There are five categories of playground equipment: sliding, spinning, balancing, hanging and climbing. Some of the elements included in these categories are swingsets, stairs, bridges, slides, climbing walls, see-saws, spring riders, and trapeze bars.
Originally there were some safety concerns about playground equipment due to the alarming number of emergency room visits resulting from playground accidents. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) created standards for playground equipment design, installation and maintenance practices. These regulations have led to a reduction in playground accidents and improved safety.



