Have a dangerous rubber Playground surface that you want to replace with ADA-compliant mulch?

this is how we approached the playground resurfacing at the west tisbury school.

this playground was rebuilt in 2016 and, despite concerns from parents, used pour-in-placE (PIP) rubber surfacing.
due to a number of issues with the PIP, we applied for West Tisbury Community Preservation Committee (CPC) funding to have it removed and replaced with ADA-compliant, triple chipped mulch.
issues with the pip included:
- excessive heat
- excessive hardness and “pebbling”
- Injuries
- difficulty getting certified repair people to fix holes
We worked with a certified playground inspector who confirmed the playground was not safe in its current condition and provided all the specs to convert it to mulch.
Resurfacing took place in August 2024
All subcontractors were locally hired
total cost for removal, disposal and resurfacing? $83,000

PIP surface was 171 degrees on a 75 degree day

PIP surface was 148 degrees on a 64 degree day

One of the holes that had opened up in the playground surface

Some of the automotive waste that had migrated from the playground surface

Removing the rubber surface and as much of the loose fill underneath as possible

A look at the anatomy of a PIP playground surface

Cross section of a PIP rubber surface

A close up of some of the waste product used in children's playgrounds

A portion of the PIP material waiting to be hauled to another community

It was a tremendous amount of rubber waste material

Our crew worked tirelessly to remove as much of the rubber waste as possible but it was impossible to get it all

Triple chipped mulch from Keene's being spread

The finished product!