PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research, and Education

Sharing Knowledge & Turning Research Into Practice®

PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research, & Education (CORE) is committed to sharing validated research and building informed advocacy to help empower communities to create great play, recreation, and outdoor spaces. We curate, translate, and share evidence-based knowledge from a growing network of scholars through high quality resources, professional development services, and data-driven support to help local advocates build healthy communities through a variety of evidence-based services.

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Meet our Scholar Network

Our Research Institute is composed of leading experts, universities, and research centers committed to help us investigate, discover, and translate evidence-based knowledge that informs all of our services.

Explore Our Research

Put our Research Into Practice ®

CORE’s Resource Library is a collection of evidence-based publications, design guides, planning and advocacy tools, standards-based curriculum, and case examples to help you plan, design, fund, and reach your goals.

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Join our World-Class Learning Opportunities

Our Professional Development Hub combines research and resources to provide education where professionals can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through a variety of tailored events and diverse topics.

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Measure and Demonstrate Project Impact

Our National Demonstration Sites participate in ongoing data collection and receive reports measuring the impact of their evidence-based design to share with community stakeholders.

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Research Institute
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Resource Library
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Professional Development Hub
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Data Service Lab
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Community Vitality: A Framework for Success

High quality play, recreation, and outdoor spaces are essential in ensuring a healthy community. Our unique Community Vitality Framework™ is a multidimensional approach for advancing the comprehensive impact of a resilient community. The framework's development was grounded in research by scholars and practitioners to define seven indicators of healthy, productive communities. Look for these indicators throughout our work to help align our resources and tools with your community goals. 
 
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Our Scholar NEtwork

Evidence-Based for Improved Outcomes

Our work is rooted in facts, not opinion. The network of scholars and advocates in our Research Institute help us ensure that we remain a trusted, reputable source of evidence-based best practice, expanding the impact of academic research on play and recreation settings for greater, more measurable outcomes.

Meet the Scholars
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Our Resources in Practice

Discover resources and examples that illustrate how to  combine our research, resources, and products into amazing play and recreation destinations that promote fun, friendship, and overall Community Vitality!

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Aquatics

Aquatics

Make water play and sports more inclusive, engaging, and healthy.
Bicycling

Bicycling

Ensure your design encourages cycling as a viable transportation mode and community connectivity.
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Dog Parks

Encourage community connectivity and active lifestyles for people and their pets.
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Green Schoolyards

Green, playful schoolyards promote overall wellness and environmental education.
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Inclusion

Create a truly inclusive space that meets the developmental needs of all people.
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Nature Play

Integrate the environment’s built equipment with the living landscape to encourage healthy activity.
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Outdoor Adult Fitness

Promote health through five essential elements of a well-rounded workout.
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Playful Trails

Infuse intergenerational activities into pathway networks to encourage active communities.
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Youth Physical Fitness

Design and implement Physical Education programming to uniquely promote fitness and fun on the playground!
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Spectator Seating

Build community camaraderie through highly functional and accessible sports venues.
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Surfacing

Integrate surfacing design and materials as an active and enjoyable part of the environment.
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Intergenerational Play & Recreation

Create outdoor spaces that consider preferences, habits, and comfort across the age spectrum.
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Outdoor Music

Create outdoor music spaces to engage people of all ages and abilities.

    Testimonials

    “I’m so thankful for PlayCore, we can always count on your support no matter the circumstances. Just wanted to stop in and let you know how much we appreciate you and look forward to seeing you in person.”

    Tom Hellman

    CPRS 

    "We’re here to celebrate and to let our students and families know that playgrounds are essential. They provide health benefits. They have a profound emotional impact. They open the doors to imagination and teach kids about cooperating and working together."

    René Gutiérrez

    Superintendent, Brownsville ISD 

    "We love this park. Everyone in the city drives to be here. Best multigenerational space we’ve ever been to…There are also so many activities....Please make more parks like this one!”

    Keely Park

    Visitor Insights 

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