Kenneth S. Kutska is currently the Executive Director of the International Playground Safety Institute, LLC and President of Children and Recreation Environment, Inc. After 35 years in the municipal park and recreation management Ken retired from the Wheaton Park District, Illinois. His primary work experience was in the area of public park management with emphasis on park design, facility design, maintenance and operations. He has designed more than 100 parks and playgrounds; provides planning assistance to other groups and organizations for park and playground design; and has developed training programs and materials for staff responsible for playground design, construction, maintenance, repair and inspection.
Kenneth received his Bachelors degree from Western Illinois University in 1971. He is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI). Some of his professional affiliations include: President of the National Recreation and Park Association (1995); Past Chair NRPA's National Playground Safety Institute; Chair American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Subcommittee for performance requirements for public playground equipment; Cofounder of the NRPA National Playground Safety Institute and its certification program for playground safety inspectors. [updated 11/08]