Building a Kids Playset

[zad0030]

A$$ Hoooleeee.....

[G-MONEY]

It's amazing how fast they pick up the bad works

[da.bell]

No, they are just sponges ready to absorb anything.

[Domsz06]

da.bell nailed it on the head I think.

[hoopykat]

My mother-in-law bought my kids a wooden set from Toys R Us, and I was able to assemble it myself in one day, but the set itself is pretty flimsy. I had to make a few reinforcing mods to strengthen it against all the swinging and climbing. Also, ages 3 and 2 are still pretty young for a set that size. My kids were 3 and 4 when they got theirs, and it took them quite a while to be big enough to use the swings or even climb the ladder to the fort. I think you have some time to shop around for a play structure.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[Moki]

Whatever you do, don't do wood mulch. That's how my son nearly lost his life. He fell backwards hanging from a 7' monkey bar onto wood mulch, a fall of less than 6'. I think you've seen the pictures, but if not, I can PM them to you.

Sand is ok, but pea gravel is the best option.

I have about 2 feet of masonary sand under my playset. What happened to your son with the wood mulch? Did a piece of wood stick in him? My wife's parents have wood mulch under their playset.

[dogbert]

I have about 2 feet of masonary sand under my playset. What happened to your son with the wood mulch? Did a piece of wood stick in him? My wife's parents have wood mulch under their playset.

Nope, compound fracture of the humorous, which severed the main artery in the arm. Lost so much blood they thought they were going to lose him. The surgery to repair the artery took 4 1/2 hours. They were unable clean out the wound as well as they'd liked, so he got one of those staph super bugs along with 2 other nasty bacterial infections. A total of 3 surgeries and a summer on IV anti-biotics. That's why those surf pictures show him with that blue xero-sox on, not for the broken arm, but for the pick line for the IV.

Mulch does absorb impact, but it acts more like a rubber band, so when it expands after the compression, it's a force worse than the fall. The school where this happened has had a number of broken bones from kids falling off of swings and such.

When I did my research on playscape, I met with a guy who is a safety expert and he's the one who advised me about using #9 pea gravel for exactly that reason. Imagine my disappointment when I found out what they had used at the school. I'm trying to get them to fix it but you know how it is. I'm not normally a litigious person, but I considered suing them to fix it. However, here in Texas, you can't sue the schools.

[da.bell]

I'm not normally a litigious person, but I considered suing them to fix it. However, here in Texas, you can't sue the schools.

1) Why not sue the developer who did the work at the school?
2) The schools also have a Health and Safety person. Have you talked with them?
3) How about notes from doctors
4) Take all this paperwork to the school board of directors could be another avenue.
5) How about a ballot inititive? You might have to stand in front of some stores to get signatures but the public would vote of the improvement and you might even have the schools pay for it.

Just a thought and you probably thought about all these already.... Sorry for the hijack.

[dogbert]

1) Why not sue the developer who did the work at the school?
2) The schools also have a Health and Safety person. Have you talked with them?
3) How about notes from doctors
4) Take all this paperwork to the school board of directors could be another avenue.
5) How about a ballot inititive? You might have to stand in front of some stores to get signatures but the public would vote of the improvement and you might even have the schools pay for it.

Just a thought and you probably thought about all these already.... Sorry for the hijack.

Ok, first of all, it wouldn't be about money, so suing the developer is out. I'm trying to work through the system now as you suggest in a few of your points. I'm sure I'll get it worked out eventually...it's just amazing how much beaurocracy there is.

Back to the thread, tire mulch is also very good, much better than sand.

[da.bell]

Back to the thread, tire mulch is also very good, much better than sand.

I agree. The cities here is CA are installing this material and taking out the mulch. It's a slow process but the park comes alive after they do it. More people are going to the parks. Probably because it is a new surface that everyone wants to see and touch.

Sueing the developer would be only to have him fix his problem and nothing more.

[Tequilasun]

Nope, compound fracture of the humorous, which severed the main artery in the arm. Lost so much blood they thought they were going to lose him. The surgery to repair the artery took 4 1/2 hours. They were unable clean out the wound as well as they'd liked, so he got one of those staph super bugs along with 2 other nasty bacterial infections. A total of 3 surgeries and a summer on IV anti-biotics. That's why those surf pictures show him with that blue xero-sox on, not for the broken arm, but for the pick line for the IV.

Wood mulch: I would think that the potential for it to hold nasty bugs would be greater than the stone or the tire material.

Right now we are looking at the stone and the tire materials.

[dogbert]

I didn't go with the tire material, which is actually preferred, for two reasons: cost and heat. The stuff is generally black, so it gets too hot here in Texas. You're probably ok with it.

[Moki]

Nope, compound fracture of the humorous, which severed the main artery in the arm. Lost so much blood they thought they were going to lose him. The surgery to repair the artery took 4 1/2 hours. They were unable clean out the wound as well as they'd liked, so he got one of those staph super bugs along with 2 other nasty bacterial infections. A total of 3 surgeries and a summer on IV anti-biotics. That's why those surf pictures show him with that blue xero-sox on, not for the broken arm, but for the pick line for the IV.

Mulch does absorb impact, but it acts more like a rubber band, so when it expands after the compression, it's a force worse than the fall. The school where this happened has had a number of broken bones from kids falling off of swings and such.

When I did my research on playscape, I met with a guy who is a safety expert and he's the one who advised me about using #9 pea gravel for exactly that reason. Imagine my disappointment when I found out what they had used at the school. I'm trying to get them to fix it but you know how it is. I'm not normally a litigious person, but I considered suing them to fix it. However, here in Texas, you can't sue the schools.

Man, that is scary! We came close to losing our oldest, but it was Leukemia. We dealt with Pic lines and a Broviac line. Since he had no immune system, we dealt with a few scary infections. We considered using wood chips at one point, but decided against it because the wind can blow them all over your yard. It looks like we made a better decision but not for the best reason. Our neighbor has pea gravel, but all the kids are always at our playset playing in the sand. We used to have a dog to keep the cats out, now we use the pellet gun (just enough pumps to scare them) For safety, I can see how the pea gravel would be best.

[dogbert]

Man, that is scary! We came close to losing our oldest, but it was Leukemia. We dealt with Pic lines and a Broviac line. Since he had no immune system, we dealt with a few scary infections. We considered using wood chips at one point, but decided against it because the wind can blow them all over your yard. It looks like we made a better decision but not for the best reason. Our neighbor has pea gravel, but all the kids are always at our playset playing in the sand. We used to have a dog to keep the cats out, now we use the pellet gun (just enough pumps to scare them) For safety, I can see how the pea gravel would be best.

I'm glad it turned out ok for you too. The hardest thing I've ever had to do is watch my kids suffer and and know I can't do a darn thing to help them.

[da.bell]

I'm glad it turned out ok for you too. The hardest thing I've ever had to do is watch my kids suffer and and know I can't do a darn thing to help them.

I hear you dog. My youngest has autism and it's hard on the family. He will throw a temper tantrum in the middle of the store and everyone looks at you with those eyes of "What are you doing to that child or what have you done to make the child do that?" After awhile, you just ignore them and continue on. But, we all take what we have been provided and go with it in the best interest of the children.