Subscribe to one of our news e-mail lists . On a path along the Hudson River at the southern tip of Manhattan, in the shadow of the World Trade Center, is a playground surfaced in a soft, green, rubber-like material. But according to recent reports, America still has a long way to go in making outdoor play areas safer for kids. The NPPS is expected to release the results of an analysis of all 50 states in several weeks. Although playgrounds like the one described above may be state of the art with their soft surfaces and other safety touches, design alone can't guarantee safety.
Experts say that more adult supervision is needed to lower injury rates, as well.
In fact, building a totally safe piece of equipment isn't just impossible, it's unrealistic as well. We don't want them seeking adventure elsewhere. Climbing equipment caused the most injuries for kids ages 5 to 14. That's where the new playground surfaces come into play, literally. As a result, many manufacturers now offer soft surfacing materials such as mulch, wood chips or rubber-like materials to accompany the new play systems.