Recreational Sponsorships

Hopeland is the exclusive distributor for a top-quality playground equipment manufacturer.  These playground systems have been structured and designed to withstand, and are virtually indestructible. Hopeland will remove the old equipment in existing playgrounds and replace it with state-of-the-art playground systems.  In addition, Hopeland will install playgrounds in new locations where no playgrounds currently exist.

Recreation Research

"During play, children are free to explore two compelling given characteristics: who they are genetically and what their environment has to offer them. From their play experiences children are blending this information to form their current understanding of how the world works. Play for all children is a tool for learning. It has been evident in the observation of children of all abilities that each of them is constantly in pursuit of the information they need most to continue their own development. Independent, self-directed play is the best learning tool."

The Benefits of Playgrounds for Children Aged 0-5   Playgrounds provide crucial and vital opportunities for children to play.  There is substantial research showing the clear link between play and brain development, motor skills, and social capabilities.  All learning–emotional, social, motor, and cognitive–is accelerated, facilitated, and fueled by the pleasure of play.  Playgrounds that promote different types of play are vital for a child's cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development.

The Importance of Playgrounds   Children's games actually program the brain for language, art, math and science, as well as build interpersonal abilities and intelligence. Kinesthetics is the perception of movement through nerves in the muscles, tendons and joints. This process is enhanced with continued physical activity at an early age. A Baylor University College of Medicine study reported that children who do not play develop brains that are 20% to 30% smaller than normal for their age. Is there any doubt that children need the physical, social and multi-sensory experiences that take place during play? What our children don't need, however, are playgrounds with hidden hazards that could lead to broken bones, skinned arms and legs, concussions, and even, on occasion, death.

Guidelines for Planning and Maintaining Safe Playgrounds  It is estimated that, every two-and-a-half minutes a child is treated in an emergency room in the U.S. for a playground-related injury. This does not include the children whose injuries receive treatment outside the emergency room. Typically on an average, 15 children die every year simply because they want to play. It shouldn't take a death or debilitating injury for adults to realize that providing safe play environments should be a top priority.