Synthetic turf is a common solution for Pittsburgh playgrounds in recent years thanks to its effortless maintenance and safety ratings. Read on for ideas to build a beautiful and safe playground the Southwest Greens way.

WHY SYNTHETIC GRASS?

Synthetic grass will look good on your playground, but that’s one of the handful reasons why people and municipal authorities are installing it on playgrounds. Here are a few of the major advantages.

ENHANCED SAFETY

When you choose Southwest Greens you select a respected company and system that is tested independently. IPEMA Certified artificial grass and cushion for playgrounds are perfect for yards, schools, and communities. Our Play Collection not only looks great but also features thick padding under the turf surface to soften falls. You won’t have to bother about hazardous fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides with artificial grass either. Hard chemicals like these are absorbed into clothes and skin long after first contact and are a major concern for adults and children alike.

INCREASED COMFORT

Thanks to our wonderful Research and Development team, our grass gives the perfect fusion of aesthetics and endurance. Our turf blades employs top of the line raw materials and resins to look like natural grass.

Think about installing an intuitive cooling system like HydroChill® keeps the turf temperature even on the hottest summer days. This precoat is applied to the sand filling and activated by adding moisture (rain or a quick splash from the hose), to offer significant cooling for hot days.

HIGHLY DURABLE

Synthetic grass is the ideal choice for surfaces subject to high foot traffic like playgrounds and play areas, thanks to its durable design. Southwest Greens playground collection assures better shock absorption even in those spots which receives a regular beating (like the area at the end of a slide or the bottom of a fireman pole). You can count on it to last for years to come.

CLEANER SURFACE

The porous pad underlayer of Southwest Greens turf gives rapid drainage both vertically and horizontally. As a result, downpours will not leave muddy spots, and you won’t have to bother about storm-run-off exposing the playground to chemicals. For this reason many parks and communities, schools, and daycares have elected to install artificial turf on their play area.

MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE

If you’re looking to create a beautiful and safe playground, we have several ideas to guide you get your plannning started.

CHOOSE A THEME

Start by picking a amusing theme for your playground. You can do themes like spaceships, pirate ships, jungles, castles… the list keeps going! Don’t be afraid to combine ideas to find the perfect playground layout for your project.

INSTALL SHADE

Playground equipment can get hot on the dog days of summer. Today there are numerous alternatives for installing unnatural shade to combat this issue. Make sure to have a reputable contractor install these shade tents, so they fulfill all safety requirements.

GIVE ROOM TO GROW

Children grow so fast. If you are thinking about installing a playground, you should contemplate adding other areas that will attract the older little ones, too. Including items like swing sets and standard monkey bars alongside your playground equipment will fit various age groups.

ADD LIGHTING

Even if most playgrounds are shut down after dark, adding illumination can offer your space a beautiful focal point at night while providing security. Make sure if you decide to add ground lighting that you choose LED bulbs. LED lights do not make as much heat as standard bulbs, which means they are great for synthetic grass.

CREATE INTERESTING SURFACES

With synthetic turf, you can give more than just the fun of a playground to a recreation area. Kids love to play on hills. You can make ridges around the play equipment to provide a fun and different spin on things.

SAFETY RATINGS

The utmost priority of playing areas should be safety. Synthetic turf offers a safer area for kids to play hard. At Southwest Greens Pittsburgh, we take this seriously so you can have the best. We independently test systems; ASTM quality and safety standards include:

• ASTM quality and safety standards:
• ASTM 1292-09 (Fall Height)
• ASTM F 1551 (Coefficient of Friction)
• BS 7044 (Water Infiltration)
• BS 7044 (Water Infiltration)
• ASTM F 1951-99 (ADA)
• ASTM D2854 & FF 170 (Surface Flammability)
• ASTM F 2765 (Heavy Metal Content)
• ASTM D 2256-02 (Tensile Strength)

LET’S CREATE YOUR PLAYGROUND

Ready to craft your new playground? Southwest Greens Pittsburgh is here for you. Our team of professionals can assist you design and install the perfect play area for your space. Contact us today for a free consultation.