and rubber surfacing. The safety surfacing types have their own pros and cons based on longevity, maintenance, accessibility and cost.
An adequate safety surface installed to CSA standards, properly inspected and maintained can reduce the risk of injuries due to falls from play equipment. Due to the importance of the condition of surfacing in preventing injury, the risk of failure of the various types of surfacing was evaluated. Staff from Parks, Asset Planning and the CAO’s Office worked together to adapt the Corporate Enterprise Risk Measurement tool for use specific to playgrounds. Overall rubber surfacing was shown to be least prone to failure, engineered wood fiber was mid-range and sand and pea-stone were at the greatest risk of failure.
The wood fiber, sand and pea-stone materials have a higher risk of failure because they can be re-positioned or displaced easily with activity exposing the ground beneath. Weather, such as heavy rains and frequency of use can affect a playground surface with these materials. In turn, it is necessary to perform more frequent maintenance (tilling, top-up, etc.) to ensure the surfaces are in optimal condition and meet the standard.
A detailed comparison of playground surfacing materials from Safe Kids Canada is attached as Appendix ‘H’. In order for the material to be AODA compliant it must support a wheelchair. Of the four surfaces used by parks only two are accessible, rubber surfacing and engineered wood fiber. Sand and pea stone are not compliant for accessibility and their use as a safety surface greatly impacts and drains maintenance resources over the life span of the playground.
Further discussion of the lifecycle impact and maintenance costs associated with the various types of surfacing is included as part of the Financial Matters section. It should be noted that after running the financial model on all the surfacing options rubber surfacing although was the greatest initial investment was proven to be the most cost effective in the long run reducing overall maintenance costs, provides the best solution to reduce risk of injury to the user, and is the best option for accessibility that complies with all current standards. Therefore it is recommended that all future installations will be limited to rubber tile or poured in place rubber surfacing.
General Principles for Playground Replacement and Management
The following general principles for the development or redevelopment of playgrounds in our parks is provided below:
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Standards - Follow the most current standards from the CSA and AODA for playgrounds.
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Park Classification - Provide suitable playground equipment that is consistent with the classification of the parks, Regional/Community and Neighbhourhood.
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Safety Surfacing and Equipment -Select equipment and safety surfacing that provides quality play opportunities, minimizes maintenance and operating costs and reduces the risk of injury.
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Community Consultation - Communicate, consult and notify the public regarding the development or redevelopment of parks and playgrounds
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Demographics and User Groups – Target the most appropriate age group in equipment selection and playground design