Landscape Architect Articles

The Benefits of Synthetic Grass for Playgrounds08-07-09 | News

The Benefits of Synthetic Grass for Playgrounds

By Donna Kent, marketing director, ForeverLawn, Inc., excerpted

According to the author, artificial grass installed over a proper base can provide an ASTM safety rating for fall heights up to 12 feet. A synthetic grass playground surface certified by the International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association, provides independent verification that the product has met a rigorous set of industry standards.
Image: ForeverLawn, Inc.

If an ASTM 1292 (Impact Attenuation of Surface Systems) certified safety surface is required, natural grass is not an option. That?EUR??,,????'?????<

More and more municipalities, schools, and youth facilities are installing artificial turf as the preferred safety surfacing option. Artificial turf is considered a revolutionary surfacing product in the playground industry because of the many advantages it offers.

Safety

Artificial grass installed over a proper base can provide an ASTM safety rating for fall heights up to 12 feet. A properly certified turf should also have a soft, consistent surface that is ADA accessible for easy wheelchair access. Since the grass won?EUR??,,????'?????<

Cleanliness

Kids stay cleaner when they play on a synthetic grass surface. There?EUR??,,????'?????<

Increased Longevity, Decreased Maintenance

Synthetic grass for playgrounds lasts longer and usually costs less than pour-in-place surfaces. While pour-in-place generally needs repairs after about five years, the functional longevity of artificial grass is closer to eight years or more. Synthetic grass systems designed specifically for playgrounds can offer a warranty of up to eight years, with little noticeable fading even in extreme temperatures. Repairs on pour-in-place surfaces are often costly and unattractive. With synthetic grass, repairs are much less frequent, and when they are done they are virtually unnoticeable.

Attractive Appearance

The advanced synthetic grass on the market today provides an extremely natural appearance. Those who have seen the latest products are often surprised at how real it looks. To make artificial turf even more appealing, some grass companies offer life-like features such as varied blade heights, shorter, textured blades at the base of the grass, and multiple colors to simulate real grass. More innovative artificial turf manufacturers make grass with a tan thatch that replicates natural grass even more than the all-green products.