Playground is an outdoor area set aside for play. Playgrounds were first started for children and are important recreation spaces for them.
Playgrounds often include swings, bars, slides, inflated enclosures, and climbing elements. They are found at schools, parks, child care centers, and private facilities. The design and features of playgrounds have changed over the years with increased emphasis placed on safety. Advocates of safe playgrounds recommend that playgrounds should provide supervision, design appropriate to particular age groups, safe surfaces if children fall, and proper equipment maintenance. Thousands of children are injured each year in playground accidents, but many of those accidents could have been prevented by proper design and maintenance. Certified playground safety inspectors can identify problems and help assure that playgrounds are enjoyable, safe experiences for children. In addition, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has created guidelines for both public playground and home playground equipment.
Before 1900, children played on the lawns of their homes, in vacant lots, and in the streets. The movement for public playgrounds was started shortly before 1900 by Jacob Riis, a New York City newspaperman. Riis and others recognized the great need for play space and recreation activities in the growing cities. Some inner city areas had no lawns or vacant lots for play. Most of the early schools did not have land around them that could be used for play. By 1899, Boston had 21 sandlots for small children.
Other Eastern cities followed Boston’s example, and soon sand gardens and playgrounds were being organized in several cities. In 1889, the Charlesbank Outdoor Gymnasium opened in Boston. This recreation area provided apparatus for gymnastics, a running track, and space for games for older boys and men. A section was added two years later for women and girls.
Today, practically all schools have playgrounds. Cities and towns usually have playgrounds and play areas. City playgrounds are usually under the direction of park and recreation boards. Sometimes they are developed and controlled jointly by park districts, school boards, and recreation commissions. Playgrounds are usually provided for in modern city planning. Building ordinances often require that new communities include space for parks and playgrounds.
Playground programs are planned and conducted by trained playground leaders who usually have majored in physical education and recreation in college. They learn how to plan and conduct playground activities according to the educational, growth, and developmental needs of boys and girls.
