Playground History Continued From Page 27


 Central Park, NY 1942


The jungle gym was patented in 1920 by Sebastian Hinton. While it was a sturdy structure, the rough surfaces often placed beneath it weren’t safe to land on if a child fell.prone alternatives.


Today, these tall metal contraptions of your childhood have been ripped from most playgrounds; some replaced by roped counterparts.


A Softer Place to Land


Protective surfacing beneath equipment protects children by reducing the impact of falls. Compared to packed earth, concrete, grass, asphalt, or other surfaces, playground surfacing materials provide a more sanitary and cushioned area for children to land on.


Today’s kids have a much softer place to land. Poured rubber, turf, rubber mats or tiles, wood chips, and shredded rubber are required under equipment these days. To prevent falls, provide guards on any elevated surface, such as a ramp or bridge.


Photo Credit: Library of Congress. Used with permission. 28 Community Associations Journal | April 2022


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