Parks and playgrounds do more than add aesthetic appeal to your locality and city. They offer a place for children to grow and adults to thrive.
Moreover, they reinforce a community’s commitment to sustainability in the long run. Not surprisingly, authorities are more than keen to make these spaces as eco-friendly as possible. Although these initiatives entail some investment, it is a small price to make the city more beautiful and liveable. If you visualize sustainable play areas in your community, implementing some simple measures can make it possible. Here are some tips to ensure eco-friendliness for your local playground.
Prioritize safety
Safety comes above sustainability when it comes to constructing local playgrounds. After all, you cannot expect to compromise with the well-being of children on the ground. The walking surfaces should be non-slippery, and structures and installations must have optimal weight-bearing capacity. You can assess the weight-bearing needs by estimating the age and size of the kids who will use them. Moreover, consider the foot traffic in the area to decide the capacity of the installations.
Opt for non-toxic coatings
Kids constantly touch playground equipment and surfaces. Toxic coatings can lead to immense health hazards to children and the surrounding environment. Using non-toxic materials and paints is a key concern for the authorities. The last thing you want is to expose the little ones to toxins they ingest unknowingly. Ensure that neither equipment nor surfaces are coated with volatile organic compounds (V.O.C.s) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) because both are potentially harmful.
Consider recyclable equipment
Besides the surface coatings, the material of the equipment is also a concern from the eco-friendliness perspective. Whether installing from scratch or looking for replacements, consider commercial playground equipment made of recyclable materials. It is equally crucial to prioritize durability because durable structures are less likely to reach landfills and burden the environment. Moreover, they are inherently safe for the little ones.
Go the extra mile with quality control
Quality is another significant factor when it comes to ensuring the eco-friendliness of your local playground. It ensures durability and safety for your kids, and you cannot go slack with either of them. Buy equipment only from reliable manufacturers who consider sustainability an ethical responsibility. Besides vetting manufacturers, facilitate consistent quality check schedules for the existing installations. Ensure timely repair and replacement when needed.
Save power and water
Eco-friendliness goes beyond the equipment and installations in the playground. You should also take adequate measures to save power and water. It can help maximize the environmental sensitivity of the area. Switching to LED bulbs or solar power takes you a long way to conserve energy. Likewise, you can integrate water conservation measures such as rainwater harvesting to irrigate the landscaping. Automating irrigation is also a good way to prevent wastage of water.
Going eco-friendly takes small initiatives, but they can make big differences for communities, cities, and the world. Start with your local playground by implementing these easy measures. You need not do a lot to have a safer and happier space for little ones.
