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TH E RISE O F SY N TI ETIC TU RF A N DSA FETY PA D DN G <br /> 0 PTIO N SFO R PLAY G IDUNDSAFETY SURFACNG <br /> More Active, Creative and Stimulating <br /> In the search for more ideal safety surfaces to exceed vs. just meeting ASTM Attenuation and Fall Height <br /> Requirements, as well as the desire to increase outdoor play among children AND meet the needs of today's <br /> playground design trends, synthetic turf has become the safety surface of choice among city planners, playground <br /> decision makers, designers and end users. Because synthetic turf has performed so w ell on athletic fields, more <br /> and more designers are specifying it for playgrounds. <br /> Synthetic turf, w th additional padding options included betw een the base layer and the turf surface around play <br /> structures, is by far the safest playground surface option available today. And, along w th their improved drainage <br /> systems, synthetic turf surfaces allow children to play outside immediately after bad weather passes and also <br /> extends the season for outdoor play. <br /> Synthetic Turf is also ideally suited to meet the needs and design trends in today's playgrounds: <br /> • 1 m proving playability and creativity(designing exercise into play). <br /> • C reating age appropriate areas, graduated challenges (challenges are highly valued by kids) <br /> and flow between these areas. <br /> • N/b re use of color, mounds and hillsides as play areas. <br /> • C leaner play environm ents that are free from germ s and allergens. <br /> • N/b re natural looking and feeling play areas. <br /> As further proof of synthetic turf benefits, playground decision maker respondents to the "Investigating the State of <br /> Play" research ranked Critical Must Haves in their playgrounds. When looking at the top ranked factor of Cleanliness, <br /> synthetic turf is the best safety surface choice compared to loose-fill and poured-in-place rubber solutions. Further, <br /> synthetic turf is the best surface solution for other"safety" ranked items: Strict Safety Factors/Such as Fall Height <br /> Compliance and being Allergen-free. Synthetic turf also rises above alternative surfacing options as it relates to other <br /> m ust haves: Overall Appearance and Appeal, O\erall Fun Factor and Reduced Maintenance— Easy to Maintain. <br /> Item Ranking Item Ranking <br /> Cleanliness 9.2 Passive Spaces 7.7 <br /> Overall Appearance&Appeal 8.7 Safety and Age Appropriate Signage 7.7 <br /> Overall Fun Factor 8.7 Active Spaces 7.5 <br /> Socialization Spaces 8.2 Natural Play Elements 6.7 <br /> Regular Maintenance 8.0 Strict Safety Factors/Such as Fall Height Compliance 6.3 <br /> Safe Play Elements that Look Risky 7.8 Allergen-Free 6.2 <br /> Design/Elements for All Ages 7.7 <br /> ��J,UQvND Ce, <br /> a ­,0/ o YS <br /> o\ <br /> "For4rLawd <br />