Kids love playgrounds. Parents, school administrators and park officials are constantly trying to come up with cost effective ways to make their play areas safer and more accessible. Artificial grass is an ideal way to create a safe environment while still maintaining a tight budget. While it's common knowledge that a lawn made of artificial turf is virtually maintenance free, it is also much safer for children to play on. Learn about the 5 reasons to install artificial grass on playgrounds.
Creates a Smooth Playing Surface
High traffic areas can lead to dips and valleys being created in the soil. When children run and play, they do not always account for an uneven surface and end up falling or tripping. When artificial grass is installed, the ground beneath it is rolled and smoothed out eliminating dips or holes that can cause a child to trip or stumble. Before the actual artificial grass is put in place a layer of base material is used and that allows water to drain away.
Creates a softer playground
Lets face it, grounds are hard and kids are clumsy. Many playgrounds have climbing structures which increase the risk of injury due to falls. Artificial turf makes these playgrounds surfaces safer by installing a structural padding under the artificial turf which creates a very soft landing zone through the whole playground.
Doesn't Wear Away
Artificial grass does not wear away even when it is continually walked on. High volumes of foot traffic can kill grass leaving patches of dirt at the base of slides, under monkey bars and along walking paths. As the grass begins to dry, its roots also begin to shrink loosening the soil. The roots hold the soil in place and with them no longer there, the soil begins to dry out and erosion can take place. Artificial turf prevents this from happening and helps the playground remain level and smooth everywhere, including the bases of the slides, swings and monkey bars.
Eliminates Cuts and Scrapes from Stones or Gravel
Natural grass is supported by dirt, rocks and other types of debris. Children playing on a playground are not only exposed to bare dirt at the base of many pieces of playground equipment, they also face the hazards of what can be lurking deep within the blades of grass. Small rocks with sharp edges, twigs or other natural types of debris can be anywhere. Installing artificial turf minimizes the exposure to gravel, dirt and rocks. While twigs and debris from trees will still be present, it will be more visible and easier to avoid. Instead of spending hours raking or mowing to keep the grass presentable, a bagging lawn rake attached to the back of a riding lawn mower will easily remove the bulk of this type of debris preventing your children from being unnecessarily scratched or cut during their play time.
No Need for Harsh, Chemical Fertilizers or Weedkillers
Maintaining a playground area normally means several hours a week mowing, trimming, spraying for weeds and fertilizing. Natural grass is extremely high maintenance and can lead to dangerous conditions for small children who may be allergic or unable to tolerate the many chemicals that are often applied to a natural grass lawn. Installing artificial grass eliminates the need for those harsh chemicals and requires little to no regular maintenance on behalf of grounds keepers or park employees.
When natural grass is in place, weeds must be kept to a minimum while the grass must be allowed to flourish abundantly. The best way to accomplish both is to use chemical support. This can be extremely expensive and prevents children from using the area until the chemicals used have either evaporated or been washed away. In some cases, the directions on many weed and feed products recommend staying off the lawn for at least 24 hours to avoid any type of adverse reaction. Learn more about the benefits of artificial grass on playgrounds.
