Building a New Way….to Play!

The new playgrounds were designed specifically to preserve the existing trees and retain grassy areas adjacent to the central playground. While the playground area will be squared off and enlarged slightly, there will still be 15-20 feet of grass along the east and south sides.

The manufacturer of the playground equipment, BCI Burke, is the only company in their industry to be named a Green Power Partner by the EPA. All of the playground equipment is manufactured in the United States, avoiding the environmental impact of international shipping.

The Playground Committee spent considerable time researching different groundcover options and settled on artificial grass. Poured rubber gets very hot in Texas heat and requires expensive resurfacing at least once during its lifespan, so we ruled that out pretty quickly. The current wood mulch playground requires that we truck in mulch at least annually, at a cost of $3,500-$5,000 per delivery. Every time it rains the facilities staff have to redistribute the mulch to re-cover the areas where it has washed away. Most families we’ve talked to prefer groundcover options other than wood mulch. We determined that artificial grass is the best option when considering factors of accessibility, aesthetics, maintenance, and sustainability.

There are many kinds of artificial grass, and the kind Child’s Play, Inc. uses for their playgrounds is quite sophisticated. Before installation they dig down at least a foot, adding geotextile (to separate the soil sub-base from the added layers), a layer of crushed stone, then padding, then the turf, then sand infill to weigh the turf down. This provides a safe cushion for the inevitable falls and stumbles and allows for water drainage. All groundcover will experience wear and tear over time, and with artificial grass it’s easy to cut out a worn section and replace it (e.g. at the bottom of a slide).

The SYNLawn artificial grass has the following advantages:

• HeatBlock technology combats heat absorption by reducing the sheen of the grass fibers and minimizes heat emissivity by reflecting more infrared light, preventing it from fading and absorbing heat, keeping it cooler during the midday sun.
• SYNLawn is the only provider of USDA bio-preferred turf – contains 80% plant or biobased components, biodegradable, renewable resources (soybeans) used instead of petroleum-based polyol.
• EnviroLoc+ woven backing system provides long-term durability above industry standard, maximum drainage (drainage rate of up to 1,200 inches per hour), weather resistance and insect resistance, and an antimicrobial coating.
• SYNLawn contains no PFAS or other ingredients harmful to people or the plant and animal life in its vicinity. They continually use third-party testing to ensure their product’s safety.

April-June 2023             Visit with congregants about the playground project

July – August 2023        Building a New Way…to Play! Fundraising Campaign

July 2023 – April 2024   Pledge fulfillment period

November 2023           Sign contract and place order with Child’s Play, Inc.

April 2024    Playground installation; Campaign wraps up, pledges fulfilled

We reached out to a couple organizations that reuse and refurbish playground equipment, installing it in places around the world that cannot afford a new playground. Unfortunately, our current playground equipment is so old (over 25 years) that it is not eligible to be reused, primarily for safety reasons. It has served multiple generations of children and provided a space for fun, friendship, and faith development here at First Church! Playground technology and design has come a long way since we installed the current playgrounds, so it’s time for the equipment to be retired. All of the metal and plastic materials will be recycled.

Some elements of the old playground will be repurposed and reused on our church campus. The leaf spinner, which is newer and is enjoyed by many, is being re-installed in the new playground. Some of the existing courtyard seating will be refinished. The rough stones located by the peace pole/tree sculpture will be relocated to another part of campus where they don’t pose a safety risk.