Playground Guide - 2023 - 14

Three Overlooked Benefits to Building a
Playground in Your Community
By Brad Pittam
essential for a child's brain development. Studies have shown
that free play positively affects a child's confidence and intelligence.
Research also indicates that play can help children develop
emotionally, allowing them to build self-confidence and
self-esteem and release emotions from trauma through play.
Building public playgrounds allows children to develop flexibility
and balance, engage with children of diverse backgrounds
and varying abilities, and navigate social cues and emotions.
Public playgrounds allow children to develop flexibility and
balance, engage with children of diverse backgrounds and
varying abilities, and navigate social cues and emotions.
P
laygrounds not only provide health and social benefits
for children, but also give families an outdoor recreation
area where they can go to connect, learn, grow and
spend time together. These areas also can bring value in other
ways, such as raising property values, growing communities,
and bringing health and wellness to neighborhoods.
The Current Landscape
During the past few years, there has been an increase in
funding for parks and recreation across the country, and local
governments are wondering where to spend it. As recently as
June 2022, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the
distribution of $279 million from the Land and Water Conservation
Fund to all 50 states for state-identified outdoor recreation
and conservation projects. Local governments benefit
from community growth, sustained or increased property
values, and community health and wellness when they create
new playgrounds and outdoor recreation areas.
Playgrounds Offer Benefits
Research shows that outdoor free play offers significant benefits,
including the development of physical, social, cognitive
and emotional skills, and more. Many experts agree that play is
Three Overlooked Benefits of Playgrounds
There are several benefits gained from playgrounds that
should stay top of mind when considering how to spend funding.
Here are three overlooked benefits:
1. Playgrounds raise property values. Research shows that
the presence of a playground surrounding residential homes
can increase property values by 5 percent or more (tinyurl.
com/5c8cxc7k).
2. Playgrounds attract families and build community. Families
are stable groups that can maintain their residence for
years to come, and they are great for the housing market. Often
serving as the heartbeat of a community, a playground
creates a safe place where parents can befriend other parents
and kids can befriend other kids, which helps to eliminate
biases, unify people, and build a sense of community.
3. Playground equipment enhances real estate. The National
Institute of REALTORS® found in a survey that half of homebuyers
would be willing to pay 10 percent more for a home
that was close to a park or playground. This could lead to
an increase in sales for developers who include and invest in
playgrounds near their developments.
By making sure that playgrounds exist in neighborhoods,
property values will benefit, communities will grow, and families
will reap the health and wellness benefits that playgrounds
and outdoor spaces have to offer.
Brad Pittam is President of International Play Equipment Manufacturers
Association.
14 Parks & Recreation | 2 0 2 3 PL A Y GROUND GUIDE | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
PHOTO COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL PLAY EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
http://www.tinyurl.com/5c8cxc7k http://www.tinyurl.com/5c8cxc7k
Playground Guide - 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Playground Guide - 2023
