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EvEr sincE playgrounds were first conceptualized, they’ve been evolving in terms of design and substance. What once began as a hub for imbuing good behavior, playgrounds have evolved into a space of limitless possibilities, where kids can foster their creativity and learn through fun and play. But playgrounds offer kids more than just a recreational outlet-they promote physical activity and foment cognitive skills, inspire adventure and encourage exploration, and build the confidence and social skills needed to make for well-adjusted adults.

As advancements in technology and sustainability have revolutionized nearly every industry, the manufacturing of commercial and residential playgrounds have aptly followed suit. In fact, the materials used to construct playgrounds have changed considerably over the years. Today’s market includes systems built from a wide range of materials, such as recycled steel and aluminum, following advancements in structural and reinforce-ment construction. Over the past two decades, the overall steel recycling rate has steadily increased, lowering the industry’s carbon footprint while maintaining the metal’s integral physical properties.1

Another traditional building material that has garnered support from envi-ronmental groups is ethically harvested wood. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood, as well as the more readily available Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)-certified wood, fulfill manufactur-ers’ need for forest products without compromising their ecosystems. Although both certifications ensure responsible for-est management, they compete within the market with heedlessly harvested product, often making them a more expensive alternative for playground manufacturing.

In addition to these new adaptations of conventional building materials, post-con-sumer high-density polyethylene (HDPE) recycled plastic lumber is perhaps the most dexterous choice for production. HDPE is among the most commonly used plastics in the United States, and its immense capabilities are transforming the manufacturing of commercial and residential playgrounds. In fact, it is so durable even the U.S. military is utilizing recycled HDPE to build bridges strong enough for tanks to travel on.2

Becoming a more environmentally sound industry is paramount, but it is equally as important that recycled build-ing components present a safe, enduring substitute for the materials that they’re replacing. HDPE recycled plastic lumber does just that; providing a durable, low-maintenance, weather-resistant material that resists rot, repels heat, and preserves color stability.

In addition to providing a greener alternative for traditional playgrounds, HDPE allows play spaces to be built in virtually any environment without the threat of deterioration, including wetlands, coastal regions, and areas of egregious temperatures. This advantage begets the concept of natural playgrounds, which encourage kids to engage with and in natural elements. Natural playgrounds help instill the importance of play dur-ing the formative years of childhood, and according to a recent study from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, spaces that incorporate natural elements are more beneficial to children and will inspire more play.3

While recycled materials boast innu-merable properties that make them

ideal for playground manufacturing, their greatest attribute lies in the reduc-tion of resource consumption and pol-lution. HDPE recycled plastic lumber effectively utilizes millions of recycled milk jugs, plastic bags, and water bottles that would otherwise end up in landfills. Additionally, it emits no harmful emis-sions during production, unlike some of its traditional manufacturing counter-parts.4

But structures aren’t the only part of the playground that are going green. Site furnishings, shading, shelters, and even surfacing products are emulating a more environmentally-friendly fabrica-tion. Tough, unyielding coverage options are becoming obsolete, with 100% post-consumer content available in the form of poured-in-place rubber, synthetic turf, wood fiber surfacing, and rubber tiles, all befitting a safer and more sustainable alternative. These low-maintenance prod-ucts are impervious to extreme tempera-tures, can withstand frequent foot traffic, and don’t require mowing, watering, or other costly upkeep.

As the playground manufacturing industry continues to benefit from eco-friendly advancements in construction and engineering, one could easily infer that the vast majority of playgrounds today have been constructed from sus-tainable materials like HDPE. However, according to reports from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, almost one-half of public playground equipment is constructed primarily of metal; of that allotment, nearly 80% is more than 10 years old and is not distin-guished as recycled content.5 Only a small

by John Ogden

Environmentally Friendly Playgrounds

www.playgroundmag.com Fall 2013 Playground Magazine 29

percentage is listed as plastic, and there are no definitive numbers regarding what type of plastic the playgrounds have been constructed from.

In the same US Consumer Product Safety Commission report, a substantial percentage of public equipment was listed to be in fair condition, and described as “rusted, broken, scarred, or abused.”5 Yet playgrounds manufactured from HDPE cannot suffer any of these impairments. They’re uniquely fabricated to prevent vandalism and graffiti. They resist rust and will never delaminate, chip, or absorb water like traditional materials. And unlike the playgrounds of yesteryear (which unfortunately remain prevalent throughout parks, day care facilities, apartment complexes, and more), they have the ability to contain additives such as flame retardants and UV stabilizers to keep them looking new for a lifetime.

It is our job as purveyors of play to provide the best commercial and residential playgrounds for kids to enjoy. Constructing safe spaces that engage chil-dren’s minds and bodies is the best way to ensure that they’re getting the full intellec-tual, emotional, social, and physical ben-efits of play. Playgrounds built from recy-cled components will sustain and provide a safe play environment for generations to come. By crafting playgrounds from eco-friendly materials, we’re teaching our children the true value of our environ-ment and allowing them the opportunity to experience it firsthand.

Butch DeFillippoPlaysafe and Live Well!

• Owner of PlaySafe, LLC, a Recre-ational Consulting Company.

• 32+ years of experience in the parks and recreation field.

• Holds a BA and MA degree in Parks and Recreation Administration.

• Certified Playground Safety Inspec-tor (CPSI).

• Serves on National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Certified Playground Safety Inspector Exam Review Committee.

• NRPA Certified Park and Recre-ation Professional.

• Stranco Public Pool Operator Certi-fication.

• TRIAX 2000 Surface Impact Tester.• Serves as a legal expert witness.

Read More at pgpnewscenter.com

References:1 Recycle-Steel.org (2010, February 20). Steel

Recycling Rates at a Glance.

2 Schwartz, Ariel (2009, November 13). Would You Feel Safe Driving Across a Recycled Bridge? Fast Company. Retrieved from http://www.fastcompany.com/1451763/would-you-feel-safe-driving-across-recycled-plastic-bridge

3 University of Tennessee at Knoxville (2012, Oc-tober 11). Natural playgrounds more beneficial to children, inspire more play, study finds.

4 United States Environmental Protection Agency (2011, December). Municipal Solid Waste Gen-eration, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States.

5 US Consumer Product Safety Commission (2012, July 23). Special Study: Injuries and Deaths Associated with Children’s Playground Equipment.

About thE AuthorJohn Ogden is the President of PDPlay, a manufacturer of recycled plastic play-ground equipment, site furnishings, nat-ural playgrounds and playground safety surfacing. Over the course of his 20+ year career, John has overseen numer-ous successful initiatives for a range of businesses from ventures at their earli-est stage of development to Fortune 500 companies. John’s career includes work in the public sector as a legislative aide in the United States Senate and co-founding a boutique winery in Sonoma.