Safe Yard Design

By David DeSmit

Most adults don’t generally view their environment as inherently dangerous – until they have children. Then suspicion and doubt creep in; “what if …” scenarios about the outdoors seem to pop up, sparking anxiety even in the most blasé among us. It’s no surprise since, statistically, the most dangerous age for children when it comes to injury at home or in the yard is between the ages of 2 and 5.

Although the “outside” is not really a mine field of incipient disaster, it does have its hazards. You can’t protect yourself or your family from every happenstance, but most potential dangers can be eliminated, or at least minimized, by some commonsense planning and attention to a few fundamental guidelines in the design and construction of your yard.

Design Considerations

Look at your yard as a whole. If you’re starting from scratch or are considering a major redesign, there are some basic guidelines for planning a safe yard.

• Functional planning – Determine what you need and what you want in your yard – in that order. Pick an appropriate place for each. Keep active spaces, such as areas around swing sets, separate from passive areas, such as areas for outdoor dining.

• Access – Separate the functions but allow for visual and physical access. Being able to see something or someone in a landscape is often as important as being able to get to them. Where children are involved, you may not always want to hear them, but you will want to be able to see them play.

• Clarity – The yard should be designed so that it is clear what happens where and how you get from one area to another.