
The Department of Recreation and Parks operates over 160 playgrounds countywide. During the past decade increasing attention has been given to playground safety and accessibility. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) have developed increasingly higher standards that enhance the safety of public playgrounds. In combination with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), new public playgrounds have become accessible to a far greater portion of the population. In response to these new standards, the Department initiated a comprehensive playground replacement program. Begun in 1996, the program evaluated the condition and use of each playground, resulting in the creation of a matrix that prioritizes replacement of the systems. A major component of this process is the solicitation of community input to ensure the selection of equipment which best serves neighborhood need. As of Spring, 2002 nearly 130 playgrounds have been replaced or constructed throughout Baltimore County at a cost of over four million dollars.
Visit our list of parks to see which park sites have playgrounds areas.
Revised April 8, 2003