Previously, we talked about the must-haves of a public playground. A major point that was raised is that public playgrounds must have safety features. However, being that we’re talking about public playgrounds, there might be budget limitations on the safety features implemented.

But safety is always top priority. No matter how tight the budget is, there are things that public playgrounds cannot do without. Selecting the appropriate material and regular maintenance will make the budget work. Below are 3 safety features that public playgrounds must have. Make sure you check them out before allowing your child to play.

1. Padded structures

Foams are readily available and are very affordable. However, foams aren’t weatherproof, making them a magnet for germs and bacteria. A smarter option would be industrial rubber sheets. They are durable, weatherproof and they can certainly do the job. There are basic colors to choose from, so you don’t have to settle for black all the time. Buying in bulk would make them even more cost-effective.

2. Rubber mulch flooring

Flooring is very important, as children in playgrounds are prone to accidents. Rubber mulcheffectively breaks falls and absorbs impact. The material is also non-toxic.

Rubber mulch is maintenance-free. It keeps dust and dirt to a minimum on its own, because it allows rain water to seep through the ground. Rubber mulch is also weatherproof and durable, so your local government doesn’t have to worry about changing the flooring every so often.

3. Clean and rust-proof

Minor playground accidents like small cuts could become an emergency room episode when rust comes into play. Infections could mean Tetanus, which will require a lot of treatments and an army of antibiotics—very nasty.

The best thing to do is to schedule periodic rust-checks so that there won’t be any surprises. You can lead this, and set up a schedule with other parents. Work with your local government to assure the safety of your children while they play.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 at 9:20 am and is filed under Playground. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.