A Longitudinal Study of Playground Surfaces to Evaluate Accessibility - Final Report

APPENDIX A

INDIANA UNIVERSITY – BLOOMINGTON

STUDY INFORMATION SHEET

Playground Surface Study

As a public playground owner, you are invited to participate in a research study of playground surfaces.  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accessibility and safety of surfaces in newly constructed playgrounds.  This research study is designed to test a variety of playground surfaces, their ability to meet accessibility and safety guidelines and their cost effectiveness upon initial installation and ongoing maintenance over a five year period. In addition, this study will compare the seasonal maintenance costs to continuously meet accessibility and safety guidelines.  This study is conducted through the National Center on Accessibility at Indiana University with support from the U.S. Access Board.

INFORMATION

Upon consent to participate in this study, the playground owner will be asked to designate a site coordinator (study liaison) to work with the research team.  This individual will be responsible for assisting with collecting data and working directly with the National Center on Accessibility.  It is preferred that the designated staff representative is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) or Accessibility Coordinator.  The playground owner/site coordinator will be asked to submit a paragraph describing the playground and its features.  The research team will associate the site into one of six potential categories for participation in the study: engineered wood fiber product; shredded rubber / crumb rubber; unitary rubber mat surfaces; unitary rubber “poured in place” surfaces; loose fill material used with a binding product; or combination or hybrid surface systems under development.

The playground owner/site coordinator will be asked to submit surface vendor information to the research team.  In turn, the research team will contact the vendor to collect additional information on laboratory certification.  While the brand name of the surface product will be kept confidential, this study will require that the vendor provide laboratory testing results pertinent to ASTM F1292‒99/04, F1951‒99, and F2075 (as applicable). 

Using the playground site plan, the research team and site coordinator will identify the nine critical areas for data collection: 1) entry to playground where playground surface starts; 2) accessible route connecting accessible play elements; 3) egress point of slide(s); 4) swings; 5) entry point(s) to composite structure(s)/transfer stations; 6) climber(s); 7) ground level play  element(s) such as spring rockers, play tables, interactive panels, etc; 8) sliding poles; 9) other areas (i.e. water play elements, etc).  The site plan will be labeled with locations 1‒9 to identify the critical test areas.  One copy will be kept on file with NCA.  One copy of the site plan should be kept on file with the site coordinator in order to ensure the same locations are inspected and tested.  Using the corresponding numbered tent cards, photos will be taken of each area 1‒9 during the first scheduled data collection. 

Upon installation, the research team and site coordinator will conduct a preliminary accessibility assessment of the playground surface and test the surface for firmness and stability with the Rotational Penetrometer. At the discretion of the playground owner, the playground surface will also be tested for impact attenuation with the TRIAX (surface impact testing device).  The site coordinator and research team will work together to complete the installation log.  Following the preliminary accessibility assessment, the playground surface will be assessed seasonally/monthly and the surface conditions/maintenance log will be completed.  The playground surface will be assessed at a minimum of two to four times per year for five years.  A schedule will be established cooperatively with the site coordinator and research team. The playground owner will be notified immediately of test results for both firmness/stability and impact attenuation and given opportunity to correct surfaces where deficiencies or non-compliance with standards may occur.           

BENEFITS

Participation in this study will provide essential data to the research team on the playground surfaces’ ability to meet accessibility criteria in field installations along with associated costs for complying with accessibility and safety standards.  This research, in turn, will give future playground owners more information on the issues and costs for installing and maintaining playground surfaces so they can make more informed choices on the playground surface most appropriate to their needs and available resources.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The park/playground will be coded by county, state, study start date and surface type.  The name of the park and playground will not be identified in the research or technical reports. 

CONTACT

If you have questions at any time about the study or the procedures, you may contact the researcher, Jennifer Skulski, National Center on Accessibility, 501 North Morton St, Suite 109, Bloomington, IN 47404, (812) 856‒4422, or by e-mail: jskulski@indiana.edu.

If you feel you have not been treated according to the descriptions in this form, or your rights as a participant in research have not been honored during the course of this project, you may contact the office for the Indiana University Bloomington Human Subjects Committee, Carmichael Center L03, 530 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47408, 812/855‒3067, or by e-mail at iub_hsc@indiana.edu.

PARTICIPATION

Your participation in this study is voluntary, you may refuse to participate without penalty.  If you decide to participate, you may withdraw from the study at anytime without penalty and without loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.  If you choose to withdraw from the study before the study is completed, you will have the options of: 1) permitting the research team to use data collected up to the time of withdrawal; 2) having the data returned to you; or 3) having the data destroyed.