Proposal:Extended playground equipment

The Feature Page for the approved proposal Extended playground equipment is located at Key:playground

Extended playground equipment
Proposal status:	Approved (active)
Proposed by:	Supaplex030, tordans, Ygramul
Tagging:	playground=* Data item
Applies to:	, ,
Definition:	Add more device values for playground tagging.
Draft started:	2022-08-02
RFC start:	2023-05-27
Vote start:	2023-06-30
Vote end:	2023-07-14

The content of this proposal has been archived to avoid confusion with the current version of the documentation.

View proposal content

Proposal

This proposal adds more values to the list of documented playground=* equipment to better map typical devices that had no documented value before.

Rationale

There is an established list of 33 playground devices in the wiki, that can be mapped with the key playground=* as individual objects within a playground (leisure=playground). Mapping individual objects allows to precisely evaluate the feature, the quality of playground as a whole and more detailed renderings on maps and plans.

However, there is a great variety of playground equipment that cannot be matched with existing values. We are a group of mappers who have done a lot of playground mapping over the past few years and have come across a number of playground equipment that we miss. The TagInfo listing shows that other mappers seem to feel the same, so there has always been a need to get creative to come up with new tags. This has led to a large number of parallel, rarely used, undocumented and therefore hard to interpret tags. We would like to close this gap and make recommendations on how such equipment should be tagged.

Playground equipment comes in almost every imaginable shape, design and function. So maybe this list will never be "complete". However, in order to keep it manageable and applicable, the values should not be too specific. On the other hand, even minor changes in the shape of a device can lead to a completely different way of using it. Therefore, each value represents a "class" of device, which is based on the functionality or usage, and not on the physical form.

Due to the diversity of playground equipment, sometimes it's not clearly possible to match a device to a specific value from the list. However, it is mostly possible to match even unusual, special devices into a certain "class" of equipment, e.g. balancing, climbing or water equipment. For this purpose, this proposal provides some general class values as a fallback in order to be able to map and evaluate such special devices in an interpretable way.

If you come across equipment that you think deserves its own value, you should document it on the playground talk page to share or discuss it with other mappers. So in the future it might be possible to add further discussed values to the list.

Note: This proposal is intended for tagging devices on playgrounds, i.e. objects that are located in a certain spatial context and are intended for a certain target group and use. Many values - not only those from this proposal, e.g. bridges, stairs, shelters, hammocks, sports fields, fitness equipment etc. - can also occur in a similar form outside of playgrounds, but are mapped differently then. For example, we tag a balance beam depending on whether it is part of a playground=* or a fitness_station=*. Also, for a bridge, ladder or stairs on a playground that has no traffic or connection function for general traffic, but is meant for playing or reaching another playground equipment, it is therefore obvious to use a specific playground tag instead of established highway tags.

Tagging: List of new device values

Key	Value	Element	Comment	Photo	TagInfo
Some general new device values
playground	belt_bridge		A tensioned, flat (mostly rubber) band to bounce on. Is very different in its function from classic "bridges" and therefore uses its own value.
playground	spring_board		A board or plane to stand on that is attached to the ground by springs and thus wobbles when standing/moving on it. Can sometimes also be equipped with holding bars to allow to "surf" on it.
playground	hamster_wheel		A large spinning tube to go inside and twist arround, similar to a hamster's wheel.
playground	rope_swing		A swing element (usually a big rope) attached with chains or cables, on which usually several children can swing together at the same time. Hardly reminds of conventional swings due to the way it works, and therefore uses its own value.
playground	ride_on		A fixed installation to sit on.
playground	track		A path on a playground that is intended and equipped as a race track for childrens scooter and bikes. It should have markings, obstacles or objects such as "petrol stations".
playground	blackboard		A board to draw on with chalk or something similar.
playground	marble_run		A rolling ball sculpture where a ball (often a marble) moves through a predefined course just by gravity.
playground	musical_instrument		A musical instrument or device for making music and sounds. musical_instrument=* could be used to further specify the type of instrument.
playground	table		A table or board to play on or sit at. May include seats/benches or sand toys such as a sieve. Typically not sized for adults. For picnic tables on playgrounds that are also suitable for adults see leisure=picnic_table.
playground	seat		A single seat or bench for children. Typically not sized for adults to sit at. Often part of play houses or similar.
playground	hammock		A hammock, i.e. a spanned/tensioned surface to lie on. For public hammocks in general that are not part of playgrounds resp. intended for this specific target group, there is leisure=hammock in use.
playground	parallel_bars		Two or more bars side by side intended to perform gymnastics-like moves. For parallel bars that are part of a distinct leisure=fitness_station, see fitness_station=parallel_bars. If the bars are inclined and therefore intended for sliding moves, use playground=bannister_bars. For vertical bars, playground=climbing_pole may be more appropriate.
playground	bannister_bars		Two or more inclined bars side by side intended to perform sliding moves. See also playground=parallel_bars for non-inclined bars.
Devices as parts of playground structures
playground	steps		A stairway to get onto a platform or structure. Note: This value is intended for steps that are part of the playground equipment/to reach playground structures and devices. They don't have a function for general traffic. Steps that are part of the regular way network should be mapped as usual.
playground	ladder		A ladder to climb onto a platform or structure.
playground	wobble_bridge		A simple suspension bridge whose deck or walking elements are suspended merely by cables or similar attached at the ends or top of the bridge and therefore wobbles or swings when moving on it. This value is an easy way to distinguish suspended/wobbling bridges from fixed/solid bridges without requiring further knowledge e.g. about bridge construction. Since these two typical types of bridges on playgrounds differ greatly in their use and usability, we suggest a simple distinction via their primary tagging instead of using more complicated and hard to evaluate subtags.
playground	platform		A platform, raised level or even a tower, often with railing elements, and often with other playing or climbing devices on the sides or connected bridges. Is often part of a playground=structure that can be mapped separately as an outline containing all parts that together form the structure.
Balance devices
playground	rope_traverse		A rope (or several tied together), tightrope or slackline to walk across while keeping balance. May also have rope(s) or similar to hold on to (use handrail=yes/no to specify this).
playground	stepping_stone		Shifted stones or blocks with a distance between each other, for hopping or stepping from one to the next. See also fitness_station=stepping_stone, if the stepping stones are part of a leisure=fitness_station.
playground	stepping_post		Shifted posts or poles with stepping elements with a distance between each other, for hopping or stepping from one to the next.
Climbing devices
playground	climbing_slope		A sloped climbing plane, often with handholds or tethers and often part of a structure to reach a higher level.
playground	climbing_pole		A pole to climb up or slide down. For climbing poles that are part of a leisure=fitness_station, see fitness_station=climbing_pole.
playground	monkey_bars		Horizontal bars or hoops above head height to hang from by one's hands and move over hand over hand. For monkey bars that are part of a leisure=fitness_station, see fitness_station=horizontal_ladder.
Rotating devices
playground	spinner		A rotating device that, in contrast to a playground=roundabout, is very small, mostly only a small footboard or seat on a stick for one child.
playground	spinning_disc		A simple rotating disc. In contrast to a playground=roundabout, there are no add-ons to sit or hold on to. The disc can also be slightly curved - but as soon as it takes a bowl-like shape so that you can find a hold on the sides and perform stronger spinning movements, choose playground=spinner_bowl.
playground	spinner_bowl		A spinning, usually tilted bowl. Can be suitable for one or more people. In contrast to a playground=spinning_disc, there is a significant curvature, which allows stronger centrifugal forces and spinning movements.
Sand play devices
playground	chute		A sloped chute or tube, mostly to transport sand by gravity from a higher to a lower place.
playground	sieve		A sieve, allowing to separate fine-grained sand from gravel (in a playground setting typically not finer separated than that).
playground	sand_wheel		A small wheel that turns when sand falls onto it. Often combined with a chute directly above.
playground	sand_seesaw		A channel or board on a pivot that can either route sand in two different directions, or allows to dump all accumulated sand in a chute-like manner when pivoted (when initially horizontal).
playground	sand_pulley		A small bucket or similar device holding sand (also common are sections of tire) that can be moved to another place. Typically either horizontally or vertically; may be mounted on a swivel to give a little more movement range. Often part of structures where it then allows to transport sand to other sand play devices mounted on the structure.
playground	excavator		A small play excavator, allowing to move sand (or that rounded fine gravel) around a bit. Always fixed in place. Usually unpowered as just a series of metal linkages controlling the excavator bucket. For bigger, usually fenced off excavators with a fee=yes consider using attraction=*.
Water devices
playground	pump		A water source to play with. Often this is an actual pump with handle (consider also adding man_made=water_well + pump=manual), but may also have different forms, such as a water wheel lifting water from a reservoir, or a button that can be pressed for water to flow for a limited time. For water flowing continuously or without interaction, use water_sprayer instead.
playground	water_channel		An inclined channel for water to flow towards other devices. Typically raised so that multiple channels in series route water from a pump to ground level. For water channels in the ground, resembling natural streams, use water_stream instead.
playground	water_stream		A meandering stream of water resembling a natural water stream and looking a tad less artificial. Often enclosed in an artificial bed of stones.
playground	water_seesaw		A seesaw-like water channel for either diverting water to two different places, or for automatically tilting and emptying when full.
playground	water_basin		A pool where water gathers, inviting either to run around in or combine it with sand to mud (also known as "mud table"). May have exits to other channels or even a drain in the bottom (sometimes with a plug).
playground	water_barrier		A removable barrier for water that inhibits flow towards other devices, often via an adjacent channel.
playground	archimedes_screw		A screw-like device for lifting water from a lower to a higher elevation.
playground	water_wheel		A wheel with small buckets or paddles that rotates when water flows into and over it.
playground	water_cannon		A (usually movable) device that allows targeted spraying of water.
playground	water_sprayer		A (often continuously-running) jet of water, often directed upward. This value is intended to map the location of such a water source itself, especially if there are individual water jets or they are particularly significant. To map an entire water play area characterized by multiple water jets, see playground=splash_pad (if there is a large number of water jets within a splash pad, it is usually not necessary to map them individually).
Topographical devices
playground	mound		Artificial hills, elevations, waves etc. intentionally designed for play. Sometimes devices like slides or tunnel tubes are placed on or in them.
playground	dome		A half-sphere to climb and slide on.
Fallback values for devices, that clearly fit into one equipment category, but do not fit well any of the existing subcategories
playground	balance		An unspecified device to balance on.
playground	climbing		An unspecified device to climb on.
playground	rotator		An unspecified rotating device.
playground	water		An unspecified water device.
playground	sand		An unspecified sand play device.

Examples

• 

  A platform with a ladder and a slide. Some swings are also connected to it.

• 

  A climbing_slope (handrail=yes, material=wood) leading up to a platform/structure with a wobble_bridge and other connected devices.

• 

  A steep slide with a ladder leading up to it. Details like height=3, incline=-56° and material=metal (on the slide) or step_count=8 and material=wood (on the ladder) can be added.

• 

  A climbingframe made from material=chain leading up to a platform that is part of a structure.

• 

  A tyre swing as a special form of a swing that could be specified with material=tyre.

• 

  Larger form of a spring_board.

• 

  A rope_traverse consisting of three smaller, tied ropes. Since there is no railing/tether/rope to hold on to, handrail=no can be added.

• 

  stepping_posts made from material=wood on a playground.

• 

  Two water_basins with a closable water_barrier between them.

• 

  A rotating stick device, tagged with spinner.

• 

  A special, non-specific construction for climbing and/or balancing - one of the fallback values balance or climbing might fit best.

Features/Pages affected

• The list of playground=* equipment needs an update: Add the new values and regroup them in some more device categories.

External discussions

• RFC announcements: Community Forum | Mailing List
• Since the launch of this proposal in summer 2022, individual playground devices have been regularly discussed in the German-language Telegram channel and the proposal has thus been expanded and sharpened.
• Discussion in the community forum about "namespacing"/using device sub categories in value naming.
• Thread in OSMUS Slack's #play-mapping channel

Comments

Please comment on the discussion page.

Voting

Voting closed

Voting on this proposal has been closed.

It was approved with 51 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions.

• I approve this proposal. --Tjuro (talk) 15:37, 30 June 2023 (UTC) Very detailed and well thought out!
• I approve this proposal. it’s a good followup for the established values, probably still missing some objects but adds a lot of useful values. —-Dieterdreist (talk) 15:48, 30 June 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. Well detailed, clear objective, for more documentation in the future, adding a link to How to make a relation should be a good idea ! --Sylv1_Durif (talk) 18:26, 30 June 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. Very good work, thank you Fanfouer (talk) 19:55, 30 June 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. well done on the documentation work --Gendy54 (talk) 20:27, 30 June 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Nw520 (talk) 21:06, 30 June 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --CasGroenigen (talk) 22:50, 30 June 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Fizzie41 (talk) 23:30, 30 June 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Jmarchon (talk) 05:35, 1 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --TrekClimbing (talk) 12:42, 1 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --OSMRogerWilco (talk) 13:24, 1 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. Something B (talk) 15:51, 1 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Kjon (talk) 17:48, 1 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Robert46798 (talk) 17:49, 1 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. — Koreller (talk) 15:29, 2 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Ppaulus (talk) 19:31, 2 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Thetornado76 (talk) 04:17, 3 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Rskedgell (talk) 07:18, 3 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Eginhard (talk) 07:33, 3 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. This is a big step forward in accurately mapping playgrounds --TwistedSnake (talk) 07:46, 3 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --MartinShadok (talk) 09:31, 3 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --501ghost (talk) 23:35, 3 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Chris2map (talk) 16:48, 5 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Adiatmad (talk) 05:06, 6 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Craxgard (talk) 13:47, 6 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --mnalis (talk) 19:23, 6 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Ydel (talk) 19:58, 6 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. Very detailed tagging is always good; however, it can be time consuming. As map user, what I would appreciate to see on the map are details on accessibility e.g. indoor/outdoor, playground open hours, if for specific ages, if there's nearby potty, water drinking and breastfeeding facilities, etc... Arnalielsewhere (talk) 16:26, 7 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --watmildon (talk) 17:45, 7 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --defuneste (talk) 19:05, 7 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Lejun (talk) 20:49, 7 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --NieWnen (talk) 12:28, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Discostu36 (talk) 12:41, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. —M!dgard (talk) 12:51, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Mariusz256 (talk) 12:54, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --TheBlackMan (talk) 13:37, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Rouelibre (talk) 13:40, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Ibanez (talk) 14:46, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Mweper (talk) 17:34, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Fluidisator (talk) 18:48, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Makiwolf (talk) 19:34, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. Speaking of spring_board(s), this proposal is one into a great future of better playground tagging! --Stevea (talk) 19:40, 9 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --scai (talk) 08:34, 10 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Ivanbranco (talk) 14:02, 10 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --michalgwo (talk) 12:20, 11 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Mottiger (talk) 18:18, 11 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --Tordans (talk) 05:53, 12 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. The more the better. --Zverik (talk) 08:22, 13 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. Love the level of detail documented and possible to map --B-unicycling (talk) 09:27, 13 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. Thanks for putting in so much work :) --Silversurfer83 (talk) 09:06, 14 July 2023 (UTC)
• I approve this proposal. --DnaX (talk) 13:39, 14 July 2023 (UTC)