2.1.1 Shading considerations According to the American Academy of Dermatology, research indicates that one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime, and five or more sunburns double the risk of developing skin cancer. Utilizing existing shade (e.g., trees), designing play structures as a means for providing shading (e.g., elevated platforms with shaded space below), or creating more shade (e.g., manmade structures) are potential ways to design a playground to help protect children’s skin from the sun. When trees are used for shade, additional maintenance issues arise, such as the need for cleaning up debris and trimming limbs. 2.2 Playground Layout There are several key factors to keep in mind when laying out a playground: • Accessibility • Age separation • Conflicting activities • Sight lines • Signage and/or labeling • Supervision Handbook for Public Playground Safety 5 Site Factor Travel patterns of children to and from the playground Nearby accessible hazards such as roads with traffic, lakes, ponds, streams, drop-offs/cliffs, etc. Sun exposure Slope and drainage Questions to Ask Are there hazards in the way? Could a child inadvertently run into a nearby hazard? Could younger children easily wander off toward the hazard? Is sun exposure sufficient to heat exposed bare metal slides, platforms, steps, & surfacing enough to burn children? Will children be exposed to the sun during the most intense part of the day? Will loose fill materials wash away during periods of heavy rain? If yes, then…Mitigation Clear hazards. Provide a method to contain children within the playground. For example, a dense hedge or a fence. The method should allow for observation by supervisors. If fences are used, they should conform to local building codes and/or ASTM F-20 9. Bare metal slides, platforms, and steps should be shaded or located out of direct sun. Provide warnings that equipment and surfacing exposed to intense sun can burn. Consider shading the playground or providing shaded areas nearby. Consider proper drainage regrading to prevent wash outs. 2. GENERAL PLAYGROUND CONSIDERATIONS 2.1 Selecting a Site The following factors are important when selecting a site for a new playground:
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTkzMzk=