The sixth nationwide investigation of public playgrounds by the Consumer Federation ofAmerica (CFA) and the State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) found that amajority of U.S. playgrounds pose hidden threats to youngsters. From March-May 2002, the State PIRGs and other CFA member organizations investigated 1,037 playgrounds in 36 states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin) and Washington, DC, to determine the current safety conditions of public playgrounds. The survey gathered data on falls, fall zones, equipment height, swings, head entrapment hazards, entanglement hazards, hazardous equipment, chipping or peeling paint, and pressure-treated wood, as well as on local and state activity in the area of playground regulations and community advocacy. Overall, this year's survey shows improvements, in particular a continued decline in the number of playgrounds with hard surfaces under and around all play equipment. (Appendices contain the survey, a parent checklist for playground safety, and state survey results.) (EV)