need ideas for city playground surface material--

[Peek a Boo]

Hi all-
our Parks and Rec department is considering purchasing new surface material for the playground. I'm doing some research into it - I'm on the P&R board, so I get an official say :-)

It's a typical playground, used mostly by younger elementary and toddlers.
We're south of Dallas, if weather would be a factor in your preference.

Any favorites? cautions? absolutely nots? one over another? if you could pick three types, which ones? in what order?

TIA!

[Jami]

Well you can't use wood chips that have been treated for with asbestos or whatever. :)

I like the solid rubber surfaces, I think the rubber is from recycled tires? Or a loose rubber mulch also from recycled tires. I don't *mind* the pea gravel surfaces. Sand is too messy and can pack down really hard over time unless it's tilled on a regular basis. But my favorite parks in St. Louis were the solid rubber surfaces, though I expect that's a more expensive way to go than pea gravel. ;)

Jami

[Peek a Boo]

thanks Jami--

here's a site I found that shows several and compares them a bit:
http://www.professionalunderwriters.com/risk/PlaygroundSurfaceMaterialSelpdf.pdf

[Dana in OR]

a few years ago. Our cushioned surface was chipped bark, in a very deep layer. So far so good, I think it was a good choice.

I have taken my kids to playgrounds with the rubber surfaces (shredded tires?) and don't like them because my kids' white running shoes would turn black (as would hands and faces).

[Melora in NC]

Shredded tires are my favorite park surface. It doesn't stick to the kids and come home in the car, it cushions well, it isn't slippery, and it doesn't seem inviting to the neighborhood cats.

[j.griff]

I like the rubberized surfaces, I HATE woodchips/sand/gravel for various reasons. (Garbage gets buried under any of those surfaces- and it could have broken glass or other dangerous items hidden in there. Kids can dig in sand boxes elsewhere. I hate having the debris in our laundry, in our carpet cause it stick in/to their shoes and socks. I don't enjoy trying to get sand/etc. out of The Littles' hair. The rubberized surfaces seem to dry quickly after a rainy period- you don't have to worry about moldy damp wood chips or swampy sand. Gravel is just not a stable surface for kids to run/play on. Kids can safely learn to skate on the rubber surfaces- it slows down the turning of the wheels and gives them a bit more control. No giant kitty litter if you go with rubber, and no giant ashtrays either.) There's my $0.02 :D

[Lorna]

The rubberised surface gets my vote too. It is made from recycled tyres and can be easily cleaned (no hidden glass etc).

[Valerie(TX)]

The city of Irving started puting in the rubberized surfaces about 6 years ago. What if you called them and asked them for their two cents' worth on the pros, cons, and longevity?

Valerie

[Claire]

Shredded tires are my favorite park surface. It doesn't stick to the kids and come home in the car, it cushions well, it isn't slippery, and it doesn't seem inviting to the neighborhood cats.

This has been my experience with it also.

[3littlekeets]

I love the rubberized poured surfaces, too! One great selling point is that they are much easier for children with physical disabilities to navigate. They can use walkers and wheelchairs on them so they can participate with their friends! I'm all about accessible play spaces :-)

[3littlekeets]

Hi all-
our Parks and Rec department is considering purchasing new surface material for the playground. I'm doing some research into it - I'm on the P&R board, so I get an official say :-)

It's a typical playground, used mostly by younger elementary and toddlers.
We're south of Dallas, if weather would be a factor in your preference.

Any favorites? cautions? absolutely nots? one over another? if you could pick three types, which ones? in what order?

TIA!


Ugh, I can't figure out threaded mode. Accessible play surfaces from poured rubber are great for children with disabilities and their typically developing peers. Some areas require them now for that very reason :-)

[Tutor]

Shredded tires are my favorite park surface. It doesn't stick to the kids and come home in the car, it cushions well, it isn't slippery, and it doesn't seem inviting to the neighborhood cats.

We used this in our church playground, and it is wonderful... and eco-friendly. :)

[Cadam]

I saw a shredded rubber surface one time that looked interesting but I am not sure how it would do in the heat.

[Melora in NC]

I saw a shredded rubber surface one time that looked interesting but I am not sure how it would do in the heat.

We were living in Florida when we played at parks with the shredded tire surfaces. I suppose any black surface will be slightly hotter, but there were never any complaints from my kids!

[GothicGyrl]

A combination of shredded black tire and solid rubber surface is used here mostly.. Some parks have one over the other, some have both(like the slide end has shredded).. the shredded packs easily, does not melt in the heat and is very easy to spot things that don't belong.

I've never noticed it getting hot either--mostly because kids wear their shoes in our playgrounds, and the times I've seen them barefoot with the solid rubber surface, the playground was used as some sort of wet surface (like a giant sprinkler system). They aren't slick when wet (they are, but not slippery slick) and are eco-friendly and probably MUCH cheaper (in the long run) than any other method.

I don't mind sand surface, but only at the beach. At a normal playground, I much prefer a solid surface. And surface other than the rubber will require serious upkeep --the shredded rubber does require consistant packing, but not as badly as the sand would (grains of sand disappear faster than pieces of rubber).

[gardenschooler]

Pea gravel requires regular maintenance (adding to it, because it gets packed down) and I for one can't stand it. Another vote for shredded tires.

[Unicorn]

NOT the rubberized surface. Our Parks dept. just put in a new playground and replaced the sand with the pretty, recycled tire surface. It gets way too hot!!!!! Even in the mornings, you can feel the heat coming off of it before you even reach the playground. The playground is semi-shaded too. I'm sure it works great north of TX, but down here it is just not a good idea. I'll show it to you in May when you come down for the convention. :0) (now, it does feel nice and bouncy, and isn't messy, but it does cause dehydration in the summer!)

[Mama Bear]

I love the rubberized poured surfaces, too! One great selling point is that they are much easier for children with physical disabilities to navigate. They can use walkers and wheelchairs on them so they can participate with their friends! I'm all about accessible play spaces :-)

Me too. :D

[Tracey in TX]

I also vote for the recycled rubber tires. Pea gravel is messy with excessive rain, and wood chips cause splinters. The black rubber does provide a bit of extra heat, but it's a better alternative.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

The city of Irving started puting in the rubberized surfaces about 6 years ago. What if you called them and asked them for their two cents' worth on the pros, cons, and longevity?

Valerie

I would ask them about their replacement schedule. We lived on an Air Force base with a form of the solid rubber cushion. It was very nice when the kids fell, but there seemed to be significant wear around the base of slides and under swings. They had to repair/replace a couple times while we were there.

The playground was very hot in the middle of the day, but it was always hot in the day in DC during summer.

[Peek a Boo]

thanks ladies--

They are considering a shredded rubber that comes in colors. I'd vote for the lighter sand color. Someone mentioned that if it's THAT hot, most kids that can't handle the heat won't be there anyway --the slides and swings would be too hot also. I'm pushing for a large canopy that I've seen at a few other parks, but that's gonna be awhile :-)

Unicorn -- is it a darker color? Or is it lighter but still hot? a solid rubber? or shredded rubber? I'm wondering if the increased surface area of the shredded might allow for more heat dissipation.....

The shredded stuff we were looking at has a lifetime warranty.
I'm also hoping it will deter cats and fire ants --not sure if that's wishful thinking tho, lol. Deter is one thing, completely keep away is another;)

I'll mention the accessibility of the solid rubber too, but I'm thinking the $$ is gonna be more in line w/ the shredded rubber.