The International Playground Safety Institute (IPSI) is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) incorporated in the State of Oregon. They are committed to the rights of children worldwide to play safely when using public parks and playgrounds. They have contracted with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to conduct the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Course and the National Certification Examination. Over 35,000 people involved in all aspects of playground operations have attend the CPSI Course. Over 8,000 certified playground safety inspectors are registered with NRPA.1
IPSI was founded by Monty Christiansen. Monty had conducted many international playground safety related workshops around the world and saw the potential for bringing the NRPA CPSI Course and certification examination to others who were following the ASTM International (ASTM) standards for public playgrounds. Monty presented the first international CPSI Course and Exam in Singapore in 2001. After conducting two more successful CPSI Courses in Singapore, Monty presented his international concept to NRPA. The National Recreation and Park Association and the Executive Board of the National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) unanimously endorsed his proposal at its annual board meeting October 11, 2004, in Reno, Nevada.
International Playground Safety Institute, LLC was established by Monty Christiansen as a Limited Liability Company incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as per 15 PA.C.S. § 8913 on August 8, 2005.
In August 2008, Ken Kutska purchased the International Playground Safety Institute, LLC and immediately incorporated in the State of Oregon. He then signed a contract, on behalf of IPSI, LLC with NRPA to organize and conduct CPSI Courses internationally on their behalf.
Since 2009 IPSI, LLC has presented the CPSI Course and Examination for the military in Heidelberg, Germany, Okinawa, Japan, and Guam for the Department of Defense as well as Courses in Hong Kong and Singapore.2
As the executive director, Ken Kutska is a consultant specializing in the numerous areas of safety in play spaces for children. He is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and a Certified Playground Safety Inspector. He authored Playground Safety is No Accident: Developing a Public Playground Safety and Maintenance Program, which is in its fourth edition. He is an active member of several ASTM subcommittees on various play equipment products and is the Subcommittee Chair for play equipment safety performance requirements.3
The goal of the International Playground Safety Institute is to have at least one trained and certified staff member responsible for playground safety in every municipality, school district, and public play area.4
- 1. “Home.” International Playground Safety Institute. < http://www.internationalplaygroundsafetyinstitute.com/index.cfm > 10 Feb. 2011.
- 2. “Archive for June, 2010.” International Playground Safety Institute. < http://blog.internationalplaygroundsafetyinstitute.com/2010/06/ > 10 Feb. 2011.
- 3. “About Us.” International Playground Safety Institute. < http://www.internationalplaygroundsafetyinstitute.com/aboutus.cfm > 10 Feb. 2011.
- 4. Ibid.
