A summary and rating of different playgrounds around Ventura County, CA (for child development class)

1. PLAYGROUND
SAFETY
HOW SAFE ARE OUR LOCAL PARKS?

2. Playground Pointers

When taking your child to a playground, safety should
be a #1 priority for parents/teachers. Parents/teachers
should be making sure that their child is in a safe
environment.

Playgrounds should have signs determining the
appropriate age to participate in play (if so, adhere to
them!)

Any hazards should be blocked off/fixed

Water, toilets and shade provided

Being aware and observant of children at all times

3. 1765 Royal Ave. Simi
Valley Ca. 93065
(Deyma)
ADVANTAGES
•
It has a sign describing
the suggested ages for
play participation on
equipment.
•
Playground equipment
in great conditions
•
Equipment made with
material to avoid hot
to the touch or burns

4. Disadvantages

You might think that it is
always safe to take your
children to the nearest
playground. But it is always
better to double check about
the place’s safety.

Demonstrated in the picture
below is the blocked entrance
to the broken slide as a way to
prevent injuries at Simi
Valley’s Recreation and Park
District. *
*slide was only blocked off on one side

5. RATING: 7.5 out of 10
There are no other hazardous situations within this particular playground, the only
concern that we still have is the fact that the water fountains and shade are
relatively far for children to be properly hydrated and away from the sun as to say
that this playground is entirely safe and well guarded from dehydration.
This park seemed to be a safe place for children to have a great time and exercise.
But now that we can tell that hazards are everywhere, we can’t be caught off guard
at anytime or anyplace.

6. 950 North Ventu Park Rd.
Thousand
Oaks, CA 91360
(Janine)
ADVANTAGES
•
open area; lots of room available
for the children to play and
explore
•
grass area around the equipment
for them to play on when they
wanted to run around.
•
Drinking faucet and shade
provided.
•
It was age appropriate for
children older then toddler age.
They had a few rocking dinosaurs
for the younger children, but
again, not for anyone younger
then 2.
•
The equipment looked to be in
good shape that was well built.
The paint was not chipped. There
was one wall missing but it was
boarded up tight and nicely with
a thick piece of plywood that was
not chipped or splintering at the
corners.

7. 
DISADVANTAGES
•
Wood chips; though
acceptable but not favorable
•
Playground not age
appropriate for anyone
under the age of 2. It is
more based on older
children. They had a few
baby swings but that was
about it. The activities they
had on the playground was
not for younger children.
•
There was only 1 drinking
fountain and limited
benches around the
playground.
•
There were not many mind
stimulating games. I feel like
they should have more "busy
wall" activities, such as,
tick-tack-toe, or complete
the animal.
•
RATING: 7 out of 10

8. 
Very pleasing and newly made
playground.

Had welcoming sign mentioning that
this specific playground, was designed
for children between the ages of 2
and 5 years old with adult
supervision. The sign was very clear
and a great way to inform parents of
the age the playground was designed
for.

Had recycled rubber for the
playground flooring; safe!

The playground had three very low
slides, making the children very
comfortable going down them.

It also had little puzzle like games for
the children to mess around with, as
well as a voice tunnel so that the
children can talk to each other from
opposite sides of the playground.

The guardrails on this playground
seem to be in regulations so that
children would prevent head
entrapment. The swing area had a
few neat looking seat swings, that
looked like roller coaster seats.

Safe swings; parents would need to
pull over a chest harness and buckle
them in.
(Angel’s Park)
ADVANTAGES

9. ANGEL’S PARK
DISADVANTAGES

There were only two hazards that I seemed to find while
observing this playground. One was the playground was very
low, making it possible for children to crawl underneath and
possibly bump their head.

Awkward set up with little sand area that took up a quarter of
the playground.

Underneath the swings there was a hole of missing recycled
rubber making it dangerous for a child to fall in.

RATING: 8.5 out of 10

10. 980 Aranmoor Ave.
Thousand Oaks CA
(Nicole)
ADVANTAGES

It had a tunnel with
holes through it so easy
access to see through.

Climbing spaces
dimensions wide enough
to avoid entrapment.

No loose bolts and
everything checked out
pretty good.

11. DISADVANTAGES
•
Plastic rock climbing
stimulator, hot to
touch and slippery
•
Park area limited;
not enough room for
too many kids.
•
Though woodchips
are acceptable, not
highly favorable due
to splinters
•
RATING: 9 out of 10

12. TIERRA REJEDA PARK
11900 Mountain Trail
Street
(Elba)
ADVANTAGES
•
Equipment were
separated and had a
clear sign with
appropriate ages for
play!

13. ADVANTAGES

No areas allowing head
entrapment

Stimulating information

Mostly soft non
compacted sand and
rubber

14. DISADVANTAGES
Rusty wire and splintering wood

15. Blocked off areas
RATING: 7.5 out of 10

16. “
"Children are our most
valuable resource."
Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president
Let us keep them safe!
”