Words on Play: A treatise on its value by leading play scholars
Play is the foundation for learning, it is critical for healthy physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Deeply committed to promoting the value of play, PlayCore is proud to bring together some of the world's most respected play scholars- our friends, mentors and inspirational partners-to share their thoughts, the research-based evidence, and their collective, inspirational "words on play" that empower us all to advocate for the many critical benefits of play. LEARN MORE >> Download Summary » Request a Guidebook »
Blueprint for Play
The Blueprint for Play toolkit is a customizable resource to inspire and build communities through play and recreation initiatives. The guidebooks will help your engage stakeholders to ensure a:
- Refined and user-focused planning process
- Robust funding initiative that embraces giving
- Unique play space designed to meet specific community goals.
- Dynamic build initiative that celebrates the community members' talents and builds social capital.
- Comprehensive plan for using and sustaining the space to ensure a wise investment and a lasting legacy.
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Unified We Play
Communities are growing at a rapid pace, and providing recreation opportunities to keep pace with the growth is challenging. By seeking like-minded groups who share a common goal, mission, and values-partnerships can augment existing programming and infrastructure, while providing opportunities to explore and launch new initiatives. Unified We Play is a national initiative, to identify the importance of partnerships in meeting community needs, defining the key points to explore when undertaking a partnership, and promoting best practices strategies to develop and maintain successful partnerships. LEARN MORE >> Request a Guidebook »
Playground Maintenance
Careful maintenance keeps your playground in top condition. Authored by playground safety consultants Teri Hendy and Daniel Hendy, of Site Masters, Inc., this guide can help you maximize your playground maintenance efforts by learning to properly identify and correct potential hazards on the playground. It will also help you formulate a maintenance plan to help you protect your investment, manage risk, improve children’s play experiences, and control costs. The guide includes sample inspection forms to aid developing procedures for your playground maintenance program.
Playground Supervision
Adequate playground supervision is essential to promote playground safety and fun. This guide will help you explore the value of play, gain an understanding of the play environment, identify potentially hazardous conditions, develop an understanding of acceptable play behaviors, define recommended supervision practices, and prepare your organization to improve its playground supervisory program. Group activities allow schools and agencies to create customized site inspections, develop playground rules, identify sight line considerations and support positive behavior to achieve immediate improvements to your supervision plan.
The Power of Urban Play: Unleashing the role of Play Environments as Community Assets
Children need to play! But many children in urban areas face barriers that make access to play difficult. The Power of Urban Play is a resource that considers the viewpoints and work of more than 40 urban park and recreation leaders. This resource will help you understand the important role of play in urban communities, define the trends and unique characteristics of urban playgrounds, and recognize the best practices for developing and maintaining wholesome play environments as community assets. Download Summary »Request a Guidebook »
School-Park Partnerships: A Case Study of Excellence
School-park partnerships can provide strategies for building healthier communities, strengthen programming, enhance play and recreation opportunities, and create opportunities. This resource features the processes and best practices utilized in Springfield, Missouri, where a partnership between the Springfield-Greene County Parks Board and Springfield School District serves as a detailed case study and real-world example for creating and promoting effective partnerships. Other examples and a variety of resources are also included. Request a Guidebook »
Strong Foundations: Planning, Purchasing, and Protecting Playground Surfacing Investments
Choosing an appropriate playground surfacing is one of the most important factors in developing a safe outdoor play environment. This useful resource was created to raise awareness about some considerations to make when planning, purchasing, and protecting your playground surfacing investment. Case examples are highlighted to provide a comprehensive overview on the features and benefits of the variety of types of safety surfaces available. Considerations are also explored that can further enhance play value at your parks and playgrounds. The guide offers planning checklists, resources, and inspection tools to help assist in simplifying the selection, installation, and maintenance process to ensure the safety and enjoyment of users. LEARN MORE >> Request a Guidebook »
