THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMERGENT
ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE
FOR
COMMUNITY PLAYSPACES
IN ONE NEW BRUNSWICK TOWN

by
Lynda Ann Homer

BT. University of New Brunswick 1980

A REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF

Master of Education
in the Faculty
of
Education

This report is accepted

Dean of Graduate Studies

The University of New Brunswick

January, 1994

Lynda Ann Homer 1994

ABSTRACT

Playgrounds are important learning environments for children. However many of them are poorly equipped, outdated, not inclusive, and even dangerous. While the need for community playground development appears to be province-wide, no formal work, has been done to either assess the state of playgrounds in the province of New Brunswick or to determine the potential for collaborative playground development projects.

This document describes a project conducted in one New Brunswick community which involved key players and stakeholders in the development of a working model for a collaborative playground assessment. The model gives people a way to look at their own community playground with criteria that consider the local strengths and needs. A discussion and analysis of the development process is included along with the actual assessment procedure and criteria which emerged from the project.