The landscape of play is evolving, and requirements for play spaces are changing. We’ve created free white papers that are helpful research and planning tools for anyone looking to create innovative and safe play spaces.
Compare the most commonly installed playground surfaces.
While safety is paramount in today’s playgrounds, designers understand that safety must be integrated seamlessly without limiting play or squashing creativity. Safer play structures are a major contributor to today’s playground designs, but the safety surfaces underneath those structures are just as, or maybe even more, important. In fact, many playground designers are evolving the way they approach projects by using synthetic turf as a play element itself to create safer, cleaner, and more comfortable play environments.
Playground Safety & Static Electricity—What’s Safe and What Isn’t?
Static electricity has always been a problem on playgrounds. Think back to when you played on the playground as a kid. Remember those dreaded shocks after getting off the slide? For most children, shocks from static electricity on the playground aren’t painful, just uncomfortable. But for children with special medical devices such as cochlear implants, static shocks can become a painful and expensive problem.
The Evolution of Play Spaces is Changing
A great deal more is known today about the benefits of play to children’s development. And it’s not just academia that are aware of these benefits. With the recent pandemic stay at home orders and social distancing requirements, parents and families are experiencing first-hand the negative impacts that lack of outdoor play has on their children’s mental and physical wellbeing. This awareness is driving change in play needs across the globe and forcing evolution in play spaces and community development.
Addressing Thermal Risks of Playground Surfacing Solutions
Many factors impact the safety and playability of play spaces, including thermal heat risks. Direct sunlight and high temperatures can present significant risks by heating playground surfaces and equipment to dangerous levels. Synthetic turf offers numerous advantages and minimal disadvantages in mitigating thermal safety risks and acts as a financial, functional, and regulatory superlative to traditional play surfacing solutions.
Playground Surfaces: What Works (and Plays) Today
This paper looks at the evolution of playground surfaces and offers city and school planners and playground architects guidance on what to look for when choosing the right surface for a new playground – or when the time comes to upgrade existing playground surfaces.
