Archive for the ‘playground flooring’ Category

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Smokers Contaminating Rubber Mulch in Playgrounds

Friday, July 20th, 2012

A large part of the beauty and function of a playground is the fact that it is a clean, safe place for children to play. This oasis of safety is breached when cigarettes enter the playground. The abundance of cigarette butts found in playgrounds around the country is increasing, a disturbing fact. The problem is twofold: second-hand smoke is known to be harmful, and when the cigarettes are thrown on the floor rather than put out in ashtrays children end up having access to them.

Forsyth Park, in Savanahh, Georgia, is victim to countless cigarette butts littering playground flooring. Rubber mulch is excellent for children, but the dirty cigarette butts get mixed in with the mulch, contaminating it with smoke and germs. Different cities have varying laws in regards to smoking in playgrounds. Smoking is allowed in Forsyth Park, but smokers may not light up within ten feet of an outdoor playground. There are obviously many people breaking the law because the mulch is littered with cigarette butts. It is possible that some cigarettes are blown in with leaf blowers and wind.

In order to rectify the situation the city must completely remulch the park. Rubber mulch flooring is the safest playground flooring available, and Playsafer mulch has been approved by the ASPCA. However, remulching requires tax dollars that would otherwise be put to good use. Those who shop rubber mulch can find great deals when purchasing bulk rubber mulch, but the expense is still one that can easily be prevented by smokers abiding by the rules.

Many cities and communities are considering banning smoking in or near parks altogether. In fact, the skateboard park in Warwick’s Veterans Memorial Park already is a tobacco-free zone and trustee Bill Lindberg recently announced that he is looking into expanding that ban.

Many cities spend hard-earned tax dollars on playground mulch in order to keep children safe, and smokers who contaminate the mulch work to reverse all the safety that the mulch enforces.

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Posted in commercial playgrounds, Mulch, Parks, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle | Comments Off

Spectacular Playgrounds – Part 2

Monday, June 18th, 2012

As summer heats up there’s no better way to occupy the kids than to visit America’s coolest playgrounds. Many commercial playgrounds being built today feature rubber mulch flooring and rubber wearmats as staples in their equipment, because the mulch has been proven to provide added safety measures that go unmatched. Ranging across the United States, these incredible playgrounds offer an extra something that will keep the kids healthy and happy for hours of play.

MonstroCity – City Museum

Located in St. Louis, Missouri, the MonstroCity playground is part of the St. Louis City Museum, and is, in the words of the museum, “a captivating collision of old and new, architectural castoffs and post-apocalyptic chaos, MonstroCity is at once interactive sculpture and playground. Comprised of wrought iron slinkies, fire trucks, stone turrets, airplane fuselages, slides of all sizes and shapes, and a pair of ball pits modeled after the Thunderdome, MonstroCity inspires a child-like sense of bravado in guests of all ages.” It also boasts a large patio right in the middle of all the action where guests can survey the bedlam and admire the architecture.

Kamakana Playground

Aside for the classic beach resorts and breathtaking views, Hawaii is home to Kamakana Playground, every child’s dream. It boasts a zip line, model train and ship, climbing structures, and incredible views of the surrounding ocean. For the intellectually inclined the park even offers chess tables built into lava rock, in keeping with the park’s aesthetics. Playground rubber mulch also works with the design of any park, with a variety of color options.

Yerba Buena Gardens

A large part of the novelty of Yerba Buena Gardens is its location, at the top of Moscone Convention Center in downtown San Francisco. The playground is made up entirely of spongy rubber mulch flooring that is extremely tactile and susceptible to kids bouncing around. It features a twenty-five foot slide that lands in the pit of rubber mulch, and is designed in a variety of bright colors that appeal to children’s every sense.

New York City Hall of Science Playground

The Hall of Science Playground in Queens, New York City is home to the biggest playground in the country. In keeping the museum’s mission, the playground helps kids explore and learn about light, sound, and mechanics, while having a blast on a never-ending array of playground equipment.

There is no better way for children to learn about their environment than through self-exploration on the playground, and the safest playgrounds have rubber mulch flooring.

 

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Mulch in Theme Parks

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

The advent of summer always comes with long days of blissful boredom and days at the beach. For many parents, however, summer also comes with the headache of figuring out what to do with the kids during the long hours of boredom that plague them. Clubs and day camps are good, but they only make up for a small part of the day. A great way to give the kids a good time is by taking them to the amusement park. While this may seem like a hassle and conspicuous consumption, when done correctly this isn’t the case.

If you know you have a whole summer ahead of you, purchase season tickets to a theme park or amusement park that is close to home. This lowers the cost significantly. How? Let’s take a prominent theme park as an example; Six Flags Great Adventures charges an average of sixty dollars for season passes. If you make it a once a week trip, bringing sandwiches and keeping the kids happy all day, you visit the park an average of eight times, totaling less than ten dollars per child for a full day of keeping them occupied.  This is a bargain; just a trip to Michael’s to get some crafts can quickly add up, costing twenty dollars per child. A large park like Six Flags also offers lots of fun and excitement to keep the kids busy all summer long, and carpooling with friends is also a great way to minimize transportation time.

Aside for being a great way to keep the kids busy, some amusement and theme parks feature rubber mulch playground flooring, which is an extra safety measure, and helps educate kids about the importance of going green. In fact, Six Flags just announced that for the next three years they will be encouraging the safety and eco-friendly aspect of rubber mulch by encouraging patrons to scan barcodes at mulch scanning areas in order to receive a coupon for mulch at Lowe’s.

As the world’s largest regional theme park company, the move by Six Flags to promote playground mulch says a lot about its importance in playgrounds, theme parks, landscaping, and for many other uses.

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Earth Day 2012

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

There are days and national holidays to commemorate various turning points in history and birthdays of leaders of our nation. Each one comes and goes with relief at a day off from work and school, but that’s about it. There’s no sentiment involved. And then there’s Earth Day. Earth Day is more than just a commemoration; it’s a call to action, urging people worldwide to help save our planet.

This year, the Earth Day Network is working to trigger a billion acts of green, the largest environmental service campaign in the world. They are steadily building commitments by individuals, organizations, governments, and businesses, in honor of Earth Day.

Rubberecycle, manufacturers of rubber mulch, work year round to contribute to the Green Revolution by manufacturing rubber mulch from recycled rubber tires. Rubberecycle manufactures Playsafer playground mulch and other products that are environmentally friendly. They work tirelessly to bring awareness to the great cause of the Green Revolution, in much the same way as the Earth Day Network. On this day, Earth Day, there is no better time to help support the environment by purchasing recycled rubber mulch that will keep kids safe all summer long.

A Billion Acts of Green inspires and rewards both simple individual acts and larger organizational initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and support sustainability. The goal is to register one billion actions in advance of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development happening in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.

This year, Earth Day is being heralded by a reception in Washington D.C.’s National Mall, and events across the country. Some notable contributions to a Billion Acts of Green include:

Schools Becoming Green: Earth Day Network has worked to remodel40 schools across the globe with eco-friendly technologies and resources. From installing solar panels to planting school gardens, the progress in education has been incredible, and continues to grow.

Ocean Conservancy: More than 10 million green acts came from the Ocean Conservancy, following their annual International Costal Clean-Up Day, which has seen nearly 9 million volunteers from 152 countries work to clean shores, streams, rivers and the ocean.

Earth Hour: Every year on March 26, millions of people participate in Earth Hour, turning off their electricity.

Earth Day Philippines: Through massive tree plantings, water projects, river clean-ups, recycling drives and school greenings, Earth Day Philippines contributed over 12 million Acts of Green.

Peace Corps: In partnership with the Peace Corps, Earth Day Network worked with local volunteers to implement environmental and civic education programs, tree-plantings, village clean-ups and recycling seminars in rural areas of Ukraine, Georgia, Albania and Paraguay, helping to build environmental awareness in some of the world’s most underserved communities.

 

 

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Posted in Arbor Day, Environment, Mulch, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle, Rubberecycle Manufacturer, tire mulch | Comments Off

Baseball and Rubber Flooring

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

…And Kentucky wins! Coach John Callipari has led his team to victory with a future NBA star in Anthony Davis leading the way for Kentucky. When March Madness is over it heralds the arrival of America’s favorite pastime; baseball. Many look forward to Sunday afternoons in the park eating hot dogs and beer while cheering on their teams. There is, however, one part of the game that many miss, thinking it insignificant. This is the pre-game stretches and workout sessions, in training rooms that are equipped with rubber flooring.

Every Major League ballplayer will tell you that these stretches are of utmost importance; no player wants to jump for a high fly ball and overextend their body, resulting in injury. The importance of stretching and loosening up before the game can provide a valuable lesson for children of all ages – that health and keeping one’s body in shape comes before everything else.

Every MLB team has a state of the art workout room where the players get in shape, and of utmost importance to the players is that this workout room should be covered in rubber flooring. As funny as it sounds, rubber plays a big part in baseball. From the rubber soled sneakers and cleats that provide a rock solid grip when stealing bases and chasing errant ground balls, to the flooring in gyms, rubber enhances the players’ ability to achieve greater success. The importance in the type of flooring is evident in the differences players find when playing on grass or artificial turf. Different surfaces have varied characteristics, and rubber is the gold standard.

One way that Rubberecycle rubber mulch flooring is different from its rubber counterparts is that it is recycled, another great point to make in children’s education. Children may recognize the rubber used in baseball as a close cousin of the rubber in playgrounds because both work toward the same goal; better safety while having fun. Next time you’re at the ballpark come early to watch the players stretch, and stress the importance of their actions to your children in the hope that one day they will follow suit.

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Posted in Mulch, Parks, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle, Rubberecycle Manufacturer | Comments Off

5 Spectacular Playgrounds

Monday, March 19th, 2012

Playgrounds today are becoming more and more sophisticated, with carefully planned designs and themes, extreme safety measures, making rubber mulch flooring a standard, and playground equipment that is meant to stimulate young minds and bodies. Some cities across the U.S. take this phenomenon to a whole new level, with playgrounds that are appealing and unbelievable!

Clemyjontri Park

Located in McLean, Virginia, Clemyjontri Park is built with a rainbow of colors that make a splash. The motto of the park is “Where every child can play,” and this is the case, with equipment that is wheelchair accessible and allows disabled and healthy children to play side by side. Some ways in which this is achieved is with ramps connecting structures, swings with high backs, arm rests, and other safety features, rubber mulch surfacing that allows wheelchairs to roll easily, and other accommodations. The park also boasts a wide variety of activities and equipment that teaches reading, time-telling, and balance skills.

The Geometry Playground

This playground is more of an exhibit than a playground, as it is part of San Francisco’s Exploratorium museum, and it travels between cities. The Geometry Playground is built with geometrical factors that stretch limbs as well as minds. The playground is currently at the Don Harrington Discovery Center in Amarillo, Texas. It has inspired a Geometric structure that is being installed in the playground of a San Francisco school.

Adventure Playground

Located in Berkeley, California, the Adventure Playground is not finished. That’s right, kids who visit are armed with hammers, nails, and ropes, and are instructed in how to build their own structures. There’s nothing like swinging on a zip-line that you made yourself, and the Adventure Playground gives kids the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Powell Barnett Park

This park in Seattle, WA was named for a local community hero, and is as impressive as its name. It features amenities such as a wading pool, Frisbee field, and mini castles, equipped with turrets and all. It even offers elaborate climbing structures and a tricycle maze! The Powell Barnett Park is the park for the kid who has it all and has seen it all.

Franklin Square

Philadelphia is a city of history, and nothing says it like Franklin Square, a conglomeration of old and new. Located in Philadelphia’s Historic District, Franklin Square is one of the five original squares planned for the city by William Penn. It features a nod to its heritage with a beautiful carousel, mini-golf course, and a shaded play area, as well as high tech new playground equipment and rubber mulch flooring. It’s the perfect place for kids to learn about the past while having fun.

 

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A Day Out with the Kids

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Being a parent is a tough job. From when our children are infants until they are teenagers, there are countless challenges we face daily. However, the pros of raising a family far outweigh the cons. One of the joys of parenthood is watching your child’s face light up when doing something fun together. Whether it’s going bowling together or just out for coffee, joyful moments abound throughout your child’s upbringing, and there are many great ways to spend quality time with your child safely.

A great example of a day out with the kids would be going to the local indoor funplex. Generally these places feature arcades, laser tag, and the central attraction: an indoor playground. Who can forget sliding right into a pool of colorful balls and throwing them playfully at one another.  There are many ways our children can have fun, but as every parent will tell you, the most important thing is safety. People very often don’t realize how much rubber bond affects playground safety.  In one nationwide survey, playgrounds with rubber bond were shown to have 25% less accidental injuries than their counterparts. Knowing about rubber bond protection before visiting a local indoor playground sounds like a laughable and mundane subject, until you see a child with a broken arm or leg. We must take action now before accidents happen, and urge all indoor playgrounds that rubber bond flooring is a necessity; not a luxury. Don’t wait until it’s your child.

Another place very far removed from indoor playgrounds, yet a source of fun for many teens, is the shooting range. When following all safety precautions a shooting range can provide many educational and life lessons. Rubber flooring is key in providing shooting range safety. When one walks into a shooting range with rubber bond, the first thing they notice is the noise level, or lack thereof. Because the bullets hit the rubber, the noise level is significantly lower. You can actually carry out a normal conversation, contrary to most shooting ranges. More importantly, in some rare cases bullets have ricocheted off the concrete walls and caused severe injuries. Rubber bond prevents this hazard.

Of equal importance is the fact that rubber bond is made up of 100% recycled rubber, allowing you to shoot away with a clear conscience, knowing as you fire away, attempting to hit the bulls’ eye, that you are helping this world become a better place by protecting the environment we live in. Of course, don’t forget to impart this important lesson to your soon-to-be adults.

Having a great day out with your kids can be spent teaching them important lessons in life while helping make this world a better place for them in the years to come.

 

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New Solar Panels and Coupon Codes for Playsafer Mulch

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Although dedicated to a good cause, the green industry has been tarnished by companies that tout green products that aren’t really green at all. When thousands of gallons of fuel is consumed on transport, and deforestation, pollution, and other side effects occur as the result of the manufacture of a product, it’s just not that eco-conscious anymore. Enter Rubberecycle, makers of Playsafer rubber mulch.

Rubberecycle is constantly looking for innovative ways to improve their products, and they have now raised the bar by installing energy-efficient solar panels in their plant. The panels cover 200,000 square feet of the roof, with 1.1 megawatts of power capability, and cost an estimated $3,800,000. While this was an extremely expensive proposition, Rubberecycle found it necessary in an effort to reduce the huge amounts of energy needed to power their machinery. With this addition, Rubberecyce can truly say that their rubber mulch is 100% eco-friendly. The news of Rubberecycle’s new solar panels is groundbreaking, as major news agencies report it as the latest way to manufacture eco-friendly products.

Rubberecycle’s Playsafer playground mulch has also been endorsed by Michelle Obama, as it is the flooring that is used in the White House playground. She has stamped it with her seal of approval based on its eco-friendly nature, safety for children, and great quality.

To celebrate their new solar panels and allow more consumers to go green, Rubberecycle is now offering the promotional code ‘Rubberecycle Playsafer’ for an added 10% off any purchase of Playsafer mulch. Fans that Like Rubberecycle on Facebook will also be entered for a chance to win 20 pounds of Playsafer mulch. Just Like it and email your personal information, including your Facebook username, to info@rubberecycle.com.

Smart consumers understand that using Playsafer mulch keeps kids safe today, and ensures that they will enjoy a clean future. Going green today is what will keep the world going for our children’s tomorrow.

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Posted in Environment, Mulch, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle, Rubberecycle Manufacturer | Comments Off

New York Holds Annual Mulchfest

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Every year after Christmas, the streets are lined with orphaned Christmas trees awaiting their fate as the garbage trucks slowly make their rounds. In the past few years, New York City has been urging people to recycle their trees with Mulchfests. What this entails is that for two days after Christmas the city sets up centers in parks around New York and the five boroughs where people can bring their trees to be shredded into wood chips for free. Tree owners have the option of taking the wood chips home with them in a biodegradable bag provided by the city, or leaving them for the city’s use.

This year the Mulchfest will take place on January 7 and 8 in 70 sites around the city. 35 of the sites will be chipping sites, where the wood is shredded on the spot, and the other 35 will be drop-off sites, from where the city will collect the trees to be recycled. Last year, close to 17,000 Christmas trees were recycled, and New York officials hope to beat that number this year.

The Mulchfest is just one of the ways that the U.S. federal and state governments are trying to bring awareness to the importance of recycling and reusing. While wood chips have many practical uses, in some ways rubber mulch trumps wood. Rubber chips are also recycled, made from old tires. They are more durable than wood, lasting many years, and are great for use in playgrounds, horse arenas, and gardens.

Those who take part in the Mulchfest are trying to do their part to help clean up our planet. In the same vein, it is worthwhile to look into the many uses of rubber mulch, and continue the chain of recycling.

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Child Safety Precautions

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Making sure that your home is child proofed will go a long way to ensuring your peace of mind, and keeping your children safe. There are many safeguarding products on the market today, many of which can greatly improve your and your child’s daily life.

Outlet Covers

Every child goes through a stage where they are fascinated by the holes in the wall that we like to call outlets. Purchasing some plastic outlet covers for a few dollars will keep you from constantly having to pull little fingers away from the holes. Getting electrocuted is a real danger that can be serious. Outlet covers can prevent that with no hassle and a minimal expense.

Rubber Mulch

Playgrounds, the places where children should be safest, are often the sites of the most injuries. Rubber mulch flooring is hands-down the flooring material that will offer the highest degree of playground safety. With an extra measure of shock absorbency, tumbles and falls result in mere bruises rather than cuts and gashes. Although rubber mulch is a greater expense than something like outlet covers, it will go a long way toward ensuring the safety of your children on the playground.

Safety Locks

Although many parents know to purchase safety locks they may not realize that their child is old enough to get the cabinets open until it’s too late. Be proactive, purchase safety locks when your child is still young, and keep the cabinets locked. This can save lots of untold grief and trips to the ER, wondering what your child just ingested.

Child Gates

Gates are excellent for steps or other areas that are dangerous for a baby. A gate will allow you the peace of mind that your child doesn’t constantly have to be within arm’s reach. It is also good for cordoning off designated areas. For example, you can gate the kitchen off after you’ve washed the floor so it can dry without the baby crawling in.

Child safety features are not just objects of convenience, they are necessities for your child’s safety, and your peace of mind.

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