Playground Inspection Form

Playground location: Douglas Cherokee Headstart/ Learning Center

For use by children (age range): 3 to 5 years old

Date(s) of inspection: October 10, 2014

Inspected by: Julie Mutterspaugh

Playground Standard Yes No N/A

component
Surfacing

Surfaces underneath play equipment are covered with

impact absorbing material according t CPSC
recommendations for height.
Surfacing materials are not deteriorated or compacted
Loose-fill surfacing materials have no foreign objects or
debris (including bugs or insect nests)
Borders of surfacing show no signs of erosion
Trip hazards are minimized (no exposed tree roots;
changes in elevation made obvious by visual or other
barrier; all anchoring devices such as footings at bottom
of climbers or swings are below the surface)

Comments:

Playground Standard Yes No N/A

component
Fall zones

Fall zones are appropriate for anchored equipment

Fall zones do not overlap
For to-fro swings: impact surfacing extends in front and
back of the swing a distance that measures twice the
height of the swing pivot point to surface and six feet out
from supports
Use zone for protective surface of slides: Toddlers at
least 3 feet around perimeter of slide; for preschool and
school age a minimum of 6 feet around perimeter of slide

Comments:
Playground Standard Yes No N/A
component
Safety barriersHandrails,Guardrails,

Guardrails or protective barriers are used to prevent

inadvertent falls off elevated platforms
For preschool children, elevated surfaces more than 20
inches high have a guardrail or protective barrier, those
more than 30 inches high have a protective barrier.
For school age children, elevated surfaces more than 30
inches high have a guardrail or protective barrier, those
more than 48 inches high have a protective barrier
Handrails are child hand hold size, and are at waist to
shoulder height of the child users.
Playground is fenced.

Comments:

Playground Standard Yes No N/A

component
Slides

All slides should be provided with a platform with

sufficient length to facilitate transition from standing to
sitting as follows: Toddlers platform at least 19 inches
deep; preschool and school age platform at least 14
inches deep
Handhold is provided to facilitate transition from standing
to sitting
A guardrail, hood or other device channels the user into a
sitting position at the entrance to the chute
Flat open chutes should have sides at least 4 inches high
extending along both sides of the chute for the entire
length of the slide.
Spiral slides have a 360 degree or less turn for the length
of the slide
Chute exit is no more than 6 inches above the protective
surfacing. For preschool and school age at least 7
inches, but not more than 15 inches above the protective
surfacing.
Shade is provided for bare metal slides to reduce chance
of contact with a hot surface
Comments:
Playground Standard Yes No N/A
component
No potential head entrapment hazards
No potential clothing entrapment hazards (open S hooks,
General Hazards

protruding bolts)
No missing or damaged protective caps or plugs
No trip hazards 9concrete footers, roots, rocks, etc)
No sharp points, corners or edges on equipment
No openings in any pieces of equipment between 3.5 and
9 inches (preschool torso)
No openings in any pieces of equipment between 3 and 9
inches (toddler torso)
Traffic patterns are designed to prevent children from
bumping into each other or equipment
Comments:

Playground Standard Yes No N/A

component
Deterioration of

No rust, rot, cracks or splinters

equipment

No broken or missing components

All equipment securely anchored
No loose fastening devices
No peeling paint

Comments:

Playground Standard Yes No N/A

component
 Swings
Swings are located away from other equipment and
activities
Tot swings are in a separate area fro other swings
There is a minimum of 24 inches between seats and 30
inches between swing and support structure
No more than 2 swings per bay
Distance between the bottom o the seat and the
protective surface is at least 12 inches

Comments:

Playground Standard Yes No N/A

component
Climbers

Climbers have a safe way off for children who cannot

complete the activity
No place exist where children can fall more than 18
inches onto any component of the climber
There are no arch climbers or sliding poles accessible to
preschoolers
Horizontal ladders and overhead rings are used only by
children who are over 5 years of age.

Comments:

Playground Standard Yes No N/A

component
Playground

Entire area has adequate drainage/ no standing water

Condition

Playground is free of debris

Trees and bushes are maintained
No toxic or thorny plants present
No animal feces
If a trash can is present it has a locking lid
Comments:

Part 2 of the Outdoor Environment Evaluation:

Play and Learning Settings Checklist

Answer: Yes or Know and include comments that describe what you observed.

Yes No The outdoor area contains an adequate variety of play and learning settings
with constructed or manufactured elements. At least four (4) of the following should be
available for the children to use:

X__arts/crafts area X__easily supervised, cozy nook ___raised deck

X_acoustic play area X _anchored play equipment X__playhouse

___sitting bench X__crawl-through place

X__balance beam or opportunities to balance

___woodwork bench

___small stage ___other

Comments: This playground has several different constructed elements. It has a lot of
play areas for children to choose from.

Yes No The area contains an adequate variety of play and learning settings with natural
elements. At least four (4) of the following should be available.

___sand play area X__water play area X__trees

___grass maze ___flower or vegetable garden ___other

___safe stepping stones X__easily supervised, cozy natural nook

___rolling/climbing mound ___animal habitat

Comments: The natural elements on this playground would be enhanced by flower

gardens and a grass area that is accessed easier.

Yes No A multipurpose, open, grassy area is available for large group games,
running, dramatic play, music and movement, parachute play, social gatherings, etc.(Note:
Measure this by imagining 15 preschool children holding hands in a circle).

Comments: There is a large grassy area available. However

Yes No A variety of horizontal, elevated work surfaces are available (e.g. picnic table,
stump, counter, raised deck) for art, dramatic play, etc. There should be at least two surfaces
present.

Comments:

Yes No Circulation areas are ample and pathways can be used by wheeled toys (sufficient
space available to accommodate wheeled toys for the children in the group).

Comments:

Yes No Play materials and equipment are developmentally appropriate.

Comments:
Yes No Enough outdoor toys are available for all children to use without undue
competition.

Comments:

Yes No Play materials and toys can be reached and played with by children.

Comments:

Yes No Wheeled toys such as tricycles, wagons, and wheelbarrows are available.

Comments:

Yes No Storage is adequate for outdoor toys, loose parts, and supplies.

Comments:
Yes No At least four (4) manufactured loose parts are available:

___ blocks ___skipping rope ___balls

___ manipulative ___hoses ___water toys ___chalk

___pieces of cloth ___sand toys ___rings/hula hoops ____other

Comments:

Yes No At least four (4) of these natural loose parts are available:

___smoothed sticks ___river stones ___dirt

___mulch ___pine cones ___leaves

___shells ___driftwood ___acorns

Comments:

Yes No A variety of decorative, colorful, and stimulating elements, at least three (3) are
used to enliven the character of the area.

___banner ___wind sock ___flag

___chime ___statue ___cultural artifact

___decorative object ___gazing ball ___other

Comments:
Part 3 of the Outdoor Environment Evaluation:

Narrative