The Country’s Greatest Playgrounds – Brought to you by IPEMA and the Voice of Play
September 13, 2018The Country’s Greatest Playgrounds – Brought to you by IPEMA and the Voice of Play
February 13, 2019The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) and the Voice of Play asked our membership to help us feature some of their favorite projects, sharing “great playgrounds” of all shapes and sizes.
Join us as we continue our journey to see the exciting, colorful and creative projects our members have shared with us! These playground submissions span the globe and we hope they inspire families to visit a “great playground” in their community. Click here to view the previous feature from IPEMA member BCI Burke Company and check out the next submission below!
sofSURFACES is a privately-owned company that manufactures and distributes highly-specialized, quality rubber safety surfacing products and solutions, founded in 1989 initially as a regional supplier of poured-in-place (PIP) safety surfacing for underneath children’s playground structures. However, they realized that the PIP system wasn’t feasible, due to factors outside of the company’s control in not being able to manipulate the quality or safety performance of the product. This forced them to recognize their true desire: to become an industry leader of high-quality, cutting-edge products. sofSURFACES was the first company that introduced the concept of locking safety tiles in 1992 and they continue to innovate with their safety surface products today.
Wade Walker Park – Stone Mountain, Georgia
This surface installation totaled 19,638 square feet of sofSURFACE’s duraSAFE Playground Tiles. Covering three separate playground areas, each site makes use of the unique combinations of both the plus and premium series tiles offered by sofSURFACE. Though the plus tiles come in six standard colors, the premium tiles were able to be fully customized to incorporate the colors of the playground equipment, using the “Design Center” tile renderer available at sofSURFACES.com/design-center. The most durable tile, the duraSAFE Plus Midnight Black Tile, was placed underneath slides and swings and in high-wear areas, due to the wear layer of a mixture of SBR Recycled Crumb (from car tires) and Buffing (a more fibrous recycled rubber from truck tires that is softer and more durable with stronger adhesion properties). Additionally, since the tile is completely black, it allows for tear and deterioration to not be as noticeable, as is on lighter, colored tiles that contain a 100% TPV (virgin rubber) wear layer. Watch the video to see more of the playground and surfacing.
Tampa Palms Hampton Park and Compton Park – Tampa, Florida
With both playgrounds located in private areas of Tampa Palms, proof of residency is required to access these Compton Park and Hampton Park playgrounds. With a surface installation totaling 9,444 square feet, duraSAFE Rubber Playground Tiles were used in a way that not only complemented the playground equipment but the feel of living on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Each site uses natural and structural shade cover to help prolong the life of the surface while keeping it cool under the hot Florida sun. Check out the video to see more.
John Venezia Park – Colorado Springs, CO
Known as “The Corral” playground due to its ranch-themed play equipment, this surfacing project covers three playground areas totaling 13,957 square feet. Using the duraSAFE Rubber Playground Tiles from the cost-effective Plus Series, the saddle brown and terracotta colors helped bring each themed area of the all-accessible park to life. Watch the video to take a peak at other aspects of the park.
Thanks for sharing your special projects with us, sofSURFACES!
Did you miss the deadline to submit your “Great Playground”? If you are a member of IPEMA and would like to have your playground featured, please contact Lesley.Sillaman@havas.com with your “Great Playground” submission (photos encouraged!) and you could be featured in an upcoming blog post.