Playground Question

[Unregistered]

What do you use under your playground equirment? Wood chips, bark mulch, grass or dirt, sand etc.

[Michael]

Rubber Mulch is another alternative: http://rubberecycle.com/

[Former Teacher]

My former center had pea gravel but I am sure there are better options are there

[mac60]

I started out having my Little Tykes climber and castle on the grass. The grass got wore down to mudd, we had to move it everytime we mowed. it was a pain in the butt. Then I took over my husbands garden area. I used landscape timbers and edged the area off. I put down a weed barrier, then I went to Menards and for under $100 I bought the green outdoor carpet (it is recycled plastic so will last forever) and landscape U shaped things to hold it down. So, my playarea is covered with outdoor carpet. It works abosolutely great. When it rains, it dries faster than the grass, the water just seeps through. If it needs clean, I can sweep it with a broom or hose it off. It is no different than playing on the real grass, only without all the destruction and mess. It has went thru 2 winters and it is in the same condition as when I put it down.

I originally started out with mulch, and after spending about $75 in mulch the first year and it breaking down and needing much more the 2nd year, I came up with this. Not to count how many times I had to clean mulch out of my yard because they threw it all over the grass.

[originalkat]

I started out having my Little Tykes climber and castle on the grass. The grass got wore down to mudd, we had to move it everytime we mowed. it was a pain in the butt. Then I took over my husbands garden area. I used landscape timbers and edged the area off. I put down a weed barrier, then I went to Menards and for under $100 I bought the green outdoor carpet (it is recycled plastic so will last forever) and landscape U shaped things to hold it down. So, my playarea is covered with outdoor carpet. It works abosolutely great. When it rains, it dries faster than the grass, the water just seeps through. If it needs clean, I can sweep it with a broom or hose it off. It is no different than playing on the real grass, only without all the destruction and mess. It has went thru 2 winters and it is in the same condition as when I put it down.

I originally started out with mulch, and after spending about $75 in mulch the first year and it breaking down and needing much more the 2nd year, I came up with this. Not to count how many times I had to clean mulch out of my yard because they threw it all over the grass.

I HEAR YOU MAC 60! Right now we have our play structure on the grass. I pull it around to different areas of the yard when the grass starts to wear down to mud. Not to mention the pain of moving it EVERY time we mow! This summer I plan to redo the play area and am really wondering what to do for the surface under it. I too dont want wood chips all over the grass but that is what I was planning on buying. How would you prevent this from happening?!? Do you have any pictures of your fake grass area? I am interested in exploring this option but would love to see what it looks like first.

[mac60]

original kat....send your email to my private message and I will email you a pic.

[Liliya]

I started out having my Little Tykes climber and castle on the grass. The grass got wore down to mudd, we had to move it everytime we mowed. it was a pain in the butt. Then I took over my husbands garden area. I used landscape timbers and edged the area off. I put down a weed barrier, then I went to Menards and for under $100 I bought the green outdoor carpet (it is recycled plastic so will last forever) and landscape U shaped things to hold it down. So, my playarea is covered with outdoor carpet. It works abosolutely great. When it rains, it dries faster than the grass, the water just seeps through. If it needs clean, I can sweep it with a broom or hose it off. It is no different than playing on the real grass, only without all the destruction and mess. It has went thru 2 winters and it is in the same condition as when I put it down.

I originally started out with mulch, and after spending about $75 in mulch the first year and it breaking down and needing much more the 2nd year, I came up with this. Not to count how many times I had to clean mulch out of my yard because they threw it all over the grass.

What do you put under that carpet,?I use wooden chips now and it is a pain,I have to add more chips every year and for my assessments it is never enough,All I know it should be 4 inches deep. So,how it will work with that carpet.Can you please send me a picture too???I will send you my e-mail.

[Childminder]

Mac60 I like the idea of your grass carpet! I don't see why I can't use it right over the mulch. I use engineered mulch, I can't stand the pea gravel it gets tracked in or the babies are always eating the stones. I checked into the rubber mulch but it is exorbitant in price plus I worry about the babies eating it too. I guess I'd rather have them eat a tree rather than rubber, . I have 12 inches of mulch under the play structure which is conforming with the federal guidelines concerning the height of the fall zones for my equipment.

[mac60]

I used these lawn fabric U shaped things that are made for using on landscape fabric around the outside edges to keep it in place. They worked great.

[momma2girls]

I will try to post a pic. I did it. The trick is you have to resize your picture to a much smaller size. I do pull the teeter totter and picnic table out into the grass each day to spread out the activities.

This looks awesome!! Your puppies are cute as well!!

[mac60]

This looks awesome!! Your puppies are cute as well!!

It certainly beats the mulch mess, and it beats moving everything around when mowing, and it drains and dries off quickly.

[Liliya]

Mac60 I like the idea of your grass carpet! I don't see why I can't use it right over the mulch. I use engineered mulch, I can't stand the pea gravel it gets tracked in or the babies are always eating the stones. I checked into the rubber mulch but it is exorbitant in price plus I worry about the babies eating it too. I guess I'd rather have them eat a tree rather than rubber, . I have 12 inches of mulch under the play structure which is conforming with the federal guidelines concerning the height of the fall zones for my equipment.

12 inches deep?? how big is your playground? mine about 32 X 22 feet if I put 12 inches deep it is going to be a lot of money.

[Childminder]

Liliya, Play area is 20x33. We used the federal guidelines to determine the size and the mulch depth but your state might not be as picky. It has to do with the height of the equipment. I received a grant from my state for $3500 dollars to make my daycare more inclusive and we went with the feds rather than the state requirements because we wanted it to "look" good and it is much safer. Insurance and liability were also factored in. We do refresh it every two years and the mulch is engineered which costs a little more.

[originalkat]

You know what...I REALLY like this! It looks so neat and tidy. I know my dog would also lay on that warm fake grass as well. So mulch, no mess. In my state it says we can have grass under our play equipment as long as it is not "worn" so I dont see why I couldnt lay this right over my grass and be within regulation. Hmmm...thanks I will really have to look into this.

[Unregistered]

Green Carpet

I have a FCCH and I am too interested in placing the green carpet down for my play area. Having a mixture of children especially toddlers, I want them to be safe and be able to explore.
Do you have pictures and the process in how you did your play area?