PLANNING A RESIDENTIAL PLAY AREA

Adopted from the Consumer Product Safety Commission

1. PLAN YOUR PLAY AREA

  • Keep the play area way from roads and driveways.
  • Make it visible from inside the home, porches, and patios.
  • Create a sight line free of obstacles (tree branches, tree stumps, large rocks, concrete, etc.).
  • There needs to be at least 6 feet between the play area and the house.
  • Keep bare metal platforms and slides out of direct sunlight.

2. PICK THE RIGHT CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

  • Metal equipment should be treated to prevent rust, corrosion, and deterioration.
  • Wood equipment should be rot-resistant and insect-resistant; make sure it is treated to prevent deterioration.
  • Hardware should not contain protruding bolts and screws; "S" hooks should not contain gaps wider than the thickness of a dime.

3. ANCHOR, ASSEMBLE, AND MAINTAIN YOUR EQUIPMENT

  • Play equipment may need to be suspended by with anchors to keep it from tipping over.
  • Anchors need to be unexposed (concrete 6" under surface).
  • Follow manufactures instructions exactly when assembling.
  • Maintain equipment by oiling moving parts, tightening nuts and bolts when needed, replacing parts of equipment when needed, clean equipment, and rake surfacing periodically to prevent compaction.

4. SELECT PROTECTIVE SURFACING

  • Loose fill materials
  • Poured-in-place surfacing or pre-manufactured rubber tiles
  • Placement and maintenance of protective surfacing is important.

5. PREVENT HEAD AND NECK ENTRAPMENTS

  • Check all openings on the play equipment.
  • Inspect slide entrance area and bed for gaps and protrusions.
  • Fill V-shaped angles.
  • Do not allow children to wear bike helmets on play sets.

6. ELIMINATE HANGING ROPES

  • Never attach any kind of loop-forming materials to the play set.
  • Secure BOTH ends of climbing ropes.
  • Remove or replace frayed or loose ropes immediately.
  • Do not use ropes that can untwist or separate for swings.

7. PROTECT AGAINST FALLS

  • Make sure all rungs, steps, and stairs are evenly spaced.
  • Stairs should have continuous handrails on both sides.
  • Guardrails or barriers are needed around any platform over 30 inches.

8. USE TODDLER/TOT SWINGS SAFELY