HELP Protect Children's Health, Environment, Learning, Play and Safety.  Please, by all means, don't asphalt in places that can benefit by more beneficial surfacing where the water can drain and get cleaner, instead of flooding with more contaminants.
  

Dear Licensed PA schools, childcares and communities.

Help protect children's health, environment, learning, play and safety, by following the New National Guidelines for Nature Play Areas.  These guidelines are safer and more beneficial with more natural designs that are far more cost-effective too. 

Unfortunately, there is a growing trend to surface sports fields and play spaces with artificial turf which has been shown to cause more serious injuries and is even linked to cancer causing concerns. 

Of 30 major league baseball fields, there are 25 surfaced with natural grass and soil. This trend has grown due to major league baseball player deaths related to cancer.  This alone should raise more concerns for children's health, environment, learning and play safety.  Additionally, the artificial grass and installations are very expensive and with a limited warranty for safety or durability.  Please, my advice is to think twice for everyone's sake and definitely vet the vendors for any past, present and future expenditures.

 New National Guidelines for Nature Play Areas - Nature Play and Learning Places - A New National Guidelines Document Released Today! - Learning Landscapes Design

Thanks for caring and sharing,

Dennis Smiddle