11.3.13 PLAYGROUNDS AND TOT LOTS

11.3.13.1 Playground Equipment Locations

playground structure

As part of the quality of life efforts, stimulating play equipment should be provided in parks and residential areas to provide children with opportunities to develop social skills, creative thinking, physical coordination, body strength, and awareness.  Small playgrounds are found primarily in family housing villages at Fort Carson, but they are generally remote from residences, lack spatial definition, and are not visually inviting.  There needs to be a greater variety of activities available for small children, partially shaded areas, a sense of enclosure, and nearby seating for parents to supervise play.  Playground equipment is to be installed in the following locations:

• Elementary schools (and made easily accessible to the housing areas).

• Parks and adjacent to other recreation areas such as ball fields.  Playground shall be integrated into park and recreations areas such as Iron Horse Park.

• Neighborhoods and housing areas.  Playgrounds shall be located within one quarter (1/4) to one half (1/2) mile of every family housing unit.  Locate the playgrounds so that they are accessible with minimum crossings of primary and secondary streets.

• Youth centers.

• Child development centers.

11.3.13.2 Playground Equipment Design

The playgrounds and tot lots within the installation should utilize equipment that is consistent throughout the installation or that meets specific criteria of materials, color, and design.  

Guidance for planning and designing unsupervised outdoor play areas that meet child safety and child development requirements is found in Technical Manual (TM) 5-803-11, Children's Outdoor Play Areas.  The guidance given in this publication meets the needs of children with and without disabilities.

A play area inspection and maintenance program for child development centers can be found in Technical Manual (TM) 5-663, Child Development Center, Play Area Inspection and Maintenance Program. 

For updates on banned or recalled playground equipment, consult the Consumer Product Safety Commission Press Releases and Recalls website.  

There are two basic components of playgrounds that shall be integrated into one overall type at all required playground areas.

• Play lots - serving children six years old or younger

• Playgrounds - serving children six years and older.

There are different types of playground equipment:  single unit and integrated play equipment.  Single unit equipment generally serves a single activity (such as swinging) and is useful if space or other factors do not limit the scope of development.  Integrated equipment better serves playground activity that occurs in a continuous flow by accommodating multiple activities.  Integrated play equipment may be one piece or several linked components that can be expanded without compromising unit function.  As a minimum, each playground area shall incorporate the following components:

• Open, turfed area for spontaneous, active play with a minimum size of four hundred (400) square feet.

• Shaded area with benches for rest and quiet activities.

• Enclosed area for play equipment and sand.  Enclosure shall be provided by timbers such as railroad ties or chemically treated redwood or cedar.  Enclosure size shall be based upon a minimum of twenty-five (25) square feet per family unit in the family housing areas, or seventy (70) square feet per child anticipated in all other areas.

• A minimum required enclosed area of two thousand five hundred (2500) square feet serves approximately one hundred families or thirty-six children.

• Equipment may be composed of metals, plastics, rubber, concrete, or recycled products.

• The activities shall not be limited, but as a minimum shall provide for basic activities such as swinging, sliding, climbing, and such components that promote development of physical coordination and social interaction among the users.

• All playground equipment must meet ADA requirements.  All ADA playground equipment must be accessible by wheelchair.  The material under and around the structure must also meet ADA requirements.

11.3.13.3 Playground Equipment Standard

playground structure

Manufacturer:     Landscape Structures, or equal
Model:                Evos System
Color:                 Brown, Green, with Bright Accents

Manufacturer:     Play Mart Playgrounds, or equal
Model:                Mega Play Systems
Color:                 Brown, Green, with Bright Accents

Manufacturer:     Progressive Design Playgrounds, or equal
Model:                Coronado

Color:              Brown, Green, with Bright Accents

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