Kids can entertain themselves for hours at a playground, running, daydreaming, making friends, and breathing in the fresh air. However, there can be a big difference between a well-maintained play area and a park that has seen better days. If you want kids to feel safe, comfortable, and free to play, paying attention to playground turf is a good way to ensure plenty of future happy days.
When choosing playground turf or surfacing, it’s important to consider the most essential features of the ground under the play area. The turf type you choose should be durable enough to withstand countless hours of play while still being soft enough to avoid injuries.
Regular grass doesn’t always work well in playground situations since it’s often worn away in areas of high traffic, like at the bottom of the slide or under the swings. Mulch can be spread back over bare areas, but wood mulch can poke painfully when kids fall on their hands and knees.
You may also see a few other popular playground turf options. Rubber mulch, for instance, combines the quality of regular mulch with a softer touch. Poured-in rubber is a soft, springy, uniform surface that can be installed beneath the entire play area.
While each surface offers a different set of advantages, if you want playground turf that mimics the look and feel of natural greenery, then artificial grass will be your best choice. This type of playground turf is durable, so it won’t easily be worn away, but it’s also soft enough to protect kids from skinned hands and knees. Artificial grass can be a uniform green surface, but it can also be made to closely imitate the natural look of real grass growth, giving you a seamless transition from your yard to your children’s play area.