What is a Playground Checklist?

By Mandy Jordan

A playground checklist is a tool to help you with your playground’s regular maintenance. It’s like a to-do list, but this list is about ensuring your playground is safe for children’s play.

If you have a playground at a park, school, or even in your community, using a checklist can help prevent accidents and keep the outdoor playground equipment working well. It’s a straightforward way to make sure kids can play safely and have fun without any worries.

CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) strongly recommend establishing a regular and proactive maintenance program.

The importance of the checklist is evident; according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, 200,000 children are brought to hospitals' emergency departments each year because of playground injuries.

So here’s our guide to help you get started:

Essential Items to Include in Your Playground Safety Checklist
How to Use a Playground Checklist for Routine Inspections
Creating a Comprehensive Checklist for Playground Maintenance and Upkeep

Essential Items to Include in Your Playground Safety Checklist

Let us guide you through the most important items to include in your checklist, whether it is a commercial playground checklist or a general outdoor playground equipment checklist.

Check the Equipment

Make sure all the outdoor playground equipment is in good condition
Look for things like cracks, rust, or loose bolts.
Look for signs of wear and tear. Even if the equipment is designed to last, it can still wear out because of the weather, being used a lot, and vandalism.
Pay extra attention to moving parts, on swings, and slides, because these tend to wear out faster.

Check the Surface

Ensure the playground safety surfacing, whether wood chips, rubber mulch, or sand, is deep enough and spread evenly.
The surface under the outdoor playground equipment is vital to your children’s safety since it protects them from fall injuries.
These materials will move around over time, so rake them back into place and add more if the depth does not meet safety requirements.

Watch Out for Hazards

Keep an eye out for objects that could cause accidents.
Check for sharp edges, protruding bolts, or anything that could catch on a child’s clothing.
Check for tree roots, rocks, or puddles that could make someone trip and fall.
Good drainage is important too, because stagnant water can make surfaces slippery.

How to Use a Playground Checklist for Routine Inspections

Using a playground checklist is as easy as checking off grocery items you already put into your cart.

To effectively use the checklist you must be familiar with the following:

How often should you inspect your playground?

You should check the playground regularly. The exact frequency depends on how much the outdoor playground equipment gets used or what the weather is like.

For example, if the playground is in a busy park or near a school, you might want to check it every day or at least every week. This way, you can quickly take care of things like trash, broken equipment, or surfaces that need attention.

And if you live in a very humid or rainy environment your equipment will be prone to rust and corrosion which should increase the frequency of your inspection and maintenance.

Different Checks for Different Times

Not all checks need to be done every day. Some things, like making sure there’s no trash or if the playground safety surfacing is even, can be done daily or weekly.

But for more detailed checks—like making sure the equipment isn’t rusting or that nothing is coming loose—you can do these every few months.

It’s a good idea to have someone who knows a lot about playground safety do these bigger checks, especially if it’s a public or commercial playground.

Creating a Comprehensive Checklist for Playground Maintenance and Upkeep

The best playground equipment will not last long without proper maintenance, it’s important to have a thorough checklist that covers all the bases.

Your checklist should be tailored to your specific playground because every playground is different.

Personalize Your Playground Checklist

Each playground is unique, so your checklist should be too. For example, if your outdoor playground equipment has parts made of wood, you’ll need to check for splinters, rotting wood, and insect manifestations. This also applies to wood mulch surfacing.

If you’re in a place where it rains a lot, you’ll need to keep an eye on rust and make sure the surfaces don’t get too slippery.

Revise your checklist to match the outdoor playground equipment and environment of your playground.

Plan for the Long Haul

Don’t be reactive, be proactive. It’s not just about fixing things as they break.

You should plan for regular maintenance over time. Keep a record of all the inspections and repairs you do.

This will help you see any ongoing issues and will be useful if you need to budget for bigger repairs or upgrades in the future. For example, using loose materials for safety playground surfacing will require you to replenish it every few years to maintain its required safe depth.

A playground checklist is necessary to help you maintain the safety and functionality of your playground. It’s a straightforward way to ensure that your playground is always in good condition, which prevents accidents and keeps your children safe as they play.

Creating and using your personal playground checklist involves several key steps: checking the equipment for wear and tear, ensuring the safety surfacing is in place, and being vigilant about potential hazards. By regularly inspecting your playground and tailoring your checklist to your specific environment, you can proactively address issues before they become major problems.

Remember, the goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable space for children, whether you’re managing a community park, a school playground, a commercial play area, or any outdoor playground equipment. With a well-thought-out checklist and a commitment to routine maintenance, you can guarantee your playground remains a place of fun and safety for generations to come.