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What is a community built playground? |
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As hundreds of communities from across the country will testify, the benefits of community-built go well beyond the enormous cost savings. The community-built experience offers a rare opportunity for individuals to collectively give something back to their community, resulting in a beautifully crafted, unique expression of shared pride.
Most importantly, however, is the community enrichment resulting from the volunteer-built experience. Community built builds community. |
What materials are used to build the playgrounds?
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Leathers playgrounds are currently built with a combination of plastic composite lumber and arsenic-free treated wood (for support). The composite material, with the look and feel of wood, is used for most contact surfaces, such as decking and handrails. Communities may choose composite or metal pipe balusters. The Research and Development Team at Leathers is constantly researching the newest technologies available, and they now offer structural plastic for communities that want the option of an all-plastic playground.
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| Why should we choose to work with Leathers & Associates and not someone locally? |
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Leathers & Associates is the original community-built playground company with extensive experience and expertise in both playground design and the community-built process. Their process is truly one-of-a-kind. They have been designing and building playgrounds for over 30 years (1600 worldwide!). The community volunteers are led during a 5-6 day "barn-raising" by their skilled consultants, using only the highest-quality materials and safe construction. The average tenure of Leathers & Associates staff is over 10 years!
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| How long does it take from Design Day to Construction? |
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Timelines vary from project to project; however, on average, projects take 6 - 12 months from Design Day to Construction. You will need time to fundraise, recruit volunteers and secure the necessary playground materials. Leathers have had projects do this in as little as 3 months! The key to getting off to a good start is a well-organized dedicated committee.
PBCE Design Day was in January 2006, with a build week to be announced.
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| Do Leathers playgrounds meet the latest safety standards and accessibility guidelines? |
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Yes! The Leathers & Associates designs conform with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines, American Standards for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards and Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) that are in place at the time your playground is built. Although most states have not passed laws for playground safety, these guidelines are viewed as industry standards.
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| How can a structure built by volunteers be safe and professional? |
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Leathers & Associates has been assisting communities with community-built projects for over 30 years. Their construction system has been proven over time to be both safe and volunteer friendly. The professional designers and staff are all experienced in the uniqueness of the community-built process and are Certified Playground Safety Inspectors. Additionally, Leathers & Associates volunteer-built structures are designed and constructed with strict adherence to all applicable nationally recognized playground safety standards and guidelines, ensuring safety and durability.
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| How long will the playground last? |
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With today’s materials and proper maintenance, Leathers playgrounds can easily last 25 years. |
What maintenance is involved?
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All playgrounds require maintenance, and as with any playground, maintaining the safety surfacing is usually the largest and most important undertaking. Leathers & Associates provides their clients with a Long Term Care Packet to assist in scheduling and identifying maintenance tasks. The Leathers Maintenance Team is available for phone support throughout the life of the project. They offer a variety of services to assist communities like PBCE. For more information visit the Leathers & Associates maintenance section. |
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