Description
The ribbon gets cut, the community turns out, and the new playground looks exactly like the rendering. Six months later, the surfacing has pooled water where drainage was never resolved, a fall zone is a foot short of what the equipment requires, and the accessible route the design review missed is now a compliance problem waiting to happen.
A budget built around one set of material assumptions collides with site conditions no one accounted for, and now the owner is choosing between a change order and a compromise they never wanted to make.
Playground projects sit at the intersection of community expectations, strict codes and accessibility requirements, unforgiving site conditions, and budgets that rarely have room for surprises. Get any one of those wrong, and the consequences show up as safety hazards, compliance failures, premature repairs, or costs that were never supposed to be there.
If you have ever inherited a playground design with a problem baked in, watched a project go over budget because an issue surfaced too late, or wondered whether a surfacing or equipment choice would actually hold up, this webinar is built for you.
Join Chad Kennedy, a licensed landscape architect, Certified Playground Safety Inspector, ISA Certified Arborist, and LEED® AP BD+C, for a focused, practical session on getting playground projects right the first time. Drawing on decades of experience designing outdoor environments for public agencies and private clients across the country, Mr. Kennedy specializes in helping teams anticipate challenges, control costs, and deliver spaces that serve their communities for the long term.
You will leave with a working method for evaluating sites and planning layouts that fit the space, the users, and the budget, a clear grasp of the accessibility and safety requirements that most often get missed, and the judgment to compare equipment, materials, and surfacing on more than price alone. You will also gain a practical understanding of the construction details, from grading and drainage to foundations and installation, that determine whether a playground performs for years or starts breaking down within its first season.
Don’t let a missed fall zone, a bad drainage detail, or an inaccessible route turn a celebrated new playground into next year’s liability.”
- A practical framework for planning playgrounds that work, from site evaluation through layout, age-group separation, and budget
- Clear guidance on accessibility, code compliance, and the safety details that get overlooked until it’s too late
- Straightforward comparisons of equipment, materials, and surfacing for safety, durability, and lifecycle cost
- Construction know-how that heads off rework, excessive maintenance, and premature deterioration before they happen
Strengthen the design and construction judgment behind every playground that lasts, and walk away thinking like a professional who prevents problems instead of inheriting them.
Register now, and go into your next playground project already knowing where the problems hide.
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.
Friday, January 29, 2027
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm CST
Agenda:
Presented by Chad Kennedy
Planning Playgrounds That Work
- Evaluating site conditions, available space, drainage, circulation, access, and surrounding uses
- Determining appropriate playground size, layout, age-group separation, and play features
- Incorporating inclusive design and sensory integration to support users with diverse abilities and needs
- Balancing user needs, owner goals, site constraints, and project budget
- Identifying potential design and site problems before they lead to costly changes during construction
Safety, Accessibility, and Code Compliance
- Understanding the codes, standards, accessibility requirements, and safety considerations that influence playground design
- Addressing accessible routes, equipment and surfacing, use zones, fall zones, clearances, and fall protection
- Recognizing common design and specification mistakes that create safety and compliance problems
Materials, Construction, and Long-Term Performance
- Comparing playground equipment and surfacing options for safety, durability, accessibility, maintenance, and cost
- Selecting materials and surfacing based on site conditions, drainage, climate, anticipated use, and lifecycle cost
- Addressing site preparation, grading, drainage, foundations, equipment installation, and surfacing
- Avoiding construction and material decisions that lead to rework, excessive maintenance, premature deterioration, and unnecessary costs
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS
Web Browser:
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions)
Microsoft Edge (most recent 3 versions)
Internet connection: 1 Mbps or better
Hardware: 2GB of RAM (minimum), 4GB or more of RAM (recommended)
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Engineers
2.0 PDHs
Architects
2.0 HSW CE Hours
AIA - American Institute of Architects
2.0 HSW LUs
Landscape Architects
2.0 HSW CE Hours
LACES - Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System
2.0 HSW PDHs
ICC - International Code Council
0.2 CEUs (Sitework)
APA/AICP - American Planning Association/American Institute of Certified Planners
CM | 2.0
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 2.0 PDHs for professional engineers, 2.0 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects, and 2.0 HSW continuing education hours for landscape architects in all states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, and New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers, architects and landscape architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) and the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA/CES). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.
The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 2.0 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.
The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System has approved this course for 2.0 HSW PDHs. Only full participation is reportable to the LA CES.
The International Code Council has approved this event for .2 CEUs in the specialty area of Sitework (Preferred Provider No. 1232).
*HalfMoon Education is an approved CM Provider with the American Planning Association. This course will be registered for CM | 2.0 for Certified Planners once 2027 course registration is available. This course listing at halfmoonseminars.org will be updated regarding registration status.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
On-Demand Credits
The credits listed above apply only to the live webinar. This course in an on-demand format may not qualify for the same credit in some states. Please refer to specific board rules to determine if an asynchronous, on-demand course is appropriate. The following credits will be included in the on-demand format:
2.0 HSW LUs (AIA)
2.0 HSW PDHs (LA CES)
Speakers
Chad Kennedy
Director of Landscape Architecture at Westwood Professional Services
Chad Kennedy is a licensed landscape architect with decades of experience designing outdoor environments for public agencies and private-sector clients. Mr. Kennedy specializes in simplifying the design and construction process, helping clients anticipate challenges, control costs, and develop functional, durable spaces that serve diverse community needs.
Mr. Kennedy is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), ISA Certified Arborist, LEED® AP BD+C, and ESRI ArcView Certified Professional. His work includes a particular focus on socially inclusive and sensory-integrated recreational environments, informed by extensive involvement with projects designed to accommodate users of varying abilities and needs.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kennedy has collaborated with public agencies across the country on the planning and preparation of construction documents for federal, state, and local government projects, as well as private developments. His work with municipalities, particularly in California, has contributed to the development of community spaces designed for long-term performance and use.
Mr. Kennedy also brings expertise in horticulture and arboriculture to his landscape architecture practice. His understanding of plant selection, urban growing conditions, and long-term maintenance allows him to consider both initial design objectives and the practical needs of the professionals responsible for maintaining these environments over time.
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: Playground Design and Construction: Creating Safe, Accessible, Durable, and Cost-Effective Play Spaces
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This two-hour course examines the practical considerations of designing and constructing safe, accessible, and durable playgrounds, including site evaluation, layout planning, age-group separation, and inclusive design. Instruction also analyzes applicable codes and accessibility requirements, surfacing and equipment selection, and the grading, drainage, and construction details that determine long-term playground performance.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to apply inclusive design, accessibility, and playground safety principles to create play environments that accommodate users with diverse abilities while addressing applicable codes, standards, use zones, fall zones, clearances, and fall protection.
Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to compare playground equipment, materials, and surfacing options based on safety, accessibility, durability, maintenance requirements, site conditions, and lifecycle cost.
Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to identify key construction considerations for playground site preparation, grading, drainage, foundations, equipment installation, and surfacing to support proper installation and long-term performance.
Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to recognize common design, specification, material, and construction mistakes that can result in safety or compliance problems, costly rework, excessive maintenance, premature deterioration, and unnecessary project costs.
LUs: 2.0
LU Type: LU|HSWs
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 09/17/2029
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.