A  great upscale  addition in the  playground safety surfacing called rubber bond that is an upgraded and enhanced addition to the rubber mulch family.

Raising the Bar in Playground Surfacing:

Rubber Bond has raised the bar in unitary playarea surfaces. Although similar in appearance to conventional poured rubber surfaces, Rubber Bond is actually a patent pending breakthrough concept in solid play surfaces.

Rubber Bond surfaces are created by spreading a thick layer of loose Rubberecycle Rubber Mulch and then applying an additional layer of rubber combined with a high quality polyurethane bond.

The surface thus has all the shock absorbency of Playsafer Rubber Mulch, plus an additional layer of protection. Rubber Bond’s unitary surface provides a neat look with minimal maintenance while offering unrivaled safety performance.

Rubber bond safety surface is great for public playgrounds including school play area, community and public housing playgrounds.

We all agree that playground time can be just as vital as classroom time to a child’s social, emotional and educational development.

Due to school budget cuts and an increased focus on academic standards, millions of American schoolchildren may miss out on unstructured play with their peers including hopscotch, tag, kickball or jump rope.

Recess also functions successfully as an established school-based activity and should be carefully considered as part of any school health and wellness policy.

Despite mounting evidence that kids need an outlet to blow off steam, learn to interact with others and get the exercise they need, nearly 40 percent of American elementary schools have either eliminated or are considering eliminating recess.

On the other hand we need to make sure to follow all the playgrounds safety tips  as mentioned by CPSC safety tips.  Use this simple checklist to help make sure your local community or school playground is a safe place to play.

As quoted via the EPA:

Playground surfaces can contain recovered rubber and PVC materials that are often more desirable than wood chips, sand, or asphalt, because they can provide more cushioning and thereby may be safer for children. You can find playground surfaces made with recovered materials at schools, military bases, and housing developments.

In the Playgrounds News from London, England.  As you will read on what it means a 2010 playground for kids, and yes it is important for kids to have all  writes and capability to play and enjoy playgrounds with safety.

Read on:  Watford playgrounds set for £350,000 refurbishment

Three playgrounds in Watford will receive makeovers costing more than £350,000.

Play areas at Callowland Recreation Ground, Leavesden Green Recreation Ground and Woodside Playing Fields will all receive new playgrounds equipment and safety surfacing.

Watford Borough Council will contribute approximately £215,000 to the cost of the works, while an additional £156,000 will come from the Department for Children, Schools and Families Playbuilder fund managed by Hertfordshire County Council.

Mayor Dorothy Thornhill said: “In the regular surveys we carry out, parks and playgrounds always feature as a priority for residents. It is always good news when we can get additional funding to do even more work on our playgrounds.”

Wicksteed will carry out the works for Callowland, while Proludic has been awarded the contract for Leavesden Green. Work is set to be completed by the end of March this year.

Woodside playground will be refurbished by the end of March 2011.

Consultations were held with local school children, children’s centres and children with disabilities to find out what they wanted for the playgrounds.

New equipment at Callowland includes toddler swings, a cable runway, basket swing, climbing units, dish roundabout, toddler roundabout, mizzenmast (rope climber) and natural play features such as boulders, mounds and logs which make up an adventure trail.

Leavesden Green’s refurbished playground will include toddler swings, junior swings, a small cable runway, sandpit, basket swing, spinning dish roundabout, an Altima climbing mast, rodeo board, trampoline and natural play features.

Source:  Watford playgrounds set for £350,000 refurbishment

I hope money will be spent wisely, like buying right playground equipment and playground safety surfacingas you would find, the USA President Obama choose for the first family White House playground.

Rubber mulches are manufactured from tires through a series of process. It proves to be the ideal material to use in playground surfacing. It acts as a shock proof material which reduces the rate of injuries. The athletes and kids need not be worried about injuries and can concentrate on the games. They are available at affordable cost. The cost might vary from $4.20 – $4.35 per square foot and they are 100% safe and metal free. They ensure a play safe surfacing area and drain rain water quickly. They cushion the impact of severe falls and shield the players from injuries. They are easy to maintain and have a strong physical bonding. It can be applied to any kind of weather conditions.

v    The surfacing material can be chosen from a wide spectrum of colors.

v    They are highly recommended by various organizations that minimizes the environmental damages.

v    They are clean and easy to maintain. They are odor free and reduce mud and dirt in the play area.

v    They do not decompose and never give out the rotten smell.

v    Rubberecycle mulch is  non toxic and non-staining.

We here in the USA are well aware of the importance of playgrounds for our children. It represents a safe haven where they can let their imaginations take them into their own private world. In addition, we adults know how beneficial it is for their physical and emotional health; an opportunity to run around and get vital exercise, while at the same time releasing any built-up tensions. It is interesting to note that even in Afghanistan, they are well aware of the importance of playgrounds for kids. Here is an article that appeared in Playground Magazine.

Special Forces Build Playgrounds To Promote Peace In Kandahar Province

By Sgt. Debra Richardson

Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – For a war-torn nation, the concept of childhood and innocent play was thought to be all but forgotten. The trash littered roads and dilapidated housing are a common site in the Panjwayee District.

Barefoot and scantily clothed, the poverty stricken children in Kandahar province find entertainment with sticks and abandoned trash and too often, become the victims of roadside accidents. While the construction of school houses is becoming more frequent throughout southern Afghanistan, the children are all too often left to their own devices. But for one small village, the recent completion of a fenced playground offers a safe place to reinvent the custom of play.

High-pitched screams and excited laughter are heard as nearly thirty children scramble to the newly completed playground a mere one hundred meters from the village housing. Located between a bazaar and abandoned Russian barracks now used as apartments, the playground is easily accessible for all the local children. As the sun settles, light reflects off the aluminum slide as children mingle with the shadows, reluctant to abandon their newly acquired play space. Children of all ages appear night after night, when chores are complete, to escape into a world of imagination. This area is theirs alone; a place free of broken glass, insurgents and bombs.

“We built this playground to promote security for the children,” explains a civil affairs captain overseeing the project. “The village has a school but lacked a safe environment for children to play and socialize. The children need this area for developmental progression. The advent of a playground provides one of the most effective methods to enhance their standard of living while simultaneously decreasing their association with insurgents or insurgent activity.”

“The village elders closely monitor the playground and the local Afghan national army routinely patrols the area,” remarks the captain. “The ANA also ensure the safety of the children by inspecting the playground before the children are released from school for the day. This prevents the emplacement of explosive devices.”

The playground, consisting of swing sets, monkey bars, a seesaw and a slide, will one day also attract older villagers. Special Forces have planted fifty trees and will soon deliver multiple wooden benches. Upon completion, the playground will have evolved into a park, offering shelter from the piercing sun and a safe haven for all ages.

Source: http://www.todaysplayground.com/news/display.cfm?ID=1794&category=news

Rubber mulch is organic in nature and do not pose any threat to the environment. They are safe and protective in nature. Most of the playgrounds managers prefer to use rubber mulches to enhance the Playground safety. They are made from the recycled rubber tires. They make the landscapes, play ground areas exquisite with their presence and present a firm footage area that avoids the problems of skidding. This material is mostly favored in the play areas by the administrative teams as there are bountiful numbers of benefits. The shock absorbing property plays the lead role in advocating the benefits of this mulch. It provides a cleaner surface and the players need not worry about the dirt and dust found in the usual areas.

Athletes shall have a firm area of footing during the practice sessions which will avoid them from free fall. This material does not allow the stagnation of rain water. Rubber mulches absorb the water and leave a clean surface that will allow the play to resume. The soil nutrients can be held together and the rain waters will not be allowed to wash away the nutrients. The life period expectancy is about 25 years and rubber mulches are economically viable options. Rubber mulches are preferred over other quality of mulches and are stunning in terms of quality. The play ground remains beautiful and will not lose its importance due to any factors as long as the mulches are present.If you looking for more information then it is a good idea to visit RubberRecycle.