The purpose of a car is to take you from point A to point B. The purpose of maintaining your car is to take you from point A to point B…safely. The same goes for playgrounds. Their purpose is to be a place where kids can have fun.
The purpose of maintaining a playground is to be a place where kids can have fun…safely. For the best results, San Diego play areas with commercial playground equipment should be diligent when it comes to maintenance.
The right playground equipment from the right provider will be designed and installed with safety and durability in mind. However, because of the countless kids who run around the playground every day, even top-of-the-line playground equipment will require some upkeep. You want your play area to be a place where kids can make friends, burn off energy, and create lifelong memories. Without maintenance, the playground may have a few problems that can quickly turn a day of fun into a potential hazard. To minimize the risk of injuries, it is advised to inspect and maintain the playground frequently.
Those who manage a public or private playground should establish a maintenance inspection routine. Regular inspections will allow you to quickly identify issues that need to be addressed. Without regularly scheduled inspections, the potential safety hazards on your playground may be an issue for months and months until someone gets hurt. That’s why it’s important to take the time to notice the issues—for the safety of the children.
When making inspections, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Establish a thorough checklist as advised so that all details are properly inspected going forward. Per the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), “Maintenance inspections should be carried out in a systematic manner by personnel familiar with the playground, such as maintenance workers, playground supervisors, etc.”
Additionally, it’s important to keep a record of all your inspections, including signed and dated reports. This record-keeping process will make the history of the equipment easier to follow, which will help the maintenance crew better anticipate and understand the needs of the playground.
The following list is a recommendation from the CPSC of what parts to inspect regularly.
Make repairs in a timely manner as appropriate depending on what is discovered during an inspection. As always, comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations when making a repair.
Maintaining the loose-fill surfacing is the most common area of need for playground upkeep. If this applies to your play area, the loose-fill surfacing should be inspected frequently. This is because the levels of loose-fill surfacing can vary depending on foot traffic. Uneven surfacing can lead to tripping hazards or unsafe entry/exit points. In many cases, the filling can be easily raked back into place evenly across the play area.
Not everything can be repaired. There’s a reason the playground equipment we grew up on has been phased out in recent years. Sometimes, equipment simply needs to be replaced. If your playground equipment is of a certain age, it may be time to invest in upgrades.
Zoom Recreation, serving San Diego and the West Coast, helps communities and organizations like yours get the commercial playground equipment that’s right for them. Our turn-key process will result in a beautiful play area that matches your needs, budget, and goals. We carry playground equipment and structures for kids and families of all ages, offering a fully customized play area that your community will love.
At Zoom Recreation, we have years of experience providing and installing the perfect commercial playground equipment for schools, organizations, and communities across San Diego and the West Coast. Whether installing shade structures or a full-blown play structure, Zoom Recreation follows all safety regulations, and strictly uses IPEMA-certified playground equipment.
We are ready to take your call! We will listen to and discuss your commercial playground needs to the fullest. Give us a call at 866-234-3392 or get in touch with us by filling out our contact form.
Zoom Recreation strives to create efficient recreational spaces and provide exceptional customer service. Superior awarded us their highest President's Award and Gold Club Awards two years in a row.
Contact usAs the exclusive representative of Superior Recreational Products in your local area, Zoom is committed to recommending, providing and installing only the top products for all our customers.
