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Tag: Playgrounds

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Schiliro, Traversi, Degan, Pignata, Alessandria, Scozia,  Bono, & Gilli, 2012

The public has recently raised concerns regarding potential human health and environmental risks associated with tire crumb constituents in the artificial turf of football fields. The aim of the present study was to develop an environmental analysis drawing a comparison between artificial turf football fields and urban areas relative to concentrations of particles (PM10 and PM2.5) and related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aromatic hydrocarbons (BTXs), and mutagenicity of organic extracts from PM10 and PM2.5. No significant differences were found between PM10 concentrations at an urban site and on a turf football field, both during warm and in cold seasons, either with or without on-field activity. PM2.5 concentrations were significantly greater at the urban site in the cold season as was the ratio of PM2.5 to PM10. BTXs were significantly greater at urban sites than on turf football fields on both on warm and cold days. The ratio of toluene to benzene (T/B ratio) was always comparable with that of normal urban conditions. The concentration of PAHs on the monitored football fields was comparable with urban levels during the two different sampling periods, and the contribution of PAHs released from the granular material was negligible. PM10 organic extract mutagenicity for artificial turf football fields was greater, whereas PM2.5 organic extract mutagenicity was lower, compared with the urban site studied. However, both organic extract mutagenicity values were comparable with the organic extract mutagenicity reported in the literature for urban sites. On the basis of environmental monitoring, artificial turf football fields present no more exposure risks than the rest of the city.

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Pavilonis, Weisel, Buckley, and Lioy, 2011

To reduce maintenance costs, municipalities and schools are starting to replace natural grass fields with a new generation synthetic turf. Unlike Astro-Turf, which was first introduced in the 1960’s, synthetic field turf provides more cushioning to athletes. Part of this cushioning comes from materials like crumb rubber infill, which is manufactured from recycled tires and may contain a variety of chemicals. The goal of this study was to evaluate potential exposures from playing on artificial turf fields and associated risks to trace metals, semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by examining typical artificial turf fibers (n=8), different types of infill (n=8), and samples from actual fields (n=7). Three artificial biofluids were prepared which included: lung, sweat, and digestive fluids. Artificial biofluids were hypothesized to yield a more representative estimation of dose than the levels obtained from total extraction methods. PAHs were routinely below the limit of detection across all three biofluids precluding completion of a meaningful risk assessment. No SVOCs were identified at quantifiable levels in any extracts based on a match of their mass spectrum to compounds that are regulated in soil. The metals were measurable but at concentrations for which human health risk was estimated to be low. The study demonstrated that for the products and fields we tested, exposure to infill and artificial turf was generally considered de minimus, with the possible exception of lead for some fields and materials.

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Acar, 2015

The purpose of landscape design is to design comfortable spaces that meet people’s needs and demands in open spaces. Depending on the users and activities, the forms and capacities of these spaces and equipment vary. These spaces where such activities will take place are designed according to such criteria as design concept, activity type, the location of the area to be designed etc. In this study, the spaces are designed based on the activity type.

For this purpose, a module was chosen based on activity type, and spaces were created by bringing several of this module together in different sizes and directions. This method was tested in a playground design study in the Child, Play and Design course at the Department of Landscape Architecture, Karadeniz Technical University, because playground design is one of the exciting fields of the study of landscape architecture. Additionally, unlike adults, children perceive the functional features of the environment; in otherwords, they perceive the opportunities that the elements in the environment offer. The affordances offered by the modules provide a functional use of the space. Therefore, in this method, modules were determined according to affordances. Eventually, the resulting design products showed that this approach is assessable in the open space design.

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NRPA, 2011

Playground injuries have become a formidable concern for American parents. As children settle back in for the new school year, the realities of potential playground risks come to light -- especially as budgets for schools and public parks are slashed across the nation. NRPA is not only encouraging, but guiding playground safety with "The Dirty Dozen." Published as part of NRPA's grassroots initiative known as America's Backyard, "The Dirty Dozen" identifies and offers solutions for the 12 most common safety concerns and leading causes of injury on playgrounds. Parents, teachers, guardians and all child caregivers can use the report as a guide to ensure safe environments on our community playgrounds.

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Vence, 2012

When children go to a playground, fun is the ultimate goal—especially with so much to choose from. Twisty slides, crawl-through tunnels, swings, monkey bars and more can keep children entertained for hours. But, ahead of having fun, safety still needs to be the No. 1 priority.

The fact is that the main source of playground injuries is falls to the surface, though "there are three other areas that need attention because they are related: supervision of the children, age-appropriate design (taking the children to the wrong age level of equipment) and equipment maintenance (the equipment may be broken)," said Donna Thompson, Ph.D., executive director of the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS), a Cedar Falls, Iowa-based nonprofit organization that delivers training and services about outdoor play and safety.

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DLR Group

School facilities are evolving from traditional indoor learning spaces to multiple-dimensional spaces that use the entire campus as a learning environment. During our school planning work sessions and design charrettes with students, the message they consistently convey to our designers is the desire to freely move outdoors during the day. It is clear that access to outdoor spaces enhances the overall educational and social experience. Studies by the American Institutes for Research and the Council for Educational Facility Planners International indicate students’ overall health and test scores can benefit from outdoor activity.

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21st Century School Fund, 2011

Quality schoolyards are important places for elementary schools because outdoor activities are critical for growth, health, education and enjoyment. All children should experience pleasant and well equipped outdoor environments on a daily basis.

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Richard Weeks, 2010. Last Wednesday evening, the fictitious Liberty District School Board spent an hour discussing rental fees for the new Liberty Elementary School playground and athletic fields. During the televised discussion, the district’s school business official passed the superintendent a note that read, “Shouldn’t we be more concerned about the possi- bility that the pressure-treated wood on the playground is contaminated with arsenic?” The superintendent passed the note back to her with this response: “Now is not the time nor the place to discuss the possibility of leeched arsenic all over the playground. Please handle this tomorrow.”

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