On February 27, 2024, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee in support of SB 886- State and Local Parks- Playgrounds- Safety Standards (Our Kids Play Safe Playground Safety Act of 2024) with amendments. This bill requires counties to follow certain standards related to playground equipment design, inspect playgrounds to be compliant with said standards every two years, and keep a record of inspections and plans to address safety hazards.
As the providers of most recreational services within Maryland, counties recognize the importance of ensuring residents can enjoy parks and playgrounds, free of worry about safety and suitability. To that effect, county parks departments largely already follow the standards outlined within SB 886 and perform regular inspections of playground equipment.
From MACo Testimony:
Counties request an amendment to clarify that if a structure is out of compliance with new regulations, but is considered safe, then counties may follow existing practices to modernize the structure. Updating parks equipment can be time-consuming and costly, and an unexpected mandate to update equipment immediately could result in a lapse in services expected by residents. This amendment would prevent that circumstance in situations where the equipment is deemed safe, but just needs updates to bring it into compliance with new regulations.
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