m u st do s o w i t h c a u t i o n .

Even by a -

v o i d i n g t h e s e d a n g e r s , c e r t a i n u n a v o i d a b l e a c c i d e n t s can o c ­ cur . S t u d e n t s u s i n g t h e j u n g l e gym s h o u l d be e n c o u r a g e d t o

55

help sm a lle r c h ild re n using i t , on i t ,

t o r e f r a i n f ro m p l a y i n g t r i c k s

a n d t o t a k e c a r e n o t t o s t e p on t h e hands or f e e t o f

other u s e rs .

They s h o u l d a l w a y s a w a i t t h e i r t u r n a n d once on

t h e gym, k e e p a f i r m g r i p on t h e f r a m e w o r k .

M isuse of t h i s

p i e c e of a p p a r a tu s can be ex tre m e ly d a n g e ro u s. The c h i l d r e n s h o u l d be made aw a re o f t h e f a c t t h a t more t h a n two p e r s o n s on t h e t e e t e r b o a r d a t one tim e c r e a t e s a sa fe ty hazard.

A. p u p i l o u g h t t o r e c o g n i z e t h e d a n g e r of jump­

i n g o f f t h e b o a r d w i t h o u t making h i s p l a y m a t e c o n s c i o u s o f h i s in ten tio n s. C h i l d r e n s h o u l d be t a u g h t n o t t o c l im b b u i l d i n g s o r t h e fra m e w o r k o f t h e a p p a r a t u s , n o t t o l e a v e b a l l s and o t h e r o b j e c t s l y i n g on t h e p l a y a r e a s when t h e y a r e f i n i s h e d w i t h th e m , n o t t o p l a y games n e a r t h e a p p a r a t u s , n o t t o i g n o r e a c c i d e n t s b u t t o r e p o r t them i m m e d i a t e l y , a n d n o t t o p l a y on d e f e c t i v e a p ­ p aratus.

A l l b i c y c l e s should be parked in the space a s s ig n e d

f o r t h a t p u r p o s e a n d n e v e r r i d d e n on t h e p l a y g r o u n d .

R iding

d o u b l e o r on t h e s id e ' i s u n s a f e a n d s h o u l d a l w a y s be d i s c o u r ­ aged. When l e a v i n g t h e p l a y a r e a ,

t h e c h i l d r e n s h o u l d go d i ­

r e c t l y t o t h e l o a d i n g zone where t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a w a i t s them. Some r u l e s m ust a l s o b e p r o v i d e d t o k e e p t h e p u p i l s away from coal p i t s ,

s e w e r m a n h o l e s , a n d o t h e r o p e n i n g s t h a t may p r e s e n t

unsafe c o n d itio n s .

l r/ N . E .

17

V ile s ,

0£.

c i t . . p.

13

56

T hese a r e o n l y a few of t h e p r e c a u t i o n s t h a t c a n be ta k e n to i n s u r e a s a f e and e f f i c i e n t p la y g ro u n d . Summary.

The d i r e c t o r o f a p l a y g r o u n d u s u a l l y a s su m e s

m o st o f t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f o p e r a t i o n a n d i s a l m o s t w h o l l y i n c h a r g e of t h e a c t i v i t y p r o g r a m .

T h e r e f o r e , when a p p o i n t i n g

a new d i r e c t o r , g r e a t c a r e s h o u l d be t a k e n t o c h o o s e t h e one w i t h th e most t r a i n i n g ,

e x p e r i e n c e , and s u c c e s s .

S im ilar, p r e ­

c a u t i o n s m ust be t a k e n by t h e d i r e c t o r when s e l e c t i n g a s s i s t a n t s . C a p a b le s t u d e n t s c a n o f t e n be u s e d e f f e c t i v e l y f o r p l a y ­ g r o u n d s u p e r v i s i o n p u r p o s e s w i t h some s c h o o l s u s i n g a b r a n c h of th e s a f e t y p a t r o l f o r t h i s purpose.

O t h e r s u s e t h o s e who

have a p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t i n p l a y a c t i v i t i e s a n d s a f e t y .

Re­

g a r d l e s s o f t h e p l a n u s e d t o a c q u i r e h e l p from t h e p u p i l s , g r e a t c a re sh o u ld be ta k e n to s e l e c t th o s e b e s t f i t t e d and m ost c a p a b l e of a s s u m in g t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . P l a y g r o u n d w o r k e r s s h o u l d be r e q u i r e d t o k e e p o n l y r e ­ co rd s which a r e of v a l u e to th e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .

When r e q u i r e d

t o make u n n e c e s s a r y r e p o r t s , t h e y have t o t a k e v a l u a b l e tim e f r o m t h e i r more i m p o r t a n t f u n c t i o n s . p r o g r a m may s u f f e r .

As a r e s u l t ,

the e n t ir e

Weekly o r m o n t h l y r e p o r t s on a c t i v i t i e s ,

a c c i d e n t s , p r o j e c t s , a t te n d a n c e , and v o lu n te e r s e r v i c e sho uld be s u f f i c i e n t .

When t h e s c h o o l a n d t h e a f t e r s c h o o l p ro g ra m

a r e s e p a r a t e , i t may be n e c e s s a r y t o make s e p a r a t e r e p o r t s o f a sim ila r nature. It

i s u s u a l l y n e c e s s a r y t o s e t up some r u l e s and

57 r e g u l a t i o n s t o be o b s e r v e d by t h e p l a y g r o u n d p e r s o n n e l a n d t h o s e u sing th e f a c i l i t i e s .

T hese r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s s h o u l d b e

made by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n a n d t h e b e t t e r ­ ment o f t h e p r o g r a m .

One r u l e c o u l d be t h e r e q u i r e m e n t o f a l l

s t a f f p e r s o n n e l t o c a r r y s u f f i c i e n t I n s u r a n c e t o c o v e r them ag a in st p o ssib le le g a l a c tio n s. A ll p ersons using th e p la y a re a should be in s t r u c te d on t h e u se of t h e v a r i o u s e q u i p m e n t , a p p a r a t u s , and t h e g e n e r ­ al fa c ilitie s.

They s h o u l d b e w e l l a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e r u l e s

t h a t govern usage.

E v e ry o n e s h o u l d be f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e z o n ­

i n g p l a n a n d t h e v a r i o u s a r e a s t o be u s e d f o r a c t i v i t y a n d q u i e t gam es.

T h ro u g h good I n s t r u c t i o n a n d a l e r t l e a d e r s h i p ,

t h e c h i l d r e n c a n be e d u c a t e d t o r e s p e c t s a f e t y a n d t h e r i g h t s of o th e rs. S m a ll p l a y a r e a s o f t e n l a c k t h e f a c i l i t i e s n e c e s s a r y t o accommodate a l l t h o s e d e s i r i n g t h e i r u s e .

In th is case,

some s c h e d u l e m ust b e worked o u t t o a s s u r e e v e r y o n e t h e use of th e equipment and f a c i l i t i e s . doing t h i s :

T h ere a r e s e v e r a l ways o f

( l ) a s s i g n i n g - s p e c i f I c groups to th e v a rio u s a re a s

a t a c e r t a i n tim e;

( 2 ) c h a r g i n g a f e e f o r t h e u s e of t h e f a c i l i ­

t i e s a n d l i m i t i n g t h e amount of tim e t h a t e a c h p a r t y may u se a f a c i l i t y ; and,

(3)using a re s e rv a tio n p lan .

Some s c h o o l s have

a r r a n g e d t h e i r d a i l y s c h e d u l e so a s t o p r e v e n t o v e r l o a d i n g t h e p l a y a r e a and th e i n s t r u c t o r .

However, t h e s y s t e m b e s t s u i t e d

f o r one s i t u a t i o n may n o t be s a t i s f a c t o r y u n d e r s l i g h t l y d i f ­ f e r e n t circum stances.

When a n e f f e c t i v e p l a n c a n n o t be worked

58

o u t w ith o u t e n d a n g erin g th e program d e s i r e d , s h o u l d be a l t e r e d t o f i t

t h e p r o g ra m

the f a c i l i t i e s a v a i l a b l e .

Good i n s t r u c t o r s w i l l t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f e v e r y o p p o r t u ­ n i t y to prom ote th e r e s p e c t f o r o t h e r s , t h e r e s p e c t f o r e q u ip ­ m ent, and th e r e s p e c t f o r th e r e c r e a t i o n a l program ,

^here are

num erous o c c a s i o n s f o r s u c h i n s t r u c t i o n when t h e c h i l d r e n a r e u s i n g t h e a p p a r a t u s a n d a c t i v i t y a r e a s o f a p la y g r o u n d . .

CHAPTER VI

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS I.

SUMMARY

Many s c h o o l s and. c o m m u n iti e s h av e f o u n d t h a t t h e i r p l a y f a c i l i t i e s a r e i n a d e q u a t e f o r t h e t y p e p r o g r a m n e e d e d by our m odern s o c i e t y . n ities,

To p r o v i d e t h e d e s i r e d r e c r e a t i o n a l o p p o r t u ­

t h e y must e x p a n d t h e i r p l a y g r o u n d s .

Before th e n e c e s ­

s a r y s t e p s c a n be t a k e n some know ledge o f s t a n d a r d s i s e s s e n ­ tia l. The p u r p o s e o f t h i s s t u d y was t o a c c u m u l a t e some o f t h e standards r e l a t i n g to th e s e le c tio n , and use of a p la y g ro u n d s i t e .

c o n s t r u c t i o n , m aintenance

I t was a l s o d e s i g n e d t o b e t t e r

a c q u a i n t t h e p u b l i c w i t h t h e p r o b l e m s t h a t o c c u r when a p l a y a re a is being c o n s tru c te d or r e b u i l t . P lay is th e r e a l e s t a s p e c t of l i v i n g to th e sm all c h i ld . The p r o b l e m s of r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s s e r i o u s t o him a s a r e t h e problem s of l i v i n g to a d u l t s .

Group games a n d c o m p e t i t i v e a t h ­

l e t i c s a r e e x c e l l e n t m edia f o r d e v e l o p i n g s o c i a l e f f i c i e n c y and a n a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r human n a t u r e .

I n v ie w of t h e s e f a c t o r s ,

t h e c h i l d r e n of m odern s o c i e t y s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d w i t h r e c r e ­ a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s w h i c h w i l l m e et t h e i r s o c i a l a n d p h y s i c a l needs. A l t h o u g h t h i s s t u d y h a s p r o v i d e d t h e main p r o b l e m s a n d a t t e m p t e d t o s o l v e them , I t has s e v e r a l w e a k n e s s e s .

The c h i e f

weak p o i n t s seem t o l i e

in the sources of m a te r ia l .

Most of

t h i s d a t a came f ro m hooks a n d p e r i o d i c a l l i t e r a t u r e w h ic h p r o ­ vided l i t t l e

or no s t a t i s t i c a l f o u n d a t i o n s f o r t h e i r o f f e r i n g s .

A n o t h e r w e a k n e s s i s t h a t no a t t e m p t was made t o s o l v e t h e p r o b ­ lems of a n y p a r t i c u l a r s e c t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y ; r a t h e r , a l l s u b j e c t s w ere h a n d l e d a s n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m s . II.

FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

I n e a c h c h a p t e r , a n e f f o r t was made t o r e a c h some c o n ­ c l u s i o n a s t o t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e s o l u t i o n o f t h e p r o b le m i n q u estio n .

F o llo w in g a r e th e f i n d i n g s of each of th e p r e c e d ­

ing c h a p t e r s . The f i r s t c h a p t e r i s c o n c e r n e d m a i n l y w i t h t h e p r o b le m which I n s t i g a t e d th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n .

Many s c h o o l s a n d communi­

t i e s a r e l a c k i n g I n modern p l a y f a c i l i t i e s .

P l a y g r o u n d s w h ic h

s e r v e d t h e i r p u r p o s e a few y e a r s a g o h av e become o b s o l e t e i n t h e p r e s e n t day l i f e .

To r e c t i f y t h i s s i t u a t i o n , t h e l a t e s t \

s t a n d a r d s f o r p l a y g r o u n d s must be known and u s e d t o g u i d e t h e r e b u i l d i n g program . The p r o b l e m s o f s i t e s e l e c t i o n a r e d e a l t w i t h i n Chap­ ter I I.

T h i s c h a p t e r p o i n t s o u t t h a t a c a r e f u l s t u d y m ust be

made of t h e community t o i n s u r e t h e p u r c h a s e of a s i t e w h i c h w i l l s e r v e the- n e e d s of t h e p e o p l e .

A p l a y g r o u n d s i t e s h o u l d be

( 1 ) convenient to th e p eo p le i t i s to se rv e ; h a z a r d s and u n h e a l t h y c o n d i t i o n s ; age;

(2 ) f r e e of s a f e t y

(3)equipped w ith n a t u r a l d r a in

( 4 )d e v o id of ex c ess g r a d in g p roblem s;

( 5 ) f o u n d e d on good

61

so il;

( 6 ) l o c a t e d I n p l e a s i n g s u r r o u n d i n g s ; and., ( 7 ) o f a c c e p t ­

able s iz e . I n C hapter I I I , of d i s c u s s i o n .

the c o n s tru c tio n procedure i s th e to p ic

I t was f o u n d t h a t a d e t a i l e d b l u e p r i n t s h o u l d

p r o c e e d a l l o t h e r p h ases of p la y g ro u n d c o n s t r u c t i o n .

T his

b l u e p r i n t m ust i n c l u d e a l l t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e c o m p l e t e d p l a y ' a r e a so t h a t once c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s b e g u n , no c h a n g e s n e e d be made i n t h e o r i g i n a l p l a n s . E x p erts in th e v a r io u s f i e l d s should be a c q u ir e d to c a r ­ r y out th e b u i l d i n g program .

They n o t o n l y know t h e b e s t m a t e r ­

i a l s b u t c a n do t h e work w i t h g r e a t e r s p e e d a n d a c c u r a c y .

A

w e l l t r a i n e d p e r s o n w i l l be a b l e t o f o r e s e e and p r e p a r e t o meet th e problem s t h a t a r e l i k e l y to a r i s e .

The same i s t r u e when

s e l e c t i n g th e equipment and a p p a r a t u s f o r th e a r e a . M a i n t e n a n c e p r o b l e m s a r e t h e t o p i c s o f C h a p t e r IV.

Re­

l i a b l e s o u r c e s s a y t h a t t h i s I s one o f t h e m a j o r p r o b l e m s of m a n ag in g a p l a y g r o u n d .

Everyone co n n e cte d w ith th e a r e a sh o u ld

work t o k e e p t h e f a c i l i t i e s

i n good w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n .

D aily,

w e e k l y , a n d m o n t h l y i n s p e c t i o n s m u st be made by t h e p l a y g r o u n d a n d m a i n t e n a n c e s t a f f i f t h e p l a y g r o u n d i s t o be k e p t f r e e o f hazards.

Some c o m m u n iti e s have a w e l l t r a i n e d m a i n t e n a n c e crew

t o make a l l r e p a i r s .

O t h e r s have o n l y one or two p o o r l y t r a i n ­

ed p e r s o n s t o m a i n t a i n t h e a r e a a n d t h e a p p a r a t u s .

R epairs a re

n e e d e d f r e q u e n t l y a n d m u s t be made i m m e d i a t e l y , o r some o f t h e value of the a r e a i s l o s t .

62

C h a p t e r V i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e d i r e c t i o n a n d u s e of a recreatio n al area.

The d i r e c t o r s h o u l d he a n e x p e r i e n c e d

p e r s o n w i t h a good e d u c a t i o n .

H is d u t i e s would h e t o s u p e r ­

v i s e th e o p e r a t i o n and t o c a r r y out th e w ishes of th e g o v ern ­ ing hoard. When t h e f a c i l i t i e s a r e n o t s u i t a b l e t o t h e a c t i v i t y p r o g r a m , t h e p r o g ra m m ust he a l t e r e d .

Some s c h o o l s have c e r t a i n

p e r i o d s of t h e d a y a s s i g n e d t o p a r t i c u l a r a g e l e v e l s so t h a t a l l w i l l have r e c r e a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s .

Community s y s t e m s

o f t e n f i n d i t n e c e s s a r y t o make s i m i l a r a r r a n g e m e n t s ; s u c h a s r e q u i r i n g advanced r e s e r v a t i o n s of f a c i l i t i e s .

A ll persons

who d e s i r e i t s h o u l d have a c c e s s t o t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l a r e a a t one tim e or a n o t h e r . III. The t o p i c s o f t h i s lem s.

CONCLUSIONS study d e a l w ith v ery d e f i n i t e pro b ­

B efore a tte m p tin g to c o n s tr u c t or o p e ra te a r e c r e a ­

t i o n a l a r e a , one m ust he f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e d e s i r a b l e s t a n ­ d ard s r e l a t i n g t o the t a s k .

Leading e d u c a ti o n and r e c r e a t i o n

a u t h o r i t i e s have recommended s o l u t i o n s t o most o f t h e p r o b ­ lems i n b o t h of t h e s e f i e l d s .

By u s i n g t h e i r s u g g e s t i o n s ,

a more a t t r a c t i v e and a d e q u a t e p l a y a r e a c a n be o b t a i n e d . A l l c o m m u n iti e s n e e d r e c r e a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t h e i r citizen s.

Many may n o t be c a p a b l e o f m e e t i n g t h e h i g h e s t s t a n ­

d a r d s , b u t t h e y s h o u l d k e e p them i n mind a n d s t r i v e t o b e t t e r

t h e i r f a c i l i t i e s a t a l l tim es.

When improvem ent e f f o r t s

c e a s e , a l l p a s t e f f o r t s may have b e e n w a s t e d .

In any e v e n t,

t h e w hole p r o g ra m w i l l s u f f e r .

tHOTVERSTTV OP SOTTTRERN CALIFORNIA LRTRART

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A..

BOOKS

Q b e r t e u f f e r , D e l b e r t , S c h o o l H e a l t h E d u c a t i o n , Mew Y ork: H a r ­ p e r a n d B r o t h e r s , P u b l i s h e r s , 1949. 397 p p . P a t t y , W i l l a r d W., T e a c h i n g H e a l t h a n d S a f e t y i n E l e m e n t a r y G r a d e s . New Y o rk : P r e n t i e e - H a l l , I n c . , 1948. 364 p p . S e a t o n , Don C . , S a f e t y i n S p o r t s . I n c . , 1 948. 402 p p .

New Y o rk : P r e n t i c e - H a l l ,

W i l l i a m s , J e s s i e P . a n d B r o w n e l l , C l i f f o r d L . , The A d m i n i s t r a t i o n of H e a lth and P h y s ic a l E d u ca tio n . 3 r d E d i t i o n ; Lon­ d o n ancT P h i l a d e l p h i a : 1 . B. S a u n d e r s Company, 194,6* 452 pp. W i l l i a m s , J e s s i e P . a n d Shaw, F a n n i e B . , Methods a n d M a t e r i a l s of H ea lth E ducation. New Y ork: The Ronald' P r e s s Company, 1936. 326 p p . B.

PERIODICAL ARTICLES

A b e r n a t h y , R . , “P l a n n i n g E d u c a t i o n - R e c r e a t i o n A r e a s , “ S c h o o l E x e c u t i v e , 6 7 : 4 7 - 4 9 , A u g u s t , 1948. B a r b o u r , J . , “S a f e P l a y g r o u n d E q u i p m e n t , “ N a t i o n ' s S c h o o l s , 4 1 : 6 0 , J u l y , 1948. B a r k d o l l , 0. R . , “A s p h a l t A i d s S a f e t y , ” S a f e t y E d u c a t i o n , 2 8 : ---------------6 , A p r i l , 1949. B ush, C. D . , “A d e q u a t e S c h o o l G r o u n d s , ” A m e r ic a n S c h o o l B o a rd J o u r n a l , 1 1 6 : 6 4 , F e b r u a r y , 1948. C o c k i n g , W. D . , “P l a n n i n g t h e S c h o o l P l a n t , ” S c h o o l E x e c u t i v e , 6 8 : 3 6 , J a n u a r y , 1949. C o l l r e l l , H. L . , “P u p i l - D i r e c t e d P l a y g r o u n d , ” J o u r n a l o f H e a l t h a n d P h y s i c a l E d u c a t i o n , 1 7 : 2 7 9 , May, 1946. C u n l i f t , C. L . , “P o i n t s on P l a y g r o u n d s , ” N a t i o n ' s S c h o o l s , 2 7 : 4 5 - 4 7 , A p r i l , 1941. ----------------------------de Shaw, E. R . ,

“G r o u n d s , ” S c h o o l Managem ent, 1 8 : 2 0 , November,

E r w i n , C. A . , " S t a t e S c h o o l House P l a n n i n g S e r v i c e s , " S c h o o l E x e c u t i v e , 6 6 : 3 3 - 5 5 , F e b r u a r y , 1947. R j e l t e , G . , "S chool-C om m unity P l a n n i n g f o r R e c r e a t i o n , " C a l i ­ f o r n i a J o u r n a l o f S e c o n d a r y E d u c a t i o n , 2 1 : 3 8 8 - 3 9 0 , Decem­ b e r , 1946. Mason, V. C . , " F o r Y e a r - r o u n d R e c r e a t i o n , " N a t i o n ’ s S c h o o l s , 4 0 : 3 3 , November, 1947. McKee, S . W., " A l l - W e a th e r P l a y g r o u n d , " A m e r ic a n A s s o c i a t i o n of H e a lth ana P h y s ic a l E d u c a tio n , 4 2 :1 6 0 -1 6 5 , 208-213, J u l y , a n d A u g u s t , 1948. M i l e s , C. M ., " R e c r e a t i o n A r e a s N a t i o n 1s S c h o o l s , 2 8 : 3 6 - 3 9 , S e p t e m b e r , 194 1 . P e t e r s o n , B. M ., " P l a y g r o u n d P r e c a u t i o n s , " S a f e t y E d u c a t i o n , 2 9 : 1 1 , S e p t e m b e r , 1949. S c h o t l a n d , J . A . , " F a c i l i t i e s a n d E quipm ent on S c h o o l G r o u n d s , " S c h o o l E x e c u t i v e , 6 7 : 4 0 , A u g u s t , 1948. V i l e s , N. W., " S a f e P l a y g r o u n d s , " S a f e t y •E d u c a tio n , 2 7 : 1 1 - 1 3 , M arch, 1948. C.

PUBLICATIONS OF LEARNED ORGANIZATIONS

A m e r ic a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f S c h o o l A d m i n i s t r a t o r s , H e a l t h i n S c h o o l s 2 0 t h Y e a rb o o k ; W a s h i n g t o n , D. C . : A m e r ic a n A s s o c i a t i o n o f S c h o o l A d m i n i s t r a t o r s , 1942. 402 p p . A m e r ic a n Red C r o s s , On G uard A g a i n s t A c c i d e n t s . A. R. C. 1060; W a s h i n g t o n , D. C. : The A m e r ic a n N a t i o n a l Red C r o s s , 1943. 64 p p . A m e r ic a n Red C r o s s , On Guard A g a i n s t A c c i d e n t s . A. R. C. 1072; W a s h i n g t o n , D. C . : The A m e r ic a n N a t i o n a l Red C r o s s , 1947. 57 p p . H i g h s m i t h , J . H. a n d o t h e r s , Handbook f o r E l e m e n t a r y a n d S e c ­ o n d a r y S c h o o l s . P u b l i c a t i o n No. 25 5 ; R a l e i g h , N."1J7: S t a t e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t of P u b l i c I n s t r u c t i o n , 1947. 2 1 2 p p . N a t i o n a l E d u c a tio n A s s o c i a t i o n , H e a lth E d u c a tio n . W ashington, D. C . : N a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , 19 4 1 . 387 p p .

67

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UNPUBLISHED MATERIAL

Howe, N o r r i s H . , Minimum a n d A d e q u a te S t a n d a r d s f o r S t a t i o n a r y E quipm e n t f o r E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l P l a y g r o u n d s . U n p u b l i s h e d " M a s t e r s T h e s i s ; Los A n g e l e s : The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , 194 7 . 61 p p .

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