Playground Maintenance for Facility Owners

Playground Surface Materials

Areas under playground equipment should be soft surfaces that protect children from injuries if they fall. Refer to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Public Playground Safety Handbook; the depth of surface material depends on the height of the equipment and type of material. Acceptable playground surface materials include:

  • Sand
  • Pea gravel
  • Undyed wood mulch or wood chips
  • Rubber (shredded, recycled, or poured in place)

Concrete, asphalt, blacktop, grass, and dirt do not provide enough cushion if a child falls.

Playground Equipment

  • Metal structures should be free of rust and peeling paint, which could contain lead if it is an older playground.
  • Swing seats should be made of plastic or rubber. Avoid metal or wood.
  • Wooden playground structures built before 2004 may have used chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood. Owners of existing CCA treated playgrounds should apply an oil- or water-based penetrating coating (stain or sealant) at least once per year to help reduce the leaching of chemicals. CCA is a wood preservative pesticide and was used to treat wood until it was banned. Exposure to CCA can lead to the potential ingestion of arsenic which can cause cancer.

Reduce Risks of Lead Poisoning

Lead is found in all soil and is extremely dangerous to children and adults. Lead is highly toxic to young children as it can impair learning and brain development. There is no safe level of exposure to lead for children. Most often, children get lead poisoned from swallowing or breathing in dust or putting nonfood items like dirt and loose chips from old paint into their mouths while playing.

Prevent lead exposures at playgrounds by:

  • Covering all soil at playgrounds with grass, landscape fabric, or mulch. Bare spots are a sign of wear and tear on heavily used areas or can exist in areas where it is difficult to grow grass.
  • Maintaining protective grass cover to prevent spots with bare soil. A well-maintained grass cover provides an excellent barrier that prevents dust and dirt from getting on clothing and hands, and from being swallowed.
  • Inspecting and cleaning playgrounds regularly. Look for any debris such as old, chipped paint or debris from overhead utility cables.
  • Reporting any damaged or downed overhead utility cables to your local utility company.

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