Product Education
Ping Pong Moves Into Parks and Playgrounds
Placing a ping pong table in a public park is a social act; it creates a venue for interaction, a place where strangers can rub elbows, chat, and engage in friendly competition. In an urban setting, in particular, a ping pong table can spark conversation and friendships among people, who…
Playgrounds Spin into the Next Generation
Ever tried twirling on a playground spinner as an adult? Did it make your stomach turn? It’s not uncommon. When adults spin, the centrifugal motion can make them feel dizzy and uncomfortable, even sick. But spatial disorientation is good for our brain in appropriate doses, which is why sitting at…
Playground Shade: A Matter of Necessity
Shade is an integral, if undervalued, aspect of playground design. Some of the best playgrounds earn their distinction because they offer a range of sun-protected areas where children can play and rest. And some very good playgrounds could be better if they provided more shade to sustain longer stretches of…
The Vestibular System: The Sixth Sense of Playground Design
Several weeks ago, at the ASLA conference in Los Angeles, Greg Miller, principal landscape architect at MRWM, and Lucy Miller, founder and director at the STAR institute for Sensory Processing Disorder, discussed how children with sensory disorders benefit from strategically designed playgrounds and gardens. Their presentation drew my thoughts to…
The Benefits of Learning Through Play for Children with ADHD
There is a tendency for society to draw a line between work and play, but for many kids this is simply impossible. Studies suggest that time spent playing outdoors increases educational progress, by improving happiness levels and engagement. This is particularly true for those with ADHD, which the Center for…
Sensory Playgrounds for Children with Autism Spectrum and Sensory Integration Disorders
The title of Jonathan Safran Foer’s second novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, has absolutely nothing to do with playgrounds. But the phrase has stuck with me as an illustration of what it means to be a child, where at times the world can be overwhelming and, frankly, a bit…
Top 3 Ways Surfacing Boosts Play
Encouraging Beneficial Play with Surfacing Reducing risk while maintaining a fun play area often represents the main focus when discussing a playground’s surface. All of Goric’s Surfacing and Accessories products meet important ASTM standards for reducing the frequency and severity of fall-related incidents. Such risk reductions are supremely important, and…
(Re)Introducing the Spaghetti Line of Sculptural Play Equipment
Goric is excited to announce the return of our full line of the Spaghettis, a series of imaginative and beautiful sculptural playground equipment. Several years ago our manufacturing partner Linie M (known then as Conlastic) lost the design rights to two of the Spaghettis within the series. Though it was…
Integrating Music with Playscapes
Complementary Benefits Makes Adding Musical Elements to Playgrounds a Truly Smart Idea Play and music already share a vocabulary. A self-contained part of a musical composition is called a, ‘movement.’ It is common for sportscasters to describe an athlete or team as, ‘getting into rhythm.’ The laughter that emits from…
A Better Approach to the Slack Line Trend
First Do No Harm with Goric’s Slack Line Playground Equipment Goric is proud to offer an innovative and straightforward approach to slacklining. The line of Slack Line playground equipment gives playscape designers the ability to create a variety of fun configurations using multiple units, along with greater freedom on where and…
Going Against the Grain of Modern Materials with Robinia Wood
Natural Karolam® Robinia Wood Offers Impressive Benefits Over Modern Materials K&K Karolam® – Robinia Wooden Posts | Video via YouTube.com At their very best, playgrounds and playscapes mimic the joy of running, jumping, climbing, and otherwise playing in a wild and natural setting. They fulfill our instinctual desire to…
Euroflex Balls and the Importance of Tactile Elements in Playscapes
Supporting Sensory Play by Adding Texture One of the best ways for playground and playscape designers to improve the quality of any surface space or area is by including a variety of tactile elements. Whether cut in half, or presented in full, Euroflex Balls invite exploration and encourage curiosity….
