The evolution of trampoline parks

Trampoline parks first appeared in Las Vegas in 2004, and since then, their popularity has exploded worldwide! What was once just a jumping area with a few basketball hoops and a foam pit has evolved into a true multi-activity center. Today, parks offer much more than just trampolining: dodgeball, jump towers with airbags, tumbling lanes, obstacle courses, interactive games, ninja warrior, walk-the-wall activities… There’s something for everyone!

This growing success attracts a diverse clientele of all ages and skill levels, for activities that are social, recreational, and athletic. However, with more “jumpers” comes an increase in accidents, sometimes with serious consequences. Establishing safety guidelines quickly became essential. Each country began working to create either a standard or a best practices guide to regulate the activity. In France, the first experimental standard appeared in 2018, later replaced by the European and international standard, EN ISO 23659, in 2022.

So, are trampoline parks dangerous? Absolutely not, as long as they are well-designed, properly maintained, and used responsibly. Thanks to strict safety standards and high-quality equipment, today’s trampoline parks can offer a fun and safe experience for everyone!

Design and safety in trampoline parks: prevention as a priority

Trampoline park manufacturers have a clear mission: to design fun spaces while minimizing risks for users. To do this, they create robust structures and enforce precise usage rules specifically aimed at ensuring “jumpers”’ safety. Unlike competitive trampolines, where the goal is often to jump as high as possible, the idea in a recreational park is to safely jump from mat to mat without seeking extreme heights.

The jumping mats used in parks are designed to provide controlled bounce. Their very fine, typically black mesh is different from the wide white mesh of sports trampolines, which are built for higher jumps. This technical choice helps to limit the height of rebounds: the lower the jumps, the lower the risk of bad landings, which in turn reduces the risk of injury.

Thanks to this approach, trampoline parks succeed in offering a fun experience while maintaining high safety standards.

Safety materials and accessories: the essential duo for safe jumping

The materials used in trampoline parks play a key role in the safety and comfort of jumpers. The black jumping mats are designed to limit jump height while ensuring comfortable landings, even if one lands on their back. This type of mat, made from a durable blend of polypropylene and synthetic fibers, is selected for its strength and longevity.

One minor drawback of these mats is their slightly slippery surface. To counter this, parks provide non-slip socks—an essential accessory for safer jumps! These socks improve grip, enhancing jump precision and foot stability, thus reducing the risk of falling.

It’s important to remember that most visitors are not experienced athletes. They come to relax, have fun, and get active in a safe environment. That’s why trampoline parks, mindful of this largely novice clientele, implement—sometimes even enforce—strict usage and safety rules to ensure a pleasant, risk-free experience.

Essential rules for a safe jumping experience

Compliance with safety standards: the foundation of every trampoline park

In most European countries, the EN ISO 23659 standard governs the design and operation of trampoline parks. This standard sets strict requirements to minimize risks at both the construction and day-to-day management levels. Essential elements include, among others, the size of the jumping mats, the quality and thickness of shock-absorbing surfaces, the height of safety guards, as well as the dimensions of foam pits and airbags. The goal? To allow participants to have fun while managing measured risks in a controlled, safe environment.

Risk analysis and operating procedures: the role of park operators

Before opening, operators must work closely with manufacturers to conduct a thorough risk analysis. This step identifies potential dangers and leads to the development of standardized operating procedures (SOP). These SOPs define the game conditions, including:

• Minimum age of participants
• Maximum park capacity
• Permitted and prohibited tricks to minimize injury risks
• Staff qualifications and skills to ensure adequate supervision
• Conditions for supervising jumpers for optimal safety

These golden rules ensure continuous control over facility use.

The “solo jump” rule: avoiding double bounce

One of the primary safety rules is to avoid jumping together on the same mat. The “double bounce” effect can unpredictably amplify jump height, leading to hard impacts upon landing. For this reason, trampoline parks strictly enforce this rule, and the park’s capacity is adjusted to the number of mats to avoid overloading.

Following basic rules: strict supervision

Finally, other common-sense rules complement safety measures:

• No running in jumping zones.
• No pushing or touching others while jumping.
• Avoid sitting on the mats or hanging onto nets or basketball rings.

The park manager must continuously ensure compliance with these rules to provide a safe, fun environment for all jumpers.

Supervision and training: ensuring safety with expert oversight

Each area of a trampoline park must be monitored by qualified personnel responsible for enforcing safety rules. Their presence is essential: effective supervision significantly reduces accident risks, especially during critical moments such as the first few minutes when enthousiasm is high and at the end when fatigue sets in.

Oversight tailored to park size

The capacity of a park is defined by safety standards. For example, the XP S52-370 standard recommends 1 jumper per 10 m² and one supervisor per 32 jumpers. In a 500 m² park, this translates to a capacity of 50 jumpers and at least two supervisors, ensuring optimal monitoring while maintaining profitability.

International reference standards

In addition to European standards, directives like PAS 5000 (BSI) provide specific recommendations for British parks, with similar safety outcomes.

Accident prevention: awareness as protection

Rather than relying on liability waivers, many parks show a safety awareness video before each session. This initiative significantly reduces accidents and reminds visitors of best practices for safe, enjoyable jumps.

Safety and best practices in trampoline parks

In summary, a well-designed and operated trampoline park poses no greater risks than any other leisure activity. To ensure a safe, enjoyable experience, several elements are essential. The design should be handled by specialists, with precise risk analysis to tailor the rules accordingly. Game rules must be clear, understood, and accepted by all jumpers before each session. A trained staff presence, sufficient in number to cover all areas, enhances safety, as does regular facility maintenance. With these best practices in place, a trampoline park becomes a space of fun and relaxation for all.

Want to learn more about creating a safe, high-performing trampoline park? Contact us today to discuss your project and build a safe and entertaining space for your future visitors!