June 21, 1993
VA HANDBOOK 7610 (420)
b. Outdoor Activity Areas
(1) The outdoor playground should be a series of separated but linked activity areas with clear circulation patterns.
(2) The separated but linked activity areas should be equipped for each of the age groups to be accommodated.
(3) Provide direct access from indoor activity spaces to playground.
(4) Place indoor restrooms for convenient access from playground.
(5) The same party responsible for designing the facility should incorporate designs for the playground equipment and
foundations. All equipment foundations shall conform to current safety standards.
(6) Provide drinking fountains in playgrounds for 3 year old and over, and intercom remotes in each playground.
(7) All playground fences shall be a minimum of 1830 mm (6') high. Avoid fencing materials that encourage climbing, have
sharp protrusions, or produce splinters.
(8) Provide outdoor storage facilities appropriate to the playground it serves. They should be weatherproof, lockable, and
vandal-proof.
c. Infants -Pretoddlers Areas
(1) Separate, but do not isolate this area from other age groups.
(2) Provide direct access to infant, pretoddler, and toddlers indoor activity areas, avoiding the use of steps.
(3) Provide a minimum of 5.6 cubic meters (200 cubic feet) of outdoor storage near child activity room entrance for large
strollers, carriages, wagons, wheel toys, etc.
(4) Provide hard surface paths for use of strollers, wagons, and carriages.
(5) Provide a variety of surface materials; wood and asphalt for push and ride toys; grass for crawling; sand play areas;
and open grassy playing areas. Avoid the use of ground material which could cause choking, e.g., small pea gravel.
d. Preschool Age Areas
(1) Provide a variety of play area surfaces including grass, pea gravel, sand, and hard surfaces.
(2) Include a protected sand or dirt play area with an accessible water source.
(3) Provide a minimum of 5.6 cubic meters (200 cubic feet) of child accessible, vandal-proof, lockable, weathertight outdoor
storage.
e. School Age Areas
(1) Provide a variety of spaces and surfaces that offer challenge without extreme competitiveness, for example single
basketball hoops rather than an entire court.
(2) Provide perimeter hard surfaces paths for bicycles, skateboards, scooters, etc.
(3) Provide appropriate outdoor storage that is accessible to school age children, lockable, weathertight, and vandal-
proof.
420-7
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