Road Map Resources

Lesson Descriptions

Mile Marker 1

Topics: Reasons why play matters, the “community-build model,” benefits of a community build model, play equipment appropriate for specific ages, abilities, and types of play, playground safety hazards in old equipment, make the case for a new, community-built playground.
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Mile Marker 2

Topics: Create a project vision and mission statement, form a planning committee, choose a playground site, choose a surfacing and equipment vendor, estimate the project budget, establish a project timeline, create a fundraising strategy.
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Mile Marker 3

Topics: Organize and hold the first playspace meeting, start fundraising, finalize planning committee teams, determine the necessary site preparation, create a project website.
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Mile Marker 4

Topics: Holding a Design Day, working with an equipment vendor to select a design, press materials and media involvement, accelerating youth involvement through the Design Day and service learning projects.
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Mile Marker 5

Topics: Recruiting Build Day volunteers and captains, creating a contingency plan for bad weather and emergencies, mapping the build site and the Build Day “matrix,” creating a maintenance plan with the landowner and staff, leveling the site and removing old equipment.
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Mile Marker 6

Topics: Planning final fundraisers, writing and sending out a media advisory to notify local newspapers, radio, and TV stations, ordering side project materials, confirming delivery schedule for equipment and surfacing, training build day captains.
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Mark Marker 7

Topics: Equipment and surfacing delivery, organizing materials one to two days before the Build Day, motivating volunteers, rehearsing the ribbon cutting ceremony, taking pictures of the site and securing the area.
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Mile Marker 8

Topics: Sending official thanks you’s, starting your maintenance program, hosting a final planning meeting, supervising, playing and enjoying, RALLY!-ing for play.
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Supplemental Materials

Research and initial planning

• Great icebreakers
• First meeting flyer
• Site preparation questionnaire
• Equipment vendor questions
• Loose Fill vs Unitary fill surfacing
• Playground surfacing cost comparison
• Sample fundraising strategy
• Sample playspace budget
• Sample playspace needs survey

Committee resources

• Playground committee roles and responsibilities
• Youth one-pager
• Food one-pager
• Green one-pager
• Logistics one-pager
• Public relations one-pager
• Recruitment one-pager
• Safety one-pager
• Side Projects one-pager

Public relations

• Guide to Media terms
• Sample media advisory ribbon cutting
• Sample press release build day
• Sample press release design day
• Sample public service announcement

Side projects and service learning

• Play enhancement project planner
• Top 10 ways to involve youth

Safety

• Playground safety checklist
• Sample maintenance and inspection form
• Sample volunteer waiver

Construction

• Sample playground installation certificate
• Sample soil test form
• Sample utility check form
• Build captain responsibilities
• Build captain: Assembling components one-pager
• Build captain: cement
• Build captain: Mulch

Logistics

• Sample prep and build day timetable

Volunteer recruitment

• Sample Build Day recruitment flyer
• Volunteer interest survey

Fundraising

• Sample business donation receipt
• Sample business donation call script
• Sample sponsorship proposal

Children’s activities

• Sample Design Day Agenda
• Sample Design Day Flyer