Playground Maintenance Technician

The Comprehensive Training Program for Managing Safe Playgrounds

Well-maintained playgrounds reduce the severity and number of children’s injuries.

The goal of the PMT is to make playgrounds safer places for children’s active play and healthy risk-taking.

“The instructor was very knowledgeable of material presented. They allowed us to engage in meaningful conversation to help us better understand each participant’s role in maintenance.” – PMT Participant, 1 year playground experience
“With the materials I got from this class, it will help me figure out problems while doing playground inspections.” – PMT participant, 2 years playground experience
“I worked on playgrounds for years and never had real training and didn’t know what to look for. I can now identify problems and issues and I know what to look for. All the information was interesting and it will enhance my job skills. ” – PMT participant, 14 years playground experience
“I had the opportunity to take this training myself as the Director of Facilities and I was very impressed with the efficiency with which this training covered a large amount of material. Seeing the value this training offered our school district, we hosted a class and I was able to send multiple employees through the training. The response from my team was overwhelmingly positive and will aid us in providing excellent playgrounds and equipment for our students’ safety and enjoyment.” – PMT Participant & Host, Director of Facilities and Transportation

About

For nearly a decade, the comprehensive Playground Maintenance Technician program has trained over 2,000 participants in nearly 20 states and internationally. The PMT focuses on practical playground maintenance practices, inspection principles and best practices in making repairs. This two-day program does not focus on play theory or memorizing standards. Course modules explore the maintenance challenges associated with the common materials found in playgrounds. Through videos and case studies, participants learn about the types of playground inspections, how to repair damaged equipment and associated legal considerations. A virtual playground offers participants the opportunity to apply newly learned skills.

Diamond of Care

Using the Playground Maintenance Diamond of Care, you will learn the steps to inspect play components by asking yourself:
What existing KNOWLEDGE do I have about the equipment?

Learn about common problems with equipment and surfacing.

Which areas need INSPECTION?

As a group, practice where to look for problems and prevent future issues.

What CORRECTIVE ACTION needs to be taken?

Discuss ways of preventing hazards during the maintenance process and how to correct common issues.

What should be DOCUMENTED?

Use inspection forms to practice documenting repairs.

PARTICIPANT BENEFITS

Learn by doing! Hands on learning which combines discussion and virtual environments to understand playground maintenance tasks
Learn about materials! Learn how to maintain playground equipment made of metal, plastic, wood and concrete
Learn about safety! Understand how to take damaged equipment out of service safely, keep proper records, and identify potential legal issues related to playground maintenance
Learn about surfaces! Learn how best to maintain unitary and loose-fill surfaces as well as fasteners and connectors
Resources to take back to your office! Receive a 250-page textbook, workbook, and upon completion, a Playground Maintenance Technician Certificate
Cost Effective! Train front-line maintenance staff at an affordable price
Ensure your equipment lasts through its useful life! Improve playground user safety and prolong the useful life of equipment

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the PMT different from other programs?

What is the difference between the Playground Maintenance Technician Program and other national playground safety classes?

The Playground Maintenance Technician Program is designed specifically for front-line staff (and their supervisors) responsible for the hands-on inspection and maintenance of playground equipment. While playground administrator issues such as ASTM playground and accessibility standards are included, the primary focus of the program is on practical maintenance issues such as:

playground inspection frequency
hazard identification
how to safely take equipment out-of-service
playground documentation
working with equipment manufacturers
limiting liability
maintaining common playground equipment materials

Another distinctive feature of the Playground Maintenance Technician Program is the use of a virtual playground setting to help participants learn more effectively by bringing the playground into the classroom. This instructional tool helps participants to learn within a virtual playground setting to actively identify hazards and address maintenance concerns.

Read the PMT Policy Brief

Who should attend?

How long is the PMT?

Do I have to recertify with this program?

How does certification work?

What does the PMT cost?

What does the PMT cost?

Host Option: Program costs include materials, shipping, instructor fees, instructor travel, and administrative costs. The total cost of the two-day program is $8,000 for 25 participants. Additional costs per person, up to 45 total participants, is $125 per person. A $1,500 retainer fee is required 6 weeks prior to the training.

Note: A minimum of 25 participants must be enrolled 4 weeks prior to the training date.

Partner Option: Eppley Institute charges $340 per person, which covers all costs (registration management, catering fees, materials, shipping, instructor fees, instructor travel, and administrative costs). There is no retainer fee with the partner option.

Note: A minimum of 30 participants must be enrolled 4 weeks prior to the training date.

What does a PMT schedule look like?

Tentative Schedule

Day 1
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.	Sign-in and get materials
	Welcome and introductions
	Liability
	Playground maintenance process
	Break
	Hazard prevention
	Safety surfacing on the playground
Around Noon	Lunch
	Playground materials – concrete
	Playground materials – wood
	Playground materials – plastic/synthetic
	Break
	Playground materials – metals
	Playground materials – fasteners/connectors
Around 3:30 p.m.	Wrap up and evaluation, day 1
Day 2
8:30 a.m.	Questions from day 1 & Inspection process, frequency and procedures
	Break
	Record keeping and documentation
	Removing equipment from service
Around Noon	Lunch
	Virtual playground – swings
	Virtual playground – track ride
	Virtual playground – sand-digging equipment
	Virtual playground – spring rocking equipment
	Virtual playground – composite
Around 3:30 p.m.	Wrap up and evaluation, day 2

Hosting Options

Work with the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University to schedule a Playground Maintenance Technician training program in your area. The Eppley Institute will make sure your agency has the tools to make the training a success.

Host Benefits

Demonstrate your commitment to provide quality playgrounds
Improve safety and reduce liability on your playgrounds
Certified instructors provided by the Eppley Institute at Indiana University
The PMT program does not require a physical playground, all training is conducted in a virtual environment

Hosting Option vs Partner Option

The Eppley Institute understands it can be difficult to secure the support and commitment for a training opportunity. We offer a host option, where the cost per person is less, but your agency is responsible for registration, catering, and other logistics. The partner option is more per person, but the Eppley Institute is responsible for most logistical items. (See What does the PMT Cost). Additionally, many host sites seek successful sponsorships from insurance representatives, playground equipment and surfacing companies, or local foundations and associations to defray program costs.

Host Option Responsibilities

Your agency promotes the program using a flyer template provided by the Eppley Institute
Your agency manages registrations, reserves a training location, and arranges/pays for lunch
Your agency is required to assist the PMT instructor the day before and during the two-day training
Your agency can generate revenue after covering program costs

Partner Option

Your agency promotes the program using an online registration system and promotional materials provided by the Eppley Institute
Your agency reserves a training location and is required to assist the PMT instructor the day before and during the two-day training

Testimonials

“Because of the PMT, I have brought our playground program a long way over the past few months. We still have a ways to go but are definitely on the right track to developing a comprehensive program. I can’t thank the instructor enough for their direction and insight!”

Doug Sanders, Champaign County Forest Preserve, Illinois

“After a 15-year career in maintaining playground equipment, I learned a lot in this class and found it to be very focused on practical day-to-day playground maintenance topics that come up all the time. The class information and the comprehensive 250-page reference book will be very helpful on the job.”

Course evaluation comment

“This course provided me with my first formal education on how to inspect, maintain and address playground safety concerns. Too bad I couldn’t have taken it earlier in my career.”

Course evaluation comment

“The Playground Maintenance Technician certificate course is an excellent training program and instructional format. This subject has been sorely lacking in professional training opportunities for the parks industry, and I am extremely thankful I now have the educational resources to send my staff for proper training…

This Playground Maintenance Technician course covers a totally different aspect of playgrounds from the Certified Playground Safety Inspector course…and I know my agency and our residents will benefit through our improved playground maintenance.”

Roger K. Scott, CPSI
Retired Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation
Richardson, Texas

Hours

Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm (EST)

Contact

CompanyEppley Institute for Parks & Public Lands at Indiana University

Address501 N. Morton St. Suite #101 Bloomington, IN 47404

Office (812) 855-3095

Fax (812) 856-5600

Email pmt@eppley.org

Get in Touch

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