Glossary

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal civil rights law that protects individuals with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination, ensuring equal opportunities, and requiring reasonable accommodations. Learn more about ADA requirements.

A mechanism that allows a user to select the difficulty level of an exercise (for example, by turning a dial).

An organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus standards. In parks and recreation contexts, ASTM standards provide guidance for designing, installing, and maintaining outdoor equipment to support safe use. View ASTM standards.

Exercises where intensity is based on the user’s body weight. This can include calisthenics as well as exercises using low-impact outdoor fitness equipment that uses only a percentage of the user’s body weight (varies by unit).

Body-weight exercises such as pull-ups, dips, and push-ups that require no equipment or only basic, static equipment.

The maximum height a user could fall from while performing exercises on a unit. CFH is used to determine surfacing requirements intended to reduce injury risk from falls.

Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) — a fall-attenuating surfacing option often made from processed wood fibers.

Surfaces beneath installations designed to absorb impact from falls and reduce the risk of severe injuries. Requirements vary by an installation’s critical fall height.

Exercise equipment that retains the same level of difficulty for all users, without an adjustable resistance mechanism.

Exercise that mimics everyday movement patterns to improve strength and mobility for daily tasks.

Coating iron or steel with a protective layer of zinc to improve corrosion resistance and durability.

An installation method where footers are excavated for each unit and equipment posts are anchored into concrete.

Also called a joint-use area: a location or amenity shared between organizations to expand community access to resources. For example, a school may open its fitness area for public use after school hours.

Exercise that uses fluid, controlled movement intended to reduce stress placed on joints.

Poured-in-Place rubber (PIP) — a surfacing option that creates a durable, fall-attenuating surface beneath installations.

Installation over a soft-surface system (for example, loose-fill surfacing), using concrete footers to ensure equipment is properly anchored.

An installation method where a concrete pad is poured and equipment is bolted to the pad.