Park and playground inspections 

Early spring is the ideal time for a thorough playground inspection. Freeze and thaw cycles can crack surfacing, shift equipment footings, and loosen hardware. Do walkthroughs of your parks and playgrounds, checking every piece of equipment, looking for broken components, exposed anchoring, and displaced or inadequate fall zone surfacing under playground equipment.  

Use one (or more!) or our parks and playground checklists and risk management guides! 

Tree and vegetation review 

Winter storms leave behind hidden hazards – dead limbs, root damage, and broken branches that aren’t obvious until a branch comes down on a busy picnic table. Bring in a certified arborist to asses trees in your high-use areas to help identifytree risks before you or a contractor start tree trimming. Document the assessment and act on any recommendations promptly.  

Access our tree inspection guides. 

Special events and facility inspections 

Before you start renting out shelters, fields, and community spaces, make sure your rental permit and agreements are current with strong indemnity language and insurance requirements, and you have comprehensive inspection checklists. Aquick walkthrough now can help prevent claims and disputed damages after use.  

Find sample applications, guides, checklists, and more.  

Wildfire preparation via vegetation and tree management 

Washington’s wildfire risk is real. Spring is the right time to assess vegetation buffers around city facilities, parks, and rights of way. Trim dead brush, remove ladder fuels such as low hanging branches that allow ground fire to climb into tree canopies, and clear debris accumulation near structures. Coordinate with your fire department and county Emergency Management on defensible space standards and document the work you’ve done. 

Use our wildfires guide and access emergency preparedness resources.  

You found issues – now what? 

With each of these areas, if you find issues, be sure to document the problem, and then identify how and when you will fix the issue – the sooner the better!