Playground Structures

Playground structures can be broadly defined to include both fixed and portable structures included within an area designated for outdoor play. Many types of playground structures exist and vary in quality and purpose. Generally, playground structures afford children a specific physical or sensory experience. Typical playground structures allow children to practice and demonstrate their abilities to slide, climb, swing, jump, and balance. Playgrounds and the structures found therein have changed dramatically over time to reduce injuries and to mitigate apprehension about liability for injuries. Recent innovations in playground design emphasize the benefits of more flexible manufactured and natural landscape structures that allow children to engage in more diverse types of play and to experience even appropriate degrees of risk. In this entry, readers will find ...