Re: a question on playgrounds surface
From: Lynn Nadeau (welcomeolympus.net)
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 09:53:39 -0500
First check if there are any third-party requirements about playground 
surfaces, notably in "fall zones" --- like by insurance companies, or 
equipment manufacturers. 

If it is just up to you, I (former preschool teacher) say better to use 
pea gravel than wood chips in areas where you need the cushion, like 
around swings and climbers. Wood chips are bad for splinters. Pea gravel 
is rounded, rather than angular. It can be dug in, not quite as 
satisfactorily as sand, but good enough. Tends to drain well, so it's 
less soggy to sit on than grass. You need some depth, so you then get 
something like railroad ties to box in the gravel areas. Be careful that 
you have enough distance around stuff that they can't fall on the ties. 
Grass is good for general running around areas, as long as it's not in 
heavy traffic that will turn it to permanent mud. It does get wet, and 
slippery, and need maintenance. If you are seeding it, consider throwing 
in seed for English daisies and other tiny flowers. 

Figure, too, if you want to have a hard track for trikes, wagons, etc, 
It's good if such a track makes a loop. Hard surfaces also are good for 
chalk, like hopscotch and drawing. 

I guess my ideal playground has grassy berms to roll down, a flower bed, 
a sandbox with water source, a hard area for trikes, and deep pea gravel 
under and around swings and climbers.

For fencing you may need to use cyclone fence, but don't despair-- it can 
be decorated with bright ribbons woven into it, you can add easels for 
outdoor painting. You can also plant things that will grow on or by it. 
Cyclone fence (or is it "chain link" where you are?) is hard to climb,  
impossible to break and needs no maintenance. Gates need to be extremely 
sturdy. They get mistreated a lot, swung on, and otherwise broken. They 
will get broken if they aren't strong. Needs to have a latch up high, so 
a toddler can't undo it on their own. A good fence and gate will also 
keep dogs from messing with the playground. (If you plan a major fence, 
also think ahead to what you might ever want to get into the enclosure, 
like a bulldozer? If so, you might also include a bigger gate area that 
remains locked except when needed. ) A lot depends on your kid 
population, how many, how supervised, etc. 

Lynn Nadeau, Port Townsend WA

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