The Hawaii Department of Education has received the 2007 John Preston Playground Safety Award from the National Program for Playground Safety.
The program, based at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, says that Hawaii has made several efforts in recent years to improve playground safety at schools. It has assessed the playground equipment, surfacing and accessibility at all of the state's elementary schools; it has removed all unsafe and noncompliant equipment; it has developed an age-appropriate equipment replacement program; it has developed and distributed a playground safety video and curriculum; it has designated a playground safety specialist to coordinate the installation, maintenance, repair and inventory of all the state's public school playgrounds; it has established regular playground inspections for each playground; and it has installed playground safety signage for each play area.
The program gives the award each year to an organization or agency that shows care and concern for children by creating safe play environments.
