Playground Surface at New Elementary School Up in the Air

Meetings of the Conservation Commission (January 10, 2024), Board of Health (January 11, 2024), and Elementary School Building Committee (January 12, 2024) Discuss Playground Materials

These meetings were held over Zoom and were recorded.

Conservation Commission Voices Concerns about Poured in Place Rubber Playground Surface (January 10)

The Conservation Commission voiced reservations about run-off into the nearby Fort River of chemicals from synthetic poured-in-place rubber (PIP) playground surface, which is the current choice for the new elementary school. At its January 10 meeting, the commission granted the project a permit for preparatory site work, but required the representatives for the elementary school building project to return to obtain a permit for the playground surface. 

Conservation Commission Chair Michelle Labbe had previously said, at its December 15 meeting  “This is relevant to our jurisdiction because there is a storm water drain from the playgrounds that empties into riverfront and into bordering land subject to flooding. It’s very close to riverfront area, which is a critical cold water fishery. This type of material is known to have contaminants that aren’t good for people or ecology, and that is the concern.” 

The Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI) and National Center for Health Research have also advised against use of rubberized material in playgrounds, and the Children’s Environmental Health Network advises that users should “wash children’s hands immediately after they spend time on a [Rubber PIP] playground. This will get rid of any chemicals or heavy metals from crumb rubber, dirt (possible source of lead!) and sand, as well as bacteria and foreign objects.”

The playground area, located north of the planned school building, which is in the center of the site, is proposed to be about 15,000 square feet in area or more than the size of  three gymnasiums. The two full-size basketball courts and a circular area with half courts, located to the northeast of the school building, were not included in this discussion of materials.

Board of Health Discusses Alternatives to Poured-In-Place Rubber (January 11)
In response to a town resident, the Board of Health (BOH) reviewed several alternatives for rubber PIP playground surfaces. Rubber PIP, which is the surface at the new Groff Park playground, is made from recycled tires that are shredded and bonded together. The Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) of the elementary school project, Margaret Wood, led the discussion. She stated that rubber PIP has both pros and cons. It is the most resilient of available surfaces, theoretically making it safer for falls from equipment, and because many companies supply and repair it, it is possible to get competitive bids. The major disadvantages are that it is petroleum-based , with some off-gassing of fumes and leaching of chemicals. In addition, it  gets overly hot in warm temperatures, although use of lighter colored materials can reduce the heat problems.

The BOH discussion centered on alternatives to rubber PIP. Engineered wood fiber (EWF) is less expensive, but less likely to stay in place in highly trafficked areas and theoretically more subject to dog and other animals’ waste. In addition, loose engineered wood fiber presents a challenge for those in wheelchairs, although if it is  bonded, it is more accessible.

A new, promising alternative material is Corkeen, which is made using cork rather than crumb rubber. Because it is naturally light-colored, it does not have the heat retention of rubber PIP. In addition, it is non-toxic and sustainable. 

Although Corkeen has been used extensively in Europe since 2016, it is a fairly new product in the U.S., where the manufacturer has only one base, located in Louisiana. Corkeen came onto the U.S. market in 2022, and most Corkeen playgrounds so far are in Texas, where the heat mitigation is a large factor. Carlisle, Massachusetts used a small amount of the material at the entrance to a playground that mainly uses wood chips. Philadelphia recently installed a large Corkeen area (24,000 square feet) at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, but it is too soon to ascertain its durability through winters in the northeastern U.S. (However, the product has stood up well when used in Norway and Sweden.) Easton, Massachusetts is also installing a Corkeen playground.

Another issue with Corkeen is its cost. With only one supplier in the country and one licensed installer for each region, there is no competitive bidding on the product or its installation. Wood speculated that using Corkeen would add between $15,000 and $100,000 to the cost of the project. Although the cost might come down in the next five years, Wood said that right now  “it is a very hot product.”

BOH members felt they did not have enough information on the health implications of the different materials to make formal recommendations at this meeting. Premila Nair wanted to contact TURI and the National Center for Health Research about specific health risks of possible materials before the BOH finalizes its advice. Maureen Millea said the BOH should be concerned with the health issues of playground materials, specifically safety in falls, accessibility, and environmental aspects. Lauren Mills recommended that the project consider using combinations of different materials, to minimize both the cost and risks.

Wood indicated that the BOH has time to make its decision, as the final recommendation about which playground material to include in the construction bid, which is  expected to go out in July. 

Elementary School Building Committee Wants Design Team to Explore Alternatives to PIP (January 12)
The concerns about PIP rubber playground surfaces were discussed at the January 12 Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC)  meeting. The committee decided, by an 11–2 vote, to direct the design team to explore alternative surfaces and to present the options at the February 16 meeting. Town Manager Paul Bockelman voted against this option because it would require extra cost in design team time and have possible implications for future playground materials town-wide. School Director of Facilities Rupert Roy-Clark objected to the consideration of Corkeen as an option. He said he is skeptical of new products, citing the example of the early version of an electric school bus that the town obtained that has not worked for the past two years. He was also concerned about the availability of repair services for the product, since there are limited licensed contractors.

The selection of playground materials will be on the agenda for the February 8 BOH meeting and the February 16 ESBC meeting. After a material is chosen, the ESBC must go back to the Conservation Commission for approval.