B08_A1_Statement_of_Work_Play_JFK_0001.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

NEW PLAYGROUND

JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL

110 E. DISH CHIN ROAD

WHITERIVER, ARIZONA 85941

December 2023

1.0 PROJECT

John F. Kennedy School is a K-8 school that services the educational needs of Canyon Day, Cedar Creek and Whiteriver Communities. John F. Kennedy School is located near Show Low, Arizona. The school serves approximately 250 Native American students. John F. Kennedy School is located at 110 E. Dish Chin Road, Whiteriver, Arizona 85941. The school provides Native American youth the opportunity for a quality education and the school’s vision includes providing a safe and healthy environment disciplined by adherence to Native American cultural values and practices. The school offers many accommodations to its students to ensure an amazing educational experience. To improve its offerings, the school will add a new playground to its beautiful grounds.

2.0 GENERAL

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), John F. Kennedy School is seeking Design-Build Services for a new playground and outdoor Learning Center. The task includes survey, design, demo/removal, construction, and installation of playground equipment for a 50’x90’ area to be made into a playground geared toward students from K thru 8 grades (even those of limited ability) with the following:

• The playground features will consist of active play equipment such as:

o Cool Topper Full Sail o Double Swoosh Slide o Loop Arch Climber o Storefront Panel o Deck Link o Grab Bar o Ring Pull o Transfer step w/2 Handloops o Handhold Leg Lift o Single Side o Wire Barrier w.wheel

• Other components could be added to include:

o Play components.

o Ramps to make sure all children can join in on the fun.

o Wood fiber safety surfacing

The above equipment is desired, the DB contractors to assist with determining the maximum design for the suggested equipment based on the available area of the new playground and outdoor learning center.

The equipment will be covered with shade with features of high-density polyethylene shade cloth which will provide hail protection approximately 80% shade and 90% UV protection, 90 mph wind load, and a minimum of 5 PSF snow load.

Playground surface material will be chosen for safety and something that will last for years.

2.1 PURPOSE

Furnish all Architectural & Engineering phase requirements for Design-Build and Performance Specifications; plus, Contractor to furnish all labor, equipment, and materials to provide construction services.

The goal is to create a playground and outdoor learning center at the JFK that reflects a strong sense of place and speaks to the culture, location, and “spirit” of the community. Thus, the contractor is tasked to design and build an outdoor, mostly shaded space that is exciting and can help deliver positive outcomes to the students and Tribal community.

A playground and outdoor learning center without a sense of place looks generic, like it could be anywhere in the world. The JFK playground and learning center design should feel rooted in the location of the school and infuse a sense of place into the details of the playground by incorporating the Tribe’s culture and language into play structures and signage. The goal is to foster a sense of civic pride and belonging.

The aim is for the playground and outdoor learning center to become a special place, a unique symbol of the community. The goal is to make the JFK playground different from any other playground built anywhere else in the world – because the location and history of the Tribe is unique and special. The final product should be a welcoming, vibrant, multi-use, safe space, where the community and students can be themselves and express their fun-loving nature, while developing crucial cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills.

2.2 PROJECT SCOPE

The project scope of work will be described within this document. The playground and outdoor learning center at JFK need a comprehensive design to create a first-class resource to meet recreational and community needs, and to address the multiple factors that are currently limiting its overall safety, quality, and usefulness. There are interconnected needs and opportunities to be addressed in the work of the new playground and outdoor learning center.

2.4 DEFINITIONS

BIA – Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) BIE – Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) CA – Construction Administration Services CI – Construction Inspection Services CO – Contracting Officer Contractor – General Construction Contractor COR - Contracting Officer’s Representative Cx – Building Commissioning Services DB – Design-Build DFMC – Department of Facilities Management and Construction.

FI&R – Facilities Improvement & Repair IA – Indian Affairs NTP – Notice to Proceed PIP – Pour-In-Place PCO – Potential Change Order PM – DFMC Project Manager QA – Quality Assurance Services

User – School Administration at each location

3.0 SCOPE OF WORK

The project will follow a detailed ‘design-build’ schedule to be approved by JFK prior to construction.

A. Expected and Highly Encouraged Pre-Bid/Proposal Meeting

The contractor is highly encouraged to a pre-bid/proposal and to visit the JFK and community. This is highly encouraged, given the unique location of the school. An on-site visit to JFK provides an opportunity for the contractor to walk the site, survey the location, take, and gather measurements, and become acquainted with the local conditions and logistics that will impact design, schedule, plan for mobilization of material, labor, and equipment, and pricing.

Pre-bid/proposal site visits to JFK must be arranged in advance with the School Administrator at John F.

Kennedy School.

B. Mandatory Pre-Construction Meeting

Contractor and sub-contractors shall attend a pre-construction meeting at JFK. The CO will notify the Contractor for date and time of pre-construction meeting. The pre-construction meeting date is dependent on award date and issuance of Notice to Proceed. The contractor will be responsible to lead the pre-construction meeting and minimally 1) prepare an agenda, 2) a checklist that caters to project-specific needs, and 3) any visual aids or documents – final drawings, technical features, renderings, and schedules that will be reviewed and discussed. This meeting will, of necessity, need to be an on-site and in-person meeting.

C. Design-Build Requirements

Each work item listed is to be delivered via a Design-Build delivery process. The Contractor shall provide the full range of architectural, and engineering (A/E) services associated with the production of construction documents and construction cost estimates.

a. The A/E shall provide design services for the preparation of drawings and specifications for the project scope described herein. Design services shall be provided in accordance with the IA adopted Codes and Standards. The design scope for the project must consider key design principles for Playgrounds (See Appendix A), and include two design meetings with the SSIS Principal, Tribal council, and other stakeholders. The final design will be based on comments and feedback received in these meetings and the design should reflect the Tribal community.

b. Codes and Standards: The construction documents shall conform to the BIE and BIA adopted codes and standards, which are a part of the contract. The construction documents shall comply with current laws, codes, and guidelines adopted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Safety and risk Management which is the Authority Having Jurisdiction. The A/E should note that NFPA 5000 Building and Safety Code applies to this requirement. Additionally, attention is brought to the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the U.S. Consumer Project Safety Commission Public Playground Safety Handbook. ASTM also standards related to this project that include:

• F1148 Home Playground Equipment

• F1292 Surfacing

• F 355 Surfacing

• F1487 Public Use Playground Equipment

• F1816 Drawstrings on Children’s Clothing

• F1918 Soft Contained Play Equipment

• F1951 Testing for ADA Compliance for Surfacing and Equipment

• F2049 Fencing

• F2088 Infant Swings

• F2075 Wood Fiber

• F2223 Standard for Surfacing

• F2373 Under 2

c. Design Analysis and Calculations: When necessary, the A/E shall provide the design analysis and calculations for the architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural building, systems, and civil work.

d. Culturally-component staff: BIE seeks bidders with culturally competent staff, experience with designing playgrounds for extreme sun and weather, and experience incorporating public comments into design elements in a Tribal community.

D. Performance Work Statement

Based on the determination of Performance Specification, Contractor shall conduct an on-site investigation to evaluate field conditions and determine the feasibility of using a performance specification as presented for each work item listed.

E. Construction Services

Construction Services shall be completed in accordance with Design or Performance Work Statement;

and shall commence on Notice to Proceed issued by the Contracting Officer. Contractor shall conduct a weekly construction meeting with all stakeholders. Contractor shall provide agenda, and three weeks look ahead schedule as referenced above. Contractor is responsible for the minutes of weekly meeting.

Meeting can be by phone or teams meeting. Statement of Work has been updated.

NOTE: Construction Administration, Inspection Services, and Start-Up Commissioning, as necessary, will be implemented for each work item listed. Contractor shall work cooperatively and submit information needed with all entities involved with this project, including the User. Contractor shall state in the proposal what inspections will be provided for each work item. Commissioning of the playground systems shall include a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) which has been certified by the National Recreation and Park Association which will conduct an inspection of playground plans for new installation.

All necessary demolition, remediation, and abatement of hazardous material shall be included. Contractor to provide separate pricing for all remediation and abatement that may be necessary. Contractor shall note all locations and work item tasks where demolition, remediation, or abatement will be necessary.

A. CODES AND STANDARDS

The A/E Contractor shall provide a multi-disciplined Architectural-Engineering team to provide professional design services; each responsible team member must be knowledgeable of and meet compliance with the most current editions of the following codes, standards, and guidelines.

1. ASTM Standards

2. U.S. Consumer Project Safety Commission Public Playground Safety Handbook

3. NFPA 5000 Building Construction - Life Safety and Fire Codes

4. National Electrical Codes

5. Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Codes

6. ASHRAE Standards, Handbooks, Journals and Publications

7. Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines

(ADA/ABAAG)

8. OSHA - Federal Regulations

9. EPA - Tribal, State, and Federal Regulations

10. Value Engineering DOI OMB Circular A-131

11. DOI – Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings

12. BIE Design Handbook

13. BIA-DRMS Space Allocation Guidelines

Important Notice:

Where applicable, the A/E shall adhere to all Federal and State statutes pertaining to archaeological, historical, and environmental clearances which may affect this project. Strict adherence to the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) - Section 106 will be mandatory.

3.1 Deliverables

A. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

General: Alcohol, drugs, or tobacco products are Not Permitted on the school campus at any time.

Prescription drugs prescribed for Contractor/Subcontractor’s employees is acceptable.

1. Mobilization: The successful Contractor shall provide all labor, materials, equipment, supervision, transportation, and all other services to successfully complete the project.

The Contractor shall be responsible for mobilization, cost of materials, equipment, office trailer, storage bins, and other construction materials that require transporting to the project site.

2. Security Background Clearance: A background check approval is required for the Contractor’s Superintendent by B.I.E. Security before any work is started for this project.

All Contractor employees are required to wear name badges or a bright fluorescent green vest with company name/logo and employee name printed on the safety vest while on the project site (during normal work hours). All employees must wear approved face masks while on campus and during work hours. The Jobsite Superintendent shall report to the school’s front office each day to indicate number of workers on site and provide daily work schedule of work activities.

3. Specifications: The Contractor shall provide professional workmanship with procurement and installation of renovation products (flooring, windows, plumbing and electrical fixtures and other related building renovation activities within building 1668 in accordance with approved drawings and specifications.

i. The designer shall provide Construction Standard Institute (CSI) 34 Division Format Specifications as applicable and appropriate for each of the construction tasks.

3.2 TASKS & REQUIREMENTS

Task A.1 Expected and Highly Encouraged Pre-Bid/Proposal Meeting

The Contractor must have the capability to recommend and design the entirety of the playground and outdoor learning center space including recommending appropriate play systems/structures to fit the need of the JFK for ages 5-12. The Contractor must provide drawings (plan and elevation) of all pertinent aspects of the play equipment and its method of connection to the work. Final playground and outdoor learning center layout drawings shall be to scale and legible and must show location of play equipment and dimensions of use zones. All designs shall indicate ADA accessible routes, and percentage of ADA accessible components.

Design-Build

Task B.1 Design Requirements – Compliance with Codes and Standards

Project design shall follow applicable standards and codes described in the attachments provided and design materials included or referenced in the solicitation materials.

1. Project design shall be in compliance with applicable standards and codes described in the attachments provided and design materials included or referenced in the solicitation materials.

See “Code and Standard Requirements” above.

2. See “Approved Construction documents”, below, for required inclusion of design review comments.

3. The design-build team A/E shall provide prompt, written notification to the Contracting Officer concerning conflicts with, or recommended deviations from codes, laws, regulations, standards, and opinions of review officials. No work altering OR increasing the scope of this contract shall be undertaken prior to receipt of written approval from the Contracting Officer.

4. The Design-Build Team A/E shall advise the Contracting Officer of any variances with the applicable Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Standards, for occupancy requirements.

5. Playground shall have a design suitable for the climate of the school. An example is adequate areas for snow placement during winter.

Task B.2 Design Review Meetings

Minimally, the JFK Design must:

• Include JFK school, Tribal and community input to influence design

• Ensure site accessibility for students with special needs

• Improve the playground layout and flow

• Improve the landscaping at the playground

• Consider how the space can be designed to address multiple components that meet the various needs of the student population and community, simultaneously. There are key principles the contractor should consider when drafting the design and in the construction of the playground and outdoor learning center (See Appendix A). The contractor will have flexibility to design the space; however, there are minimum elements that must be included within the design:

o Pour-in-place surfacing for playground area o New play structures and equipment to accommodate K-8th graders.

o Sunshade covers above the play structures o Commercial grade sun sail shades that offer UV protection and weather-proofing protection, in other areas within the playground area and design o Motion lights and other lighting fixtures

1. A review meeting to resolve design issues will be held for each design review package submitted.

The meeting will include discussion of BIE comments on functional relationships and technical peer review comments (by others).

2. Participants will include BIE Staff and Design-Build Team A/E members as appropriate for the specific package to be reviewed and others. The Design- Build Team A/E members will each allow for (1) full day for each package design review meeting.

3. The DB team shall allow a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days for each review cycle. A cycle includes:

a. The BIE’s receipt of the design review submission package.

b. The review meeting.

c. DB team’s receipt of comments from the BIE, either electronically, by fax, or by hard copy delivery.

4. Coordination of the review meeting schedules will be the responsibility of the BIE Project

Manager/COR (for the BIE) and the Design-Build Team A/E Project Manager (for the Design- Build Team A/E). See Quality Assurance/Quality Control.

5. Submit the final design and layout to the COR and JFK Principal for final review within 30-days from award. If needed, the JFK staff is available to meet with the contractor to answer any last questions or clarifications prior to finalizing the design.

Task B.3 Site Preparation – Debris Disposal

The Contractor shall:

• Remove and dispose of all existing play equipment, components, decks, and roofs from existing playground area, in preparation for new play structure, if applicable.

• Remove and dispose of all existing playground equipment and transport off site.

• Prepare the site for installation of all equipment.

• Receive, unload and transport any and /or all playground equipment in support of this SOW to

John F. Kennedy school site.

• Plan for the mobilization cost of materials, equipment, office trailer, storage bins, and other construction items that need transporting to project site before starting up.

• Plan for equipment storage and security throughout the project. The school shall not be held liable for any lost, stolen or damaged items.

• Visit the site in-person to survey, take measurements and finalize design plans. An on-site visit will allow the contractor to make observations and judgements. Any concerns or need for clarification should be brought up with the COR and designated JFK staff prior to finalizing design and ordering equipment.

• List all court surface repairs needed for proper installation and submit to COR and JFK POC within 7 working days from on-site visit.

• The Contractor shall remove all debris generated by demolition activities. The Contractor bears responsibility and all associated or related costs with the removal and disposal of all construction debris from properties of the United States Government.

• The Contractor is required to comply with applicable Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal, State, and local Government laws, policies and regulations while engaged in the removal and disposal of debris. The Contractor shall transport construction debris outside the boundaries of the school to an approved EPA-approved landfill. The Government is not responsible financially or otherwise, for the success or failure of arrangements for disposal of debris between the Contractor and other parties.

Task 3.0 Site Preparation

The Contractor shall:

• Remove and dispose of all existing surfacing (sand and dirt) in the existing playground area, which is approximately a 50’x 90’ area.

• Install and build a concrete curb, to give the rubber surfacing something to adhere to as it is poured in place

• Excavate site per design and haul spoils, in preparation for new surfacing.

• Shape the pitch of the surface way – to shed the water away

• Install ramps for Accessibility?

• Slope at .015% for Handicap.

• Remove all debris generated by the or caused by the demolition work in this contract. The

Contractor bears all responsibility and all associated or related costs with removal and disposal of all debris form the properties of the United States Government.

• Transport the debris off the boundaries of the John F. Kennedy School to an approved EPA landfill. The government is not responsible in any way financially or otherwise, for process or failure of arrangement of deposal of debris between the contractor and other parties.

Task 4.0 Installation and Inspection of Surfacing Material, Play Structures, Sails, and other Playground equipment

All Products provided under this Contract that require assembly and installation should be performed by the awarded manufacturers’ certified installers. Company must provide the names and addresses of each certified installer/subcontractor by geographical area. All work must be performed according to the standards established by the terms, specifications, drawings, and construction notes for each project, and meet manufacturer’s specifications and industry standards. It shall be the obligation of the Installer to obtain clarification from the Project Coordinator concerning questions or conflicts in the specifications, drawings and construction notes in a timely manner as to not delay the progress of the work.

Task 4.1 Installation & Inspection of Pour-in-Place Surfacing Material

Surfacing Material must meet all guidelines stated in the Handbook for Public Playground Safety, and most current versions of ASTM-F1292-13, F2075-15, F3012- 14, and all other applicable ASTM standards and guidelines as certified by an independent laboratory conforming to IPEMA safety standards as identified for the playground industry.

• Install Flexground EnduraFlex POP surfacing system at a finish depth of 4.5” to meet current ASTM HIC standards for a fall height of 10 feet. The color(s) and design of the PIP Flexground EndurFlex will be discussed during the design phase of the project and will be approved by the COR and SSIS.

Task 4.2 Installation & Inspection of Play Equipment

• Installation of a custom play structure(s) designed specifically for the space and for ages 5-12 with integrated shade canopies or shade sails over the play structures.

• Custom Play Structure should include multiple slides -- 3', 4', and 5' slides for children aged 2-5, and an 8' slide for children aged 5-12.

5.0 CODES, STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor shall comply with the most current editions of the following codes, standards and handbooks, regulatory agency requirements and all other applicable codes shall apply to this project.

• BIA School Facilities Design Handbook dated March 30, 2007, Chapter 4

• American with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barrier Act Accessibility Guidelines

• Environment Protection Agency.

• OSHA Requirements

• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM):

o ASTM-F1487- 11 Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public use.

o ASTM-F1292-13 Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surface Systems within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment.

o ASTM 1951-09 Standard Specifications for Determination of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment.

o ASTM F2049-11 Fences/Barriers for Public, Commercial, and Multifamily Residential Use Outdoor Play Areas.

• Printed Handbook for Public Playground Safety (CPSC) Equipment must meet all guidelines stated in the “Handbook for Public Safety” published by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Copies of publication No. 325 may be obtained from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207.

• International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA). IPEMA provides third-party Product Certification services for U.S. and Canadian public play equipment and U.S. public play surfacing materials. The services provide for the validation of a participant’s certification of conformance to the standards referenced above. Both certifications are administered by Detroit Testing Laboratory, Inc. For more information on certification and membership, visit IPEMA’s website at: www.ipema.org. All equipment must be IPEMA Certified. Certification must be included with your proposal submission.

5.1 SAFETY

The Contractor, installers or subcontractors performing services under this Contract are required and shall comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), State and County Safety and Occupational Health Standards and any other applicable rules and regulations. The Contractor and subcontractors shall be held responsible for the safety of their employees and any unsafe acts or conditions that may cause injury or damage to any persons or property within and around the work site area under this contract.

6.0 CONTRACTOR’S PERFORMANCE PERIOD

The Contractor shall complete the on-site construction work within 60 calendar days. The review of submittals is not included in the contractor’s performance time. The total contract period of performance will be 90 calendar days after issuance of the Notice to Proceed.

7.0 WARRANTY

The Contractor should address each of the following:

• Applicable warranty and/or guarantees of equipment and installations including any conditions and response time for repair and/or replacement of any components during the warranty period.

• Warranty periods start date. The SSIS desires the warranty start at the time of substantial completion.

• Availability of replacement parts.

• Life expectancy of equipment under normal use.

• Detailed information as to proposed return policy on all equipment

• The contractor shall provide a one-year workmanship warranty from the date of completion.

• The contractor to provide one free safety audit and an annual inspection for the next for play equipment and surfacing.

8.0 CONTRACTOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES/CONDITIONS

1. All Labor; equipment; materials/supplies; rentals; tools; insurances; taxes; safety; security;

staging/storage; full time supervision; worker/owner/property protection; temporary utilities/hookups.

2. Traffic control; fall protection; deliveries; notifications/filings; permits, control measures on dust, noise, contamination; general ground/soil restoration; daily and final site cleanup; housekeeping;

trash/debris disposal, etc.

3. Any and all damages that may evolve from carelessness, negligence, irresponsibleness, including accidents to, but not limited to the BIA and their tenant’s property, assets, investments, etc. Any discoveries of hazardous and contaminant materials shall be reported immediately to the designated Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

4. Any and all damages to existing property caused by the Contractor as result of but not limited to demolition, installation, deliveries, including the patching and repair of existing building equipment, components and/or systems. All costs to repair, patch, finish, replace and fixes shall be the responsibility of the Contractor and will carry or warrant no time extensions or contract modifications.

5. Shall at all times adhere to and be in compliance with any and all applicable Federal, State, City and pertinent Local regulations, statues, and laws. No on-site burning or burying is allowed.

7. Field verification of actual dimensions, materials, angles (skew), slopes, alignment and all existing conditions shall be the sole responsibility of the Contractor.

9.0 TEMPORARY FACILITIES AND UTILITIES

The successful Contractor shall provide a secure staging and storage area on the site that is approved by JFK. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to provide their own temporary electrical power with a generator and portable/chemical toilet for use by their workers. No part of the school buildings or facilities will be used for storage or administrative purposes by the Contractor.

DRAWINGS/SUBMITTALS

Two (2) sets of 100% drawings shall be distributed to the following individuals.

• School Administrator

• COR – Marvin Charley, School Project Manager, Marvin.charley@bie.edu, 602-265-

10.0 CLOSE OUT REQUIREMENTS

As requisite for final payment, the Contractor shall provide to the School, and it’s COR the following:

• Specified quantities of extra/spare materials used.

• Manufacturer Warranties for each building which identifies each building number and location for entire new work/installation against defective materials workmanship, etc. Include a one (1) year Workmanship Warranty.

• Demolition debris haulage tickets, manifests, landfill tickets/receipts.

• As-built record drawings, systems, demonstration of maintenance and upkeep.

• Documentation shall include all certified payroll reports and Release of Claims.

11.0 PRICING

mailto:Marvin.charley@bie.edu

The Contractor must submit a cost proposal fully supported by data adequate to establish the reasonableness of the proposed costs:

Playground Equipment (including components, replacement parts), Site Accessories. Surfacing Materials;

and all other related Products (Shade Structures, and other categorized Products); Services offered by the Contractor, for the life of the contract is preferred.

All manufacturer price lists must be identified in the Proposal response. Proposals must include an itemized list of any Products and Services that the Contractor intends to include in the Master Agreement and assume responsibility for as prime contractor but are offered by the individual authorized distributors and not included in the Contractor’s catalog.

The list must identify the distributors’ name and location that offers each product and service included.

The Contractor shall be the prime contractor and remain solely responsible for contractual performance, and reporting, for any Products and Services offered by the authorized distributor.

The Contractor must provide the following information in their pricing:

APPENDIX A: DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR PLAYGROUND SPACE

Design for different types of play: Children use different types of play to understand the world around them and to master life skills. Unfortunately, most playgrounds and outdoor learning center only focus on active, physical types of play. A good playground and outdoor learning center challenges and promotes children’s growth by providing opportunities for children to engage in multiple different types of play. As the contractor is designing the space, they should consider how the playground and outdoor learning center can accommodate different types of play for example, but not limited to - active play, sensory play, creative play, imaginative play, social play, and reflective play.

Age-appropriate design. The organization and features of the playground and outdoor learning center should be tailored to K-12th students.

Create a sense of space: A playground and outdoor learning center without a sense of place looks generic, like it could be anywhere in the world. The playground and outdoor learning center should have a strong sense of place that speaks to the culture, location, and “spirit” of the Native community. We want the playground to feel rooted in the place and culture of where JFK is located. We want it to foster a sense of civic pride and belonging. Infuse a sense of place into the details of any pretend play areas. Really focus on the cultural specifics here to create and authentic experience. How are houses built in the community? What do the kitchens look like?

What are the names/ logos of local businesses? Can we incorporate the spoken language of the Native community? The aim is for the playground and outdoor learning center to become a special place, a unique symbol of the community. How can we make the JFK playground and outdoor learning center different from any other playground and outdoor learning center?

Trust children’s creativity. Adults tend to design play elements with a singular purpose: slides are for sliding down, swings are for swinging on, and monkey bars are for traversing. But children are boundlessly creative, and they will always find ways to use elements for purposes they weren’t originally designed for. A good playground should encourage and trust children’s creativity to take the lead. As much as possible, include playground elements that can be used in many ways.

Make room for secrets and surprises. Children are finely attuned to the small wonders of the world. For them, the magic of a playground sometimes lies more in the little details than it does in the structures and big elements. Throughout the design, the Contractor should consider how to add in little surprises that can be discovered whilst playing. Little painted pictures in corners and nooks, secret hiding places, interesting textures, handles and levers, peep holes, unexpected sounds, and talking tubes all make and keep a playground interesting. While busily building, these details can easily be missed or forgotten so prioritize them in the design.

Consider the “flow” of the space. Children in a natural state of play do not move in straight lines. Having a playground that “flows” well involves having all the components of the playground well-connected. Good “flow” will give the child different directions to explore each time they step into the play space and will help avoid traffic jams on the playground.

Create zones for different energy levels. Consider what atmosphere or feeling we want to foster in different parts of the playground depending on what activities will likely take place there.

Separating spaces by energy levels creates space for different kinds of activities. Consider how to create room within the playground for children to scream and shout, talk and laugh with their friends, or quietly daydream or draw.

Design for intersections. When designing the site, consider the needs of children of different abilities. This can include mental and physical disabilities, but it also extends to children of different ages, abilities and strengths. Trying to design a playground in which every inch is accessible to every child who might play on it will result in a boring play space. It can also have the unintended consequence of segregating children of different abilities. Instead, focus on designing for “intersections,” or opportunities for children of all abilities to interact and play together. In designing spaces of “intersection”, it’s helpful to think about ability on a scale, instead of categorizing children as “disabled” and “able-bodied.” When you think about the strengths of children on a scale, you can design spaces where features have a range of difficulty instead of a distinction like a handicap slide. A rock-climbing wall is a good example of a feature with a scale of difficulty. A rock-climbing wall has several levels of difficulty all on the same wall, so a beginner and a pro can be climbing next to each-other and challenging themselves in ways that are appropriate to their abilities. Within the design, look for opportunities where children of different abilities end up interacting and playing together. This could look like a cubbyhouse with a sandpit and bucket/pulley at the bottom so children playing below can interact with children up in the cubbyhouse or talking tubes that connect children in different parts of the playground space. (The Contractor may want to explore and research Inclusive Design for Playgrounds for further ideas or inspiration).

Classroom Space Outdoors: Studies show that cognitive ability and attention increase when students are exposed to nature. Is there any opportunity to design the space that allows Teachers to take students outside to learn.

Durability and sustainability. These improvements represent a significant social and financial investment for the BIE, JFK. They are to be lasting. As such, they need to be durable, low maintenance, and be manageable. The program for the playground will include a maintenance plan that institutionalizes the cycle of work necessary for caretaking as well as any technical need-to-know information such as types of materials, sources, and vendors.

Work with, not against nature. The best playground is the one nature provided. Tree limbs are perfect for climbing and swinging on and river rocks make the best steppingstones. The ultimate sandbox is a big stretch of beach and a handful of shells. Incorporate nature into the design as much as possible by adding gardens, trees, flowers, boulders, stumps, and logs. In addition, look at how to work with the natural features that already exist in the space. Before clear-cutting or removing any natural features, consider how it could potentially be incorporated into the design.

Includes Elements of Native Culture/Art/Language where possible: The outdoor space should be an appealing centerpiece for the community and school that reflects the students it serves and the unique community where it will remain for many years for many generations to enjoy.

Don’t forget the basics: Be sure to include basic practical necessities in the space like:

o Shade o Drinking water (if possible) o Seating for children and adults o Trash cans o Storage for children’s bookbags, or coats o Storage for any loose parts or play equipment o Any necessary playground rules or signage (In both English and local Native Language)