Playgrounds

[Sue1]

Recently went to a playground and scattered all around were bark chips mixed with sand. I didn't like this at all, but apparently it meets with the Australian Standards for playground surfaces. Any comments on this would interest me.

[jessgray]

i would prefer either bark chips or sand not them mixed together. thats just me though.

[heymamma]

I've never seen it mixed together....i like that foamy stuff...that way the kids dont go home with a nappy full of sand :no:

Did you know that foam stuff it made out of old tyres...my FIL told me when he was in the building industry...because they built alot of playgrounds & pre schools.

[Funkychicken]

I am not sure at what levels it is present, but most bulk bark chip contains arsenic as a treatment (think treated pine) so I am wary of spending too much time on it. Small doses I don't think is much of a problem but watch that your little ones don't suck on it or chew it.

[Angelmist♥]

We were just talking about this the other day, I think all parks should have the foam stuff.Especially now that there is so many needles/syringes found everywhere. DS1 has actually had splinters from the bark, so I really don't like it, and with sand anything could be in it.Really it's not only needles but also broken glass etc.

[Rell]

its better then nothing :yes: Back when we were kids there was no recycled tyre (the springy stuff) , sand or bark in playgrounds it was just hard dirt. But then again that was when playgrounds had alsorts of FUN equiptment.
The only problem with the bark is it makes kids clothes turn brown.

[Sue1]

That is exactly what I think nara, I would prefer the spongy surfaces. If a small child is running around playing and falls the bark chips could be just as dangerous as hard surfaces.

[sarah81]

All the parks near me in WA have sand and I hate it. If it rains the kids are covered in sticky sand. And it could have anything in it. But my DS's do love to dig so that is a bonus I guess. No idea what the standards are though.

[Rell]

Just a thought who has the recycled tyre stuff under there play eqiptment at home?

I have extreamly hard (due to the drought) ground. My kids are yet to hurt themselves on it.

Can we become to protective of our children???

[rynosmum]

I prefer the rubber as well, only because I always worry about glass, syringes or other scary things under the bark.