TM 5-803-11/AFJMAN 32-10139
CHAPTER 2
SITE SELECTION
b. Neighborhood Parks. Neighborhood parks pro-
2-1. Introduction.
vide play opportunities for youth ages 9 to 15 years
The selection of a site for an unsupervised out-
within the family housing area. The parks include
door play area should be coordinated with the in-
small-scale sports facilities, such as basketball
stallation master plan. Military facility planning
hoops and grassy fields, as well as tables and seat-
standards will serve as a guide for play area plan-
ing areas. Manufactured play equipment may also
ning (TM 580312; AFI 321024; MIL HDBK
be included. Figure 21 illustrates the location of
1190). In addition, site selection should consider the
neighborhood parks within a family housing area.
type of play area to be provided and general site
(1) Location. The park will be located at the
selection guidance presented in this chapter. A new
edge of housing areas without requiring the cross-
site may be developed or an existing play area may
ing of a heavily traveled street to reach the play
be renovated.
area. It will be connected to family housing by a
bike path or sidewalk that is separated from vehicu-
2-2. Types of Unsupervised Play Areas.
lar traffic. It should be located within a 5- to 10-
Three types of unsupervised play areas are rec-
minute walking distance from housing units.
ommended: play lots, neighborhood parks, and com-
(2) Facility Standard. One park will be pro-
munity parks. Location, number of housing units
vided for 150 housing units. It should accommodate
served, travel distance from housing units, age of
30 to 50 youth as shown in Table 21.
children, and space requirements determine the
(3) Space Requirements. Seven hundred square
type of play area. Table 21 provides a summary of
meters (7,500 square feet) will be required for
criteria guidelines for each type of play area. The
neighborhood parks.
recommended space requirements should be veri-
c. Community Parks. Community parks serve the
fied during planning and design based on installa-
entire installation (TM 5-803-12). The parks are
tion population, community needs, and design crite-
used for family recreation and may include play
ria.
areas for 6 weeks to 5 years, 5 to 9 years, and 9 to 15
a. Play Lots. Play lots will be designed to meet
years. Sports facilities, group picnic areas, nature
the play needs of two age groups within a family
trails, and other recreational facilities may also be
housing area: ages 6 weeks to 5 years and ages 5 to
provided. Users may access the park by privately
9 years. Separate play lots maybe designed for each
owned vehicles, bicycles, or public transportation.
age group at different locations or one play lot may
Young children will be transported by parents, and
be designed to serve both age groups. A variety of
offstreet parking may be provided. Figure 22 illus-
play opportunities, such as sand play, dramatic
trates the location of community parks on an instal-
play, and pathways for wheeled toys, will be pro-
lation.
vided to foster child development. Figure 21 illus-
(1) Location. Community parks may be associ-
trates the provision of play lots within a family
ated with a significant natural resource, such as a
housing area.
nature area, creek, lake, etc. The park will be lo-
(1) Location. Because children in these age
cated on a bus route if public transportation is
groups require close parental supervision, play lots
available.
should ideally be located within sight lines of hous-
(2) Facility Standard. One or two community
ing and should not require the crossing of a street to
parks should be provided per installation as shown
reach the play area. Families should be able to walk
in Table 21. The need is determined by estimating
to the play lot in 5 minutes or less.
the current and future demand for the park and
(2) Facility Standard. One play lot will be pro-
reviewing facility standards (TM 580312).
vided for 30 housing units. It should accommodate
(3) Space Requirements. For community parks,
15 to 35 children. Separate play lots may be de-
24,275 to 40,475 square meters (6 to 10 acres) of
signed for each age group at different locations or
open space should be provided per 1,000 installation
one play lot may be designed to serve both age
residents. The amount of open space allocated spe-
groups.
cifically to children's outdoor play areas within the
community park should be determined during the
(3) Space Requirements. Three hundred and
planning process based on safety and design consid-
twenty-five square meters (3,500 square feet) will
erations.
be required for each play lot.
2-1
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