NPSI awards distinguished fellow.

The National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) bestowed its highest award, the Distinguished Fellow Award, to Frances Wallach, Ed.D., president of Total Recreation Management Services, of New York, N.Y. The award was presented for Wallach's contributions to the playground safety movement in the United States. She, along with Ken Kutska of Illinois and Monty Christiansen of Pennsylvania, founded NPSI in 1989.

NPSI was officially established as a Special Continuing Education Program of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in 1993 to act as a national clearinghouse and information resource specializing in public use playground issues. Since that time, nearly 27,000 participants have taken the NPSI Playground Safety Inspector course. Wallach has served on the NPSI Executive Committee since its inception.

Wallach was the first chair of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Subcommittee involved in writing and maintaining the Safety Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use, a position she held from 1988 until just this year. She serves on numerous other ASTM committees.

Wallach is a nationally recognized authority on playground safety, risk reduction in park and recreation facilities, and provisions for physically challenged children. Prior to establishing the consulting firm Total Recreation Management Services, she was superintendent of the Department of Recreation and Parks for Nassau County, N.Y.