S.A.F.E. Play Areas: Creation, Maintenance, and Renovation [With CDROM] Paperback - 2007

Donna Thompson, PhD, is an acknowledged national and international expert in the field of playground development and safety, and she is the executive director of the National Program for Playground Safety. She has more than 30 years of experience in teaching, writing, and researching about playgrounds. She has given numerous presentations on playground development, including television interviews on ABC's "Good Morning America," CBS' "Early Edition," "CNN Headline News," and NBC's "Today" program. She has served as consultant for numerous groups planning playgrounds and has been called as an expert witness on playground safety. Dr. Thompson is recognized by early childhood educators, physical educators, elementary principals, park and recreation professionals, and parents for her expertise in playground safety.

Susan D. Hudson, PhD, is a nationally acknowledged expert in the area of playground safety and the education director of the National Program for Playground Safety. She has made presentations both nationally and internationally on playground design and safety and is the author or coauthor of more than 175 articles concerning playgrounds. As the education director, she has spearheaded major research projects for NPPS. Dr. Hudson has held numerous leadership and committee assignments in national professional organizations, including the American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the National Recreation and Park Association. She holds an endowed professorship at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

Heather M. Olsen, MA, is the operations director for the National Program for Playground Safety at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She has been associated with the development of playgrounds and educating the public about maintenance, supervision, and age appropriateness; has given presentations throughout the country about the design of safe playgrounds; and has written many articles on creating playgrounds for children. She is also the major developer of the new online training program for NPPS. Ms Olsen is a NPPS playground safety school instructor and a member of the Iowa Playground Safety Network and the Black Hawk County Safe Kids Coalition.