Playground Safety – Distance between Equipment

When conducting a safety inspection for your playground, make sure to leave proper distance between equipment. For climbing structures more than 30 inches high, recommended spacing is at least 9 feet apart. If two climbing structures are less than 30 inches high, such as two balance beams, they may be spaced 6 feet apart. This standard allows children to safely play on both events because it prevents children from colliding during a fall.

The Adventurous Child is located in the state of Ohio. Our state’s licensing rules are a little different in that they recommend all climbing equipment be 9 feet apart no matter the equipment height. An important safety tip when installing play equipment in states whose licensing rules and guidelines differ from the national standards is to give a copy of your state’s rules and guidelines to your playground installers. Frequently, the companies that sell playground equipment and install it are national organizations that follow the national standards. They do not always know the nuances of each state.

Find more information on our playground design and installation.

We strive to create fun and informative content that will help young children learn and grow. However, it's important to keep in mind that all activities should be performed under the supervision of an adult. The Adventurous Child website is intended to serve as a reference and guidance for educational activities, and it is ultimately the responsibility of the parent, guardian, and/or educator to determine the appropriateness of the activity for their child’s age and maturity level. Thank you for your understanding and support!