Balancing

Design Guide for Barefoot Parks

Balancing equipment

	Local regulations and common standards for playgrounds may also be applicable to barefoot trails. They require fall protection for walking, climbing or balancing above a defined height, e.g. more than 60 cm (2 ft.) in the EU. Stations of barefoot trails will usually stay below this limit. Otherwise use a handrail and/or a fall-protecting underlayment like sand or fine round gravel!
		enlargeable thumbnails:
Tree trunks	The trunk must be prevented from rolling, perhaps by placing it in a bed of gravel or mounting it on crossbars. This also protects the wood from too much moisture and retards decay. Protruding knobs must be removed carefully. The bark will peel off after a while. Since wet wood tends to become slippery, it may be favorable to let people walk through a bed of sand before they step on the trunk.
	Rising balancing beams need strong anchoring. In this case, a rough surface can increase safety.
	A knobby fir trunk from the edge of the wood provides some massage to the feet. A handrail may prevent stumbling.
	A few steps help to enter a thick oak tree trunk.
	Combination of tree trunks and stockage is favored by visitors.
	The surrounding sand bed minimizes risk of injury. A fall-protective material is required by European Standard for items exceeding a height of 60 cm.
	Steps and zigzag....
	Crossing the tree trunks requires good fixation to prevent them from rolling.
	Two parallel trunks.
Indian ladder	Steps are cut in an ascending tree trunk, which must be fixed against rolling.
	A combined balancing section with ascent and descent is lots of fun.
Stem with branches	Part of the branches may be left to simulate some jungle experience. Children tend to hop on the branches, which are at risk to break, if not thick enough. Tree trunks may be carved by artists.
	For security reasons, the ends of the branches must be rounded.
	Trees with different shapes can be included.
Boulders	Preferably typical stones from the surrounding region are used. To prevent slipping, the surface should be rough, but not sharp-edged. Embedding by half their diameter prevents boulders from rolling.
Tree trunk pieces	Must be embedded by half their length as well. Care for a finish to smoothen the edges!
Rows of pickets	The smaller the surface, the more demanding the balancing act is. Keep distance short enough to avoid danger!
	The larger format requires handrails.
Stilt walk	The stationary stilts need a solid fixation in the ground.
Wobbling board	This board is mounted on two strong spiral springs and may force jumping off before the end. Therefore it should be installed over a fall-protecting ground.
Tightrope walking	A strong fixation to the ground maintains the tension of the rope.
A lot more ideas....

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