Most playground injuries are the result of a fall. Unfortunately, natural ground surfaces like grass and dirt do not provide the shock absorption needed to reduce the risk of injuries and keep kids safe. Proper surfacing must be factored into any playground planning budget. It’s safe to estimate that surfacing will account for around 7-15% of the overall cost.
The types of surfacing mentioned in this guide are tested to evaluate their impact attenuation, critical fall height, maintenance needs and more.The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) recommends using loose-fill or unitary surfacing to protect against serious or fatal injuries. This guide was designed with care to help you decide what kind of surfacing is right for your play area.
Engineered wood fiber (EWF) mulch is a popular loose-fill ground covering for outdoor recreation sites. The wood fiber looks similar to landscaping mulch and is primarily made from natural, untreated wood by-products. It has been designed specifically for use as safety surfacing around playground equipment and is rigorously tested to be free of hazardous foreign metals and chemicals. All engineered wood fiber sold by AAA State of Play meets ADA, ASTM, and CPSC playground surfacing standards and is IPEMA certified.
Engineered wood fiber (EWF) mulch is a popular loose-fill ground covering for outdoor recreation sites. The wood fiber looks similar to landscaping mulch and is primarily made from natural, untreated wood by-products. It has been designed specifically for use as safety surfacing around playground equipment and is rigorously tested to be free of hazardous foreign metals and chemicals. All engineered wood fiber sold by AAA State of Play meets ADA, ASTM, and CPSC playground surfacing standards and is IPEMA certified.
AAA State of Play works with a network of wood fiber mulch suppliers from across the United States and Canada. Engineered wood fiber mulch is delivered to your site via truck and unloaded on the grounds. A heavy machinery loader is then used to carry loads of the mulch to all needed areas of the playground. The mulch is then raked to establish even surfacing and borders are installed around the perimeter to help contain the material at the playground location. The per-yard price of wood fiber mulch varies slightly by region. Please contact a sales associate for further information
Rubber mulch is a long-lasting and durable loose fill playground surface covering made from recycled tire material. Tires are shredded into chip piles and then gathered into one of several differently sized bags. The material and exterior paint (when purchasing colored mulch) of this surfacing is non-toxic. The manufacturing process utilizes a series of powerful magnets to remove traces of foreign metal from the product.
Rubber mulch is a long-lasting and durable loose fill playground surface covering made from recycled tire material. Tires are shredded into chip piles and then gathered into one of several differently sized bags. The material and exterior paint (when purchasing colored mulch) of this surfacing is non-toxic. The manufacturing process utilizes a series of powerful magnets to remove traces of foreign metal from the product.
Rubber mulch can be bulk ordered in amounts up to 23 tons and delivered by AAA State of Play. You can choose to receive the mulch as a series of 40 lb. capacity bags or 2,000 lb. capacity bags atop pallets. The smaller 40 lb. bags work well if you’re planning to surface your site by hand or need to carefully spread the material in several smaller areas. The 2,000 lb. bags will require access to a forklift. An operator will use the forklift to take the pallets off the delivery truck and then lift the 2,000 lb. bags by their resilient top straps. The forklift can then carry bags above key spots around the base of the equipment and strategically cut at the bottom to release the mulch. Black mulch will naturally start to spread easier than colored rubber mulch, but all kinds will require subsequent raking to create even layering around the site.
Artificial Grass Turf: is notably accessible and low maintenance. The durable nylon fibers make it long-lasting and fade-resistant as well. Artificial grass surfacing is most often used for play areas for preschool age children and infants.
Pea Gravel: absorbs shock and resists microbial growth as a playground surfacing. It’s often one of the more easily accessible and easy-to-install choices for planners. But once it’s compacted or combined with dirt, pea gravel becomes quite hard and is prone to attracting insects. Additionally, it is difficult to follow ADA compliance standards as it would require pathways made from other materials to make the area accessible.
Rubber Tiles: often come in various thicknesses to accommodate different fall heights. They are simple to install and make a good do-ityourself option for a kid-friendly surfacing.
Poured-in-Place Rubber: surfacing is one of the safest and most durable options on the market today. Designed to withstand years of use with minimal maintenance, this unitary surfacing is a popular choice for a clean, seamless appearance. Poured rubber surfacing allows the planners and installers to collaborate and customize the playground with several color options that can be mixed together or used for designs or graphics.
| Rubber Mulch | Engineered Wood Fiber | Poured-In-Place Rubber | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADA Compliant | |||
| Price | $5-6/sq.ft. | $20-35/cubic yd. | $12-22/sq.ft. |
| Install Difficulty | Low | Low | Medium-High |
| Maintenance | Medium | High | Low |
Play areas that incorporate loose-fill surfaces such as rubber mulch or engineered wood fiber mulch utilize playground borders to keep the surfacing contained within the designated space. Borders offer form and function while giving your park a clean look and nice curb appeal. There are two main types of borders that both function very similarly and perform the job at nearly equal rates. The choice really comes down to aesthetic preferences and availability.
The durable and popular ParKurb plastic border timber is available in an 8-inch and 12-inch heights. Made of a durable plastic material, and only available in the color black, the timber is two-sided and 4 inches wide. One side features wood grain finish and the other features a textured finish border comes complete with galvanized stakes to secure border to the ground.
Each recycled rubber timber is 8-feet long and available as either 4 or 6 inches wide, and 4, 6, or 8 inches high. The timbers are easy to install, and create a curved shape to fit your specific landscape. Stakes are included with each timber, as are drainage slots, which allows water to escape the area, rather than pool within your play space. Choose from a variety of colors including black, earthtone, forest green, and redwood.
In conjunction with proper care and scheduled maintenance, borders are one of the best ways to protect your surfacing investment. Borders contain loose-fill material and help prevent it from escaping the playground. In addition, they can be used to visually define the recreation space, both between play areas in the site and from other outside sections of the property. Playground borders enhance the appearance of the site while serving four practical functions:
1. Divide play areas. Sectioning the play area by the intended age group helps parents and children navigate the playground and find the equipment best suited for their abilities.
2. Reduce product loss. Generally, wood mulch requires large-scale replacement every 2-3 years; rubber mulch typically lasts up to 10 years before similar replacement work is advised. Both materials will still need raked and refilled now and then. Borders contain loose surfacing and can dramatically reduce the frequency of refills.
3. Keep walkways safely clear of loose surfacing. Paths and trails of all kinds often line the outside of the designated play area. By containing loose-fill material, your guests can safely use such paths without interference from the wayward mulch pieces that can obstruct mobility devices, strollers, or wheelchairs. Borders then keep up the property’s overall appearance and maintain safety for visitors who aren’t directly using the playground.
4. Minimize cleanup times. Any surfacing that leaves the play area should be raked back into place. Without borders, loose materials are more likely to spill outside the playground when children play near the edges or heavy wind or rain pushes it out. Borders can decrease the overall maintenance workload.
Playground borders can be anywhere from 6 to 12 inches tall, which could exclude access to children with special needs. In order to comply with ADA guidelines and make an inclusive playground for kids with physical disabilities, ramps should be included in all border and surfacing plans. These ramps are designed to grant access by wheelchair and other mobility devices over plastic timbers and rubber borders.
