It should be noted that there is a major difference between an audit and an inspection of the playground. The audit identifies the pieces that are on the playground, their current condition, and how they measure up to the ASTM specification F1487-17. In addition, the surfacing and design of the play area are evaluated. The audit forms the basis for the development of a master plan to upgrade the safety of the play area and in addition to identifying the current conditions, it prioritizes the changes that have to be made to remove, repair, replace. Using the completed audits, the property owner can establish both the plan and budget for playground upgrading.

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After the audit is completed and the playground is upgraded, regularly scheduled inspections should be held, to make certain that the playground remains in good condition. Depending on a set number of variables, a playground may require low-frequency or high-frequency inspections. The scheduled inspections are crucial so that maintenance procedures can repair and replace worn and deteriorating parts of equipment when needed.