Playground Maintenance and Inspection

Whether your kids play on a home or public playground, it's important for you to take a general look at the equipment to make sure that it is clean and well maintained.

• There should be no broken equipment.
• Wooden equipment should not be cracking or splintering.
• Metal equipment should not be rusted.
• The fence surrounding a public playground should be in good condition to prevent kids from running into surrounding traffic.
• Surface materials on the playground should be maintained regularly so that the surfacing is loosely packed and covers all appropriate areas — especially the fall zones surrounding playground equipment.
• Playground equipment should be made of durable materials that won't fall apart or worn down too much by the weather.

Check for objects (like hardware, S-shaped hooks, bolts, and sharp or unfinished edges) that stick out on equipment and could cut a child or cause clothing to become entangled.

All hardware on equipment should be secure, with no loose or broken parts. Plastic and wood should show no signs of weakening, and there should not be any splintered or rusted surfaces.

If the local playground has a sandbox, check for hazardous debris such as sharp sticks or broken glass, and be sure that the sand is free of bugs. Sandboxes should be covered overnight to prevent contamination from animals, such as cats.

Help keep your playground clean and safe by picking up trash, using the equipment properly, and reporting any problems to the city, town, or county parks department, school, or other organization that is responsible for the upkeep of the playground. If a part seems broken, loose, or in need of other maintenance, designate it off limits immediately and report the problem to the appropriate authorities.