Play On!® Design Guide

Best Practice Design Guides

Play On!® Playground Design Guide

Youth Physical Fitness

High-quality playground design is a powerful tool for communities to support children’s health and development. This guide provides evidence-based recommendations centered around the six elements of active play—balancing, brachiating, climbing, sliding, spinning, and swinging—to ensure playgrounds are thoughtfully equipped to foster diverse engagement and developmental progression.

Developed in partnership with SHAPE America, the guide provides comprehensive information on the relationship between play and fitness, including age-appropriate design considerations for children ages 2-12 and site-specific amenities that maximize usage. It also features case studies showcasing real-world data on how intentional design increases park visitation and supports community health initiatives.

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The Importance of Active Play

National guidelines recommend that young people aged 6-17 years should engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes each day. Playgrounds are critical infrastructure for achieving these goals, as they are the most common physical activity amenity available in children’s neighborhoods.

Research demonstrates that the design of a play space directly impacts the type, intensity, and enjoyment of children’s play. By intentionally designing for the six key elements of active play, communities can create environments that not only provide fun but also promote cardio-respiratory fitness, muscular strength, and motor skill development.

Why Request Play On?

Schools love Play On! because it maximizes their playground investment, providing a setting for physical education in addition to recess. Since play is fun for children, they love engaging with the age-appropriate program activities, and since educators can enlist multiple areas within the playground, all children keep active throughout the session instead of the usual waiting for a turn that is associated with a lot of PE activities! In a research study at 14 pilot sites, approximately 6,000 children participated in a Play On! Beta study.

This comprehensive resource offers practical strategies to turn research into practice:

The Six Key Elements: In-depth design tips for balancing, brachiating/upper body, climbing, sliding, spinning, and swinging.
Age-Appropriate Considerations: Specific design guidance for younger children (ages 2-5) and older children (ages 5-12) to ensure safety and engagement.
Site-Specific Amenities: Information on incorporating inclusive elements, naturalization, sport courts, and painted markings to maximize park usage.
Projects of Excellence: Case studies showcasing real-world data where intentional design led to a 107% increase in unique visitors and significant potential healthcare savings.

Contributing Partners

SHAPE America

The Society of Health and Physical Educators serves as the voice for 200,000+ health and physical education professionals across the United States. The organization’s extensive community includes a diverse membership of health and physical educators, as well as advocates, supporters, and 50+ state affiliate organizations. Since its founding in 1885, the organization has defined excellence in school-based health education and physical education. For decades, SHAPE America’s National Physical Education Standards have served as the foundation for well-designed physical education programs across the country, just as the SHAPE America National Health Education Standards serve as the foundation for effective skills-based health education. Together, these national standards provide a comprehensive framework for educators to deliver high-quality instruction and make a positive difference in the health and well-being of every preK-12 student.