Procedure 2.1.29 PLAYGROUND AND OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACES

Approved: April 17, 2007

Revised: June 22, 2022

A. IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF PLAYGROUNDS AND OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACES TO PROMOTE SCHOOL GROUND GREENING AND THE PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE POSITIVE PLAY AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Schools are encouraged to first give consideration to alternative play areas such as naturalized areas, berms, trees, and pathways before purchasing a creative playground structure.
Research on green school grounds should be done by the school and parent community when planning playground upgrades. Such support documents include
1. Outdoors: The Ultimate Playground https://www.healthunit.com/outdoors-the-ultimate-playground
2. Green Schools Resource Guide – Ministry of Education http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/greenschools_guide.pdf
Schools are also encouraged to consider the development of alternative play experiences through collaborations with the Learning and Teaching portfolio.
All plans require prior approval of the Manager of Building Services.

B. NEWLY PURCHASED OR NEW DONATED PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

All donated equipment must be new from the manufacturer. No used equipment will be installed on Board property.
All newly purchased or donated playground equipment must comply with Canadian Standards Association’s most current version of CSA Z614 Children’s Playground and Equipment and Surfacing. Letters of compliance with this standard from the equipment manufacturer must be retained with all other documents for the equipment and should take into consideration principles of accessibility.
The Principal, in consultation with the School Council, is the primary contact with the Board and is responsible for defining the needs of the school in considering the purchase of playground equipment.
All donated or purchased playground equipment becomes the sole property of the Board.
The school, through its School Council or other parent group, is responsible for:
1. acquiring the funds to purchase new playground equipment;
2. all costs of the installation including equipment, containment, protective surfacing material, signage, and any excavation work required;
The Board encourages schools, through its School Council or other parent group, to establish a contingency fund of at least ten percent (10%) of the purchase price of playground equipment for ongoing maintenance and repairs. Manager of Building Services and Regional Superintendent of Education must be consulted prior to investigating on purchasing playground equipment.
The Principal, in consultation with the School Council, is responsible for selecting a play structure from a manufacturer which must meet or exceed design and performance specifications as established by the Manager of Building Services.
The Manager of Building Services is responsible for the final approval regarding standards of design, construction and location of all playground equipment prior to purchase, donation or construction. Preference will be given to lower risk and lower maintenance structures.
Although the Board accepts design standards of reputable manufacturers, it has restricted certain design aspects. The following considerations shall be adhered to when purchasing or relocating any playground structure:

Design:

Corrugated metal, culverts, tire swings, sewer pipe, teeter-totters (pivot type), merry go-rounds, pressure treated wood structural members, diggers and track rides shall not be installed.
Maximum fall height of structures must be in accordance with current code.
Pulleys and similar equipment hazardous to fingers, long hair and loose clothing shall not be installed.
Play surface must conform to Ontario Regulation 191/11 Integrated Accessibility Standards,Sections 80.18, 80.19, 80.20. Protective standards are to meet or exceed current CAN/CSA. Annex H of the CSA Standard should be met. Acceptable examples are: artificial turf, rubberized surfacing, engineered wood floor.
No encroachment zones to be provided as per CSA standard.
Security of equipment must be considered at the design stage prior to final approval. Example: fencing and gates.

Location:

Any playground equipment or outdoor learning structures or areas must be situated away from fire exits, fire routes, ploughing routes, potential portable sites, high traffic areas, underground and overhead service gullies, waterways, rocky terrain, and hard surfaces, and must minimally affect the operations of grass cutting.
The location must be clearly visible from the school and, wherever possible, within public view.
The location must be a well-drained area.
The Board reserves the right to restrict other design aspects as deemed appropriate.

C. INSTALLATION OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

The Principal, in consultation with the School Council is responsible for choosing a location on the property for the playground equipment and outdoor learning spaces with approval of the Board's Manager of Building Services or Designate.
Volunteer installations are not permitted.
A qualified professional (e.g. manufacturer or vendor) must install all structures, equipment, materials and containment (as approved by the Manager of Building Services). On completion, the manufacturer must provide the Board with a letter indicating that the equipment and installation conforms to the current CAN/CSA guidelines and standards, and the terms and conditions of the guarantee and warranty.
The Manager of Building Services shall ensure that all installers of playground equipment on Board property provide proof of liability insurance in the amount of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) with the Board named as an additional insured. The installer must also provide a Certificate of Good Standing from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
The installer is required to barricade equipment on a daily basis until all work is completed (e.g. snow fence).
All surface and ground preparation must be provided by qualified personnel in accordance with recommended CSA standards.
The Principal and Manager of Building Services shall ensure that all newly installed equipment and site preparation and ground cover is inspected prior to use by a certified playground inspector. Upon initial inspection of newly installed equipment, and prior to use, the certified playground inspector will provide the Principal and Manager of Building Services an inspection checklist.
All playgrounds must have signage to identify manufacturer’s information, the intended age of users (provided by manufacturer), and the manufacturer’s contact number.
All playgrounds must have signage indicating that they are unsupervised outside of school hours. Refer to Appendix ‘A’ for signage wording.

D. INSPECTIONS FOR NEW OR EXISTING EQUIPMENT

Daily Inspections - School

The Principal shall implement a daily visual inspection program to look for overnight vandalism to the play structures and outdoor learning space or harmful debris under the (e.g. broken glass). Simple documentation of such should be maintained for three years. (Please see attached Appendix ‘B’ for sample daily inspection form.)
School custodians will perform a daily check of school grounds and a weekly check of playground equipment and use eBase to report any issues.

Monthly Inspections

The Principal shall ensure that monthly inspections are being performed by Board Certified Staff and can be viewed and logged in eBase. This shall entail checking for loose bolts, wearing of chains or swing seats, etc. and the general security of the structures. Monthly inspections shall be logged. (Please see attached Appendix ‘C’ for sample inspection form.)

Annual Inspections

Playground Equipment - The Manager of Building Services shall implement an annual inspection program performed by a professionally certified Canadian playground Inspector. The annual inspection will be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and the current CSA standards. The Principal should attend the annual inspection so that first-hand knowledge of potential problems can be gained. If during an inspection, a weakness is identified in a structure and it cannot be immediately repaired, the equipment shall be isolated or removed from service until repairs can be made. A copy of the annual inspection will be posted to docushare for access by school Principals. (Please see attached Appendix ‘D’.)

Outdoor Learning Spaces – The inspection of these spaces will be completed by qualified inspectors who are familiar with the areas. This will be coordinated by the Learning and Teaching Department. Documentation will be kept on file.

E. ON-GOING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

The Board shall assume responsibility for maintaining the structures to required standards and will make repairs to play structures. The Manager of Building Services will provide a list of approved playground repair contractors, and all repairs will be completed by one of the pre-qualified contractors. If the equipment poses a safety hazard and the school funds are not available, the equipment shall be taken out of service and/or removed. The repairs shall be completed using the 10% contingency fund established by the School Council.
Some minor repairs may be performed by the Board’s maintenance staff. The Principal or Designate is responsible to input all work order requests into eBase.
If the Manager of Building Services becomes aware of a maintenance issue when the Principal is not available (i.e. summer months) Board staff will take action to make the play structure safe.
The Board shall assume responsibility for maintaining the protective surfaces to required standards for each creative play structure.

F. PLAY STRUCTURE REMOVAL

Once a Principal has received an inspection report that designates aspects of a play structure as unsafe and not conforming to the CSA guidelines, the equipment will immediately be taken out of service. This may include the structure being removed from the site by Board staff and the Principal and Manager of Building Services or Designate will develop a plan of action to remedy the situation.
If at any time, the Principal determines that their play structure is not worth repairing, the Manager of Building Services must be consulted about the removal of the structure.
Equipment taken out of permanent service shall be dismantled, destroyed and disposed of. The contractor must provide proof of this and shall not resell, reuse or otherwise the structure.

G. WINTER USE OF PLAYGROUNDS

It is the position of the Board that all playground equipment cannot be safely operated during the following winter conditions:

freezing temperatures,
snow build-up,
ice or freezing rain,
frozen ground cover, and
periods when students wear winter clothing.

All playground equipment is off limits when the above winter conditions occur. Notice of this will be posted with appropriate signage and communicated to parents. (Refer to Appendix A)

H. SAFETY RULES

Teachers, students and volunteer supervisors should be introduced to the following rules with periodic reminders – e.g. September and March:

No pushing.
Walk; do not run on or under play structures.
Take turns.
No fighting.
In case of injury – DO NOT MOVE THE PERSON. Stay with person and send someone to notify the Principal or the Teacher in Charge of the accident immediately.
No throwing sticks, stones, or other objects.
No eating while on playground equipment.
Playground equipment is off limits during rainy weather or when conditions such as freezing temperatures, frozen ground cover, snow build-up, ice or freezing rain, and periods when students wear winter clothing.
Skipping ropes, ropes or strings are not permitted on playground equipment.
No bicycle helmets, scarves or loose drawstrings are permitted on playground equipment.
Schools should set rules for specific pieces of play equipment, e.g., define maximum number of students and age levels permitted.
Security of Playground – Whenever possible, gates will be locked during off hours.

I. PLAYGROUND AND OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACE SECURITY

Where possible, community use of playgrounds will be supported. In the event of vandalism or misuse, including damage to equipment, playgrounds will be made secure during off hours. This may include securing gates and fencing as well as other measures deemed appropriate.

The Board reserves the right to remove or relocate any playground equipment for safety, accommodation or other reasonable concerns.

J. ACCIDENT INSURANCE

K. OUTDOOR STORAGE FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

Appendices

References