Why Playgrounds Shouldn’t Be Ignored— And How to Manage Them


Anne Smith, Play Safe Inspections


Picture this: A child laughing, playing, and feeling on top of the world. The playground is their kingdom, a place of adventure and friendship. But in a split second, joy can turn into injury—an unexpected fall, a hidden hazard, or a poorly maintained surface that fails to protect them.


I know this because I was that child.


A Personal Playground Injury that Changed My Perspective


As a kid, my neighborhood playground was an old western- themed paradise. Think multi-story wooden storefronts, oversized Lincoln Logs, and splintering wood—all authentic, of course. My brothers and I, along with the neighborhood kids, spent endless hours playing “Ultimate Gladiator,” where we’d challenge each other to maintain balance on the climbing structure.


I wanted to prove myself. And round after round, I lost. But I was laughing too hard to care—until the last fall.


That time, I landed on my feet. On compacted sand. From a height that was not meant for a child to fall from.


Pain shot through my body like electricity. It felt like my bones had shattered. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t scream loud enough for an adult to hear, and a friend had to run home to get help. At the hospital, doctors confi rmed it was “just” a sprain. But my ankle has never been the same.


Looking back, I now know what went wrong.


• The surfacing wasn’t adequate for the height. The impact should have been absorbed, not transferred straight into my bones.


• The structure encouraged unsafe play. It wasn’t designed for the reality of how kids use playgrounds.


• There were no routine inspections. Hazards like worn-out surfacing and fall risks were ignored.


That playground is gone now, replaced with something newer. And while it broke my heart as a child, I now understand why playground owners/operators must


take playground safety


seriously—not just because it’s a compliance issue, but because every preventable injury matters.


Why Playgrounds Matter in HOA Communities


Playgrounds are often one of the most overlooked amenities in HOA communities. While board meetings are fi lled with discussions about landscaping, maintenance,


parking,


something goes wrong. But Here’s Why They Shouldn’t Be Ignored:


• They increase home values and attract families. Well- maintained play spaces make communities more desirable.


• They foster community engagement. Playgrounds bring neighbors together, creating a stronger, more connected community.


• They can become liability nightmares. Poorly maintained playgrounds can lead to serious injuries—and serious lawsuits.


Ignoring Playground Safety isn’t an Option. Playground Safety is a Responsibility.


The Most Overlooked But Critical Factor: Surfacing


Many HOA managers and board members focus on the equipment itself—missing the most important safety feature of all: the surfacing.


Here’s why it matters more than you think:


• Falls account for most playground injuries. It’s not the monkey bars that break bones—it’s the ground beneath them.


• The diff erence between compliance and real safety. A playground that barely meets surfacing compliance still leaves children at risk. Compliance at 50% or better of the maximum allowance signifi cantly reduces injury severity.


26 March | April 2025 playgrounds are quietly neglected—until and community


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36