Tune-up Your Playground

APRIL 13, 2011

   |   by: Nat Lockhart, CCPI, CPSI

Commercial playground equipment is designed to endure extreme outdoor conditions, from the frigid chill of winter to the scorching heat of summer. However, that doesn't mean we can't show our playground some TLC and make it last even longer. Spring is an ideal time to perform some maintenance on your whole play area.

While most maintenance is best left to a certified professional, who is familiar with playground equipment and the standards in place in your area, most cities and school boards are happy to have hundreds of extra pairs of eyes, the people who use the playground, looking for and reporting any hazards they may see. (See article on Safety vs. Challenge for a definition of this term.) Members of the community can also organize a Spring Cleaning day to get their park clean and looking great before the throngs of children return to play there regularly.

Being proactive and doing a spring tune-up on your playground now will make the playground a safer and more enjoyable place to be once spring has well and truly sprung in your community.