Peaceful Playgrounds

Marking your School Playground

In marking the playground the following supplies are necessary: 100 foot measuring tape, paint, playground chalk, snap line, a taut rope on a stake for marking the radius of circles, old cloth for spills, large sticks of chalk for detail work and layout prior to painting.

Paint

Color adds a great deal to the playground, both aesthetically and functionally.

The paint colors may be selected on preference. It is recommended that the primary, kindergarten, and preschool playgrounds use primary colors to enhance color recognition.

A colorful playground is inviting and fun! Use "Stripers" (parking lot) paint for streets and curbs. It is the most durable outdoors on asphalt. Use a well known local paint supplier. Stripers paint is available at Home Depot or Lowes.

Sweep, wash down and let the area to be painted dry completely prior to painting the designs. Use chalk and layout the entire playground before beginning painting. New asphalt should be allowed to cure for one month prior to painting.

  • Use a roller for applying paint to a large surface area.
  • Paint machines or brushes are both suitable when working with grids.
  • Do not use a top sealer, as this could contribute to slippage.

Our Playground Paint Machine is is available with 6 cans of white stripers spray paint and paint machine, for outlining all the game courts. We sell only white commercial contractors quality striping paint. Detail work is rolled on and we recommend 4 colors (red, blue, yellow, & green.) One gallon of each will be more than enough. Detail work is letters, numbers, shapes and feet.

DO NOT USE PAINT UNLESS IT IS STRIPERS PAINT OR PAINT USED TO PAINT PARKING LOTS OR STREETS! IT WILL NOT LAST. Be sure to sweep down the surface and then wash it down the day before painting.

Most Popular Playground Games

  • 4 square
  • Longball
  • Basketball
  • Around the World
  • Tetherball
  • Multi-use Circle
  • Wallball
  • Alphabet Track
  • Running Track-Painted Line
  • KDG- Tricycle Track
  • Prisoner Court (VB)
  • Skipping Track
  • US Map
  • Beanbag Toss

Turf Areas

Large areas of turf are very attractive, offer a soft surface, and are most desirable for playing many games. When using both the grass and blacktop areas you spread out distribution of children for better space utilization.

For lines in the grass of a permanent nature, mark the courts with a grass killer type product. Refer to your local school policy for guidelines appropriate use and safety around children.

Regardless of the safety assurances, it is highly suggested that children stay off the grassy areas at least 48 hours after the grass is treated. A line marking cart is available at most high schools or district facilities departments.

Supplies for Marking Your Playground

  • Playground Chalk
  • Rope
  • Stake(s)
  • Old Rags
  • Paint
  • Paint Stir
  • Chalk Snap Line
  • Paint Roller
  • Paint Brush
  • 100 ft. Measuring Tape
  • 25 ft. Measuring Tape

The Peaceful Playgrounds stencil set is included in our Program Kit. The complete set of 41 stencils includes:

  • Letter Set (A - Z)
  • Number Set (0 - 9)
  • Shape Set (Circle, Square, Rectangle, Triangle)
  • Feet Grid (1 Piece with 2 feet)

U.S. Map Stencil

The map illustration looks approximately how your finished map will look. Follow the simple instructions for best results.

Map Stencil Layout

  1. Locate a section of the asphalt/concrete which is about 35 feet wide by 36 feet long.
  2. Make sure the surface is clean. Sweep and wash if needed.
  3. Unroll stencil section 1>2 15 feet below the top of your cleared area. This will allow you room for Alaska.
  4. Anchor the stencil with masking tape to keep the wind from blowing it around.
  5. Unroll stencil section 2 below and next to section 1>2 on the side indicated by the >2. Be sure the stamped edges of the sections are aligned and the adjacent edges are close together.
  6. Unroll the rest of the sections in order, so that the final layout looks like the illustration.
  7. Note that there are TWO versions of Alaska off the west coast. The large is done in the same scale as the rest of the states. . . Alaska is enormous. The smaller version is included for grounds which do not have enough room to paint the full size Alaska. Tape together the sections of the Alaska you wish to use. Cut Alaska out and move it above Washington as on the Illustration. Also, move the Hawaiian Islands as shown.
  8. Chalk the holes with white school chalk, or paint with spray paint.
  9. Remove the stencil.
  10. Connect the dots.
  11. Paint the states.

Painting the Map

1. Use 100% acrylic latex paint, about 1 gallon of each color. If you are using the full size Alaska, you may want to conserve paint by only painting the outline.

2. Use four colors (five if you paint the Great Lakes blue) as shown on the color map. A useful idea is to give each team of helpers a color and a copy of the color map so they can go to each of their states and paint and don't have to ask "What's next?"

4. Helpful items: sponge brushes for the borders, regular bristle brushes to paint states, coffee cans with water to wash brushes, rags, knee pads.

Green, Yellow, Pink, Orange & Blue pastels work best.

Tell the Community

Don't forget to prepare a Press Release for the community!

Need some additional information? Take a look at these Resources or try our Feedback form!

NYAHPERD Fall Conference 2005

New York Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation, Dance and Sport
We Count! Pedometer Wellness Program
Melinda Bossenmeyer, PhD, Peaceful Playgrounds, Inc.
Acrobat Portable Document - We Count! Handout - 492kb

2005 FAHPERDS International Fall Conference

Conference Handout MaterialsFlorida Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation, Dance and Sport
Orlando, Florida - October 13-15, 2005 FAHPERD
FUNdamental Movement Program
We Count! Pedometer Wellness Program
Melinda Bossenmeyer, PhD, Peaceful Playgrounds, Inc.

Acrobat Portable Document - We Count! Handout - 410kb
PowerPoint Presentation - FUNdamental Movement - 775kb
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2005 California Childhood Obesity Conference

Launching a Movement: Linking Our Efforts to Make a Difference
San Diego, California - January 9-12, 2005
Physical Activity: A Healthy Movement on School Campuses
Moderator: Margaret Aumann, MPH, RD, Nutrition Consultant, Ca Department of Education
Melinda Bossenmeyer, PhD, Peaceful Playgrounds, Inc.
Dianne Wilson-Graham, Physical Education Consultant, Ca Department of Education.

Acrobat Portable Document - Session Handout - 20kb
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PowerPoint Presentation - Physical Activity A Healthy Movement - 2.2mb
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California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

CAHPERD Conference
Monterey, CA - March 18, 2005
A Summary of Recommendations: CA Superintendent of School Task Force on Childhood Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease.
Melinda Bossenmeyer, Dianne Wilson-Graham and Greg Payne.

PowerPoint Presentation - Obesity Task Force - 81kb
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PEP Grant Writing - Working with Winners

Grant Writing - Working with WinnersView our presentation from the Winning Grants Conference in South Carolina. Working with Winners: How to tap in on experience when writing your PEP Grant.

PowerPoint Presentation - winninggrants.ppt - 369kb
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Acrobat Portable Document - winninggrants.pdf - 153kb
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Writing a Winning PEP Grant:
Winning PEP Grant
Sample of a complete winning PEP Grant including Fundamental Movement, Peaceful Playgrounds and We Count Wellness Program. - 460kb - 35 Pages
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Promising Practices in Afterschool

Program Grant Writing Template

Grant Writing TemplateDownload a copy of our Program Grant Writing Template and get a head start on writing a successful proposal for implementing the Peaceful Playgrounds Program in your own school.

Peaceful Playgrounds (Word) - Grant.doc - 41kb
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Peaceful Playgrounds (Acrobat) - Grant.pdf - 32kb
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Fundamental Movement (Word) - FundamentalGrant.doc - 37kb
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Fundamental Movement (Acrobat) - FundamentalGrant.pdf - 27kb
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Implementation Guidebook

This guidebook is meant to support you in your implementation process. Careful monitoring and research conducted on the Peaceful Playgrounds program indicates proper implementation is the key factor in accomplishing the outcomes of the program.

Word Document - Implementation.doc - 548kb
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Acrobat Portable Document - Implementation.pdf - 419kb
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Playground Implementation FormsPlayground Implementation Forms

These forms will assist you in organizing and reporting on your playground activity.

This document includes Pad of 4 ready to print "Playground Report" forms and a Peaceful Playgrounds "Equipment Checkout Sheet."

Acrobat Portable Document - PlaygroundForms.pdf - 253kb
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For more information on playground safety, contact The Consumer Product Safety Commission  at (800) 638- 2772 or www.cpsc.gov. You can view the "Handbook for Playground Safety" (pdf) and the "Public Playground Safety Checklist" or get a free copy by writing to CPSC, Washington, DC 20207.