One of the problems with de-risked playgrounds is that kids crave a certain amount of risk, and if there is nothing to do that seems a bit risky, kids (especially older kids) will start looking for ways to make the playground more exciting, doing things that the playground designers didn’t anticipate and didn’t consider the safety of.
My understanding (based on some news article I read a couple years ago; take this with a pinch of salt) is that in practice, the injury rates from de-risked playgrounds are not materially lower than injury rates from older riskier playgrounds. The main difference is that the new playgrounds are less fun.
My understanding (based on some news article I read a couple years ago; take this with a pinch of salt) is that in practice, the injury rates from de-risked playgrounds are not materially lower than injury rates from older riskier playgrounds. The main difference is that the new playgrounds are less fun.