While building a park in any capacity is valuable, research suggests that outdoor recreation spaces flourish when their design is founded in research, supplemental programming is offered, and stakeholders actively participate in the planning process.
National Demonstration Sites (NDS) are playgrounds that showcase leadership in best practice design, support health-related initiatives, and collect data that stakeholders can use to understand the sites’ impact on the community. Through five distinct categories, the NDS program facilitates the translation of research into practical implementation at local parks.
Read on to learn more about the NDS program and its five categories.
Play On!: Youth Physical Activity
Experience the excitement of Play On!® playgrounds, where innovative equipment turns fitness into fun!
Developed by our parent company, PlayCore, in collaboration with Shape America, the Play On! curriculum is designed to tackle sedentary lifestyles and promote youth fitness. This curriculum can also serve as the basis for developing lesson plans for physical education classes, making these playgrounds perfect for schools.
Featuring our FitKid or Xscape fitness-focused equipment alongside our classic PowerScape and PrimeTime play systems, Play On! playgrounds incorporate the Six Key Elements of Play to create a comprehensive play experience.
Nature Grounds: Nature-Based Play
Explore nature through play! Research shows that when children play in environments rich with natural elements, they exhibit elevated levels of physical activity and social interaction among peers.
In collaboration with the Natural Learning Initiative, PlayCore developed Nature Grounds® to provide best practice guidelines for designing playgrounds that pay homage to the surrounding natural terrain. By integrating playground equipment within the living landscape, parkgoers have richer play experiences.
Pathway for Play: Trail-Based Play
Take your walking trail to the next level with Pathways for Play®! New research shows that integrating playful experiences along your walking trails can increase the time families spend in the great outdoors.
PlayCore, in partnership with American Trails and the Natural Learning Initiative, created Pathways for Play to help communities create trails that are infused with "play pockets." These “pockets” provide opportunities for children to play along the trail, keeping them engaged and active.
Adult Outdoor Fitness: Promoting Community Health
Get fit while having fun in the sun with an adult outdoor fitness park!
PlayCore, along with an advisory board of health and wellness advocates, developed the Outdoor Adult Fitness Parks guidebook to help promote wellness among adults at every fitness level. This fitness guidebook covers everything from planning where to install your equipment to how to select the right equipment to provide a well-rounded workout.
Inclusive Playgrounds: Play for All
Children of all abilities deserve to have a space to not just play – but thrive!
Designing a playground where everybody can grow has to be founded in research. In response to this need, PlayCore developed the 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design® guidebook alongside researchers, architects, and play experts at Utah State Institute for Disability Research, Policy, and Practice. The booklet documents evidence-based inclusive playground designs and implementation strategies founded on best practice research
Best Practices for Playgrounds
National Demonstration Sites reflect a community’s dedication to outdoor recreation. When you design a play and recreation space using best practice research, you provide the community with the best opportunity to connect with one another, improve health and wellness, and enhance overall quality of life.
Ready to start planning your National Demonstration Site? Contact a GameTime representative today to learn more about eligible systems, resources, and registration.
