My 3-year-old son has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. He loves to explore and play like any other child, but wood chip playground surfaces make that impossible. He tries to crawl, but the sharp chips give him painful splinters — some so deep they needed to be removed by a doctor. Now, he’s scared to go to the park at all. 

Playgrounds are meant to be joyful, welcoming places — yet for children with disabilities, wood chips turn them into barriers. They cause injuries, block access for kids using mobility devices, and leave many families watching from the sidelines instead of playing together.

 

All children deserve safe, inclusive spaces to play. But wood chips pose serious problems:

🚫 They cause injuries like splinters and falls.

♿ They block access for kids and caregivers using wheelchairs or walkers.

🧹They trap debris, mold, and animal waste, creating hygiene and health concerns.

🫧 They require constant maintenance and replacement, often leaving playgrounds unsafe or unusable between top-ups.

Safer, proven alternatives exist. Foam or poured-in-place rubber surfaces:

✅ Reduce injuries with better shock absorption.

✅ Are fully accessible and inclusive for all abilities.

✅ Stay cleaner and require less maintenance.

✅ Are recommended by safety experts like ASTM and CPSC.

More than 30,000 children in Canada visit the ER each year due to playground injuries. Mississauga’s parks should be places where every child can safely play, explore, and belong.

 

We’re calling on the City of Mississauga to replace wood chips with safe, inclusive surfacing. This simple change would mean children like my son — and countless others — can finally enjoy the joy and freedom of play.

 

No child should be left on the sidelines — let’s make playgrounds safe and inclusive for everyone.

 

Please sign and share to help create playgrounds where every child belongs.