34 enthusiastic Hong Kong course participants eager to learn
Class Photo of all 34 PMT Course Participants - Instructors - and Playright Staff holding up sign
Thirty-four (34) enthusiastic participants attended the two day course. They represented government agencies, not-for-profits, private property management firms’, clubhouse management firms, higher education institutions, and play equipment suppliers.
The participants learned about all the various common types of materials they would encounter within a public play environment. While some of the materials discussed may not be on every playground, these materials would be likely be encountered somewhere within the public common areas somewhere within their jurisdiction. Each participant received the course manuscript, Maintaining Child’s Play: A Comprehensive Guide for Maintaining Safe Playgrounds, a reference resource to help them react to situations they might encounter throughout the life of a public play environment. The Course Participant Guide. This book was authored by Monty Christiansen, Steve Plumb, and Steve Kleinman and published by the Park District Risk management Agency in 2010-2011. They also received a copy of Playground Maintenance: A Comprehensive Guide for Maintaining Safe Playgrounds, Participant Guide, Clemson Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. The two day training followed the various chapter of the manuscript highlighting various components of the manuscript through an interactive multi-media presentation. The hands on skills building exercises and virtual playground video segments were highly most important to all participants.
Playright staff received positive input from the participants throughout the training and told IPSI they were pleased with the outcome. Playright Executive Director, Kathy Wong, stated that it is at time difficult to know prior to any training whether the content and presentation will meet the needs of the local market. Organizing a training program half way around the world using emails as the only means of communication presents challenges but the long relationship between Playright and IPSI has provided a solid collaborative relationship for the exchange and delivery of the most current trends and issues effecting public play area management. The ultimate decision as to what information, guidelines or international standards should be followed will always be a local choice. IPSI’s mission is to provide current timely information from around the world that will enhance children’s play experience while minimizing known hazards within the play environment, and improve public access to all play environments. Our efforts continue to assist the play area industry better understand these issues and empower them to take a proactive approach to the management challenges all owners/operators will experience throughout the life of the play area to assure the safety of the user, function of both the play equipment and the impact attenuating surfacing, while addressing the attractiveness and cleanliness of the entire environment.
IPSI Executive Director, Ken Kutska, would like to thank Playright Executive Director, Kathy Wong and her entire staff. I would especially like to thank Chris Yuen, Ada Wong, and Aby Chau for all their hard work to make the course a success. Many organizations help to sponsor this course but Sabrina Lee, CEO and Francis Li, VP of Business Development of Park Supplies Company Limited provide the course instructors Ken Kutska and Tom Kalousek, with the most gracious Chinese Hospitality Hong Kong has to offer. Also a special thanks to Partick Lee, CT-Art Creation Pte. Ltd. of Singapore for personal guide service throughout our trip.
