4.3.1 Age Separation
Playground designers should consider that children with diverse ages are in different stages of development and, therefore, have various needs and physical abilities. Thus, the playground should ideally be divided into different areas for children of different ages, each possessing equally diverse developmental criteria. The criteria for age separation will follow the age classification defined by the CPSC handbook. It classifies children’s ages as the following:
toddlers (6 months through 23 months of age), preschool-age children (2 years through 5 years of age), and school-age children (5 years through 12 years of age). The CPSC handbook assumes that there might be overlapping development patterns that happen for children 2 to 5 years old. For example, specification for play equipment designed for 2-year-old children might be used for 3-year-old children. To avoid conflicting activities within a given playground space, this criteria establishes that each area of the playground will have a play element that is appropriate for that specific age range. The playground’s layout criterion establishes that the playground will be divided into three areas with an overlapping area according to children’s ages. However, because the overall playground design depends on the size of the available lot, not all three age-based areas can necessarily fit together on the same site. So, there might be a situation where a lot will not be able to accommodate all three age groups. These criteria increase opportunities to use vacant and underutilized spaces that are spread out within the neighborhood or city. Every vacant or underutilized site is seen as a potential site for the implementation of a playground, and it will not be limited by the size of available lot. However, preferences should be given to lots that can fit all three areas of the playground on the same space.
4.3.2 Adult Supervision
Despite of the fact that playgrounds should have separate areas for different children’s’ ages, the CPSC handbook recommends that parents or caregivers should be able to have an overview of all the various areas of the playground. For example, a parent who is in an area designated to
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two-year-old children might have an older child playing in another area. Thus, accommodating, comfortable, and shaded spaces including benches for parents and caregivers should be provided.
4.3.3 Perimeter and Adjacencies
Some methods to contain children within the playground should include, fences, walls, or
dividers. Benches, plants, and specifically designed play elements can be located so as to define the perimeter and adjacencies.
4.3.4 Accessibility
In 1990, The ADA approved a nationally mandatory rule that prohibits discrimination based on disability, and they established guidelines to facilitate access for all to play equipment. All play areas should be in minimum compliance with U.S. Access Board guidelines regarding play areas. See Appendix.151
4.3.5 Materials
The criteria for material selection for the design of playground include specifications for play elements and for the layout’s ground surface. The criteria will be defined according to a biophilic design principle regarding applying natural materials to such playground design. The materials to be considered for this category include the following: wood, clay, natural fibers, stones, sand, native metal, and some composites material like concrete, cast stone, terrazzo, and natural materials. Neutral colors will be considered for all material’s application.
4.3.6 Surfacing
The CPSC considers the “critical height” of any playground structure as the “fall height below which a life-threatening head injury would not be expected to occur.”152 The ASTM F1292—the
Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surface System Under and Around Playground Equipment—provides the “critical height” rating of surfaces. The material surface and the height,
151 https://www.access-board.gov
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where the equipment will be installed, should comply with ASTM F1292. In addition, using loose- fill material that meets the ADA accessibility guidelines can be considered (See Appendix). This criterion establishes preferences for natural materials within the context of biophilic design principles. Some examples of appropriate surface natural materials that can be applied under or around playground equipment and that are described within the CPSC the handbook are pea gravel, sand, wood mulch, and wood chips. Engineered wood fiber (EWF) is a wood product, similar in appearance to landscape mulch but is specifically designed for playgrounds.
4.3.7 Program
The program of a playground must take into consideration the various users of the given space. Even though a playground exists as a place designed for children to play, the design of
playgrounds must still provide spaces for adults to comfortably supervise their children, which, in turn, might increase a chance that parents will take their children to play in that respective playground. Playgrounds can also be a place for socialization that allows community members to gather and engage in conversation while their children play. The design of playgrounds should promote spaces where parents and caregivers can enjoy themselves while also benefitting from the biophilic design experience.