The durability, low maintenance needs and improved fall safety of today's artificial turf is likely to increase its use on playgrounds and sports fields. A recent study also found synthetic surfacing more resistant to some bacteria than natural grass.

A growing number of daycares and schools nationwide are investing in synthetic turf surfaces for their playgrounds, creating more opportunities to play outside while promoting the safety and development of the kids they serve.

Third generation synthetic turf surfaces, first developed in the 1990s, increasingly use long-lasting fibers with less abrasiveness, thus reducing the risk of burns, and incorporate shock-absorbing granulates as filler material. Today, the most commonly used infill materials are granulates obtained from recycled tires (crumb rubber) or virgin synthetic materials, particularly EPDM and TPE2, which are manufactured specifically for this purpose, according to a July report from the Synthetic Turf Council (STC).

The turf installation at Hoaloha Kai Montessori School in Honolulu, Hawaii, includes a thick recycled foam underlayment and sand/rubber infill, creating a critical fall height of more than eight feet above a custom structure for 2-5-year-olds. Installers followed ASTM 1487 and CPSC guidelines to be sure the perimeter met or exceeded the use zone of the equipment.

A growing body of literature, spurred by concerns over the potential health risks of sustained active play on synthetic surfaces, has found that turf fields have no harmful effects on users, even in indoor settings with little ventilation. A 2010 study from California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), commissioned by the state's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), found that even in heavily used areas, "concentrations [of volatile organic chemicals] in the air over indoor artificial turf fields were below the associated screening levels for developmental/reproductive toxicity. This suggests there is a low risk for such health effects due to inhalation exposures." A 2009 EPA study yielded the same conclusion.

The OEHHA/CalRecycle study also found that synthetic turf fields containing crumb rubber infill from recycled tires were less likely to contain strains of Staphylococci bacteria than natural turf, "yield[ing] four to 10 different species of bacteria per field, compared to 11 to 14 species per natural turf field." The report suggests "environmental factors contributing to this difference may be the low moisture content and high temperature of artificial turf relative to natural turf."

Kapolei Elementary School in Oahu, Hawaii, chose synthetic turf with a 6'-11' safety fall height (NyLawn) and a Phyzics Jax Web and Center Stage structure (Miracle Recreation) for their "out-of-the-box" design.

Keeping Recess Accessible
The versatility of synthetic surfacing has undeniable advantages, including increased usage hours and stable performance over time with limited upkeep and maintenance compared to natural turf. "Outdoor play can improve a child's learning outcomes, self-esteem and physical well-being," said Dakota Harp, general manager of Synthetic Turf International (STI). "Able to be used year-round depending on climate, synthetic turf surfaces create safer, more visually stimulating playground environments."

The nonprofit International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) has noted that the expansion of active play, on playgrounds that include a variety of spaces and materials, can stimulate the imaginations of young people at all ability levels:

"Activities that involve running, jumping, play fighting and wrestling are especially beneficial to developing the areas of the brain that are deficient in children with ADHD. Physical activity can provide a non-medicinal method to reduce disruptive behavior and facilitate brain development in children diagnosed with ADHD."

The Goddard School of Urbana, Md., tried to use natural grass in their 4,000 square foot activity area, but it couldn't hold up to the 200 pairs of active feet using the area five days a week. Albanes Landscaping, Inc., installed as a replacement.

In January 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement about the importance of recess:

"Safe and well-supervised recess offers cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits that may not be fully appreciated when a decision is made to diminish it. Recess is unique from, and a complement to, physical education "?u not a substitute for it. The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that recess is a crucial and necessary component of a child's development and, as such, it should not be withheld for punitive or academic reasons."

While recesses sacrificed to a soggy playground or sports field are not meant to be "punitive," the installation of synthetic turf can prevent these losses, keeping kids active, healthy and happy.