By: Brian Henry

Public Works maintenance staff routinely inspect the City’s playgrounds for safety compliance. One of the features that requires regular maintenance is the depth of woodchips beneath the playground. The woodchips are used as a groundcover below play equipment to absorb shock and prevent potential injury from falls. The woodchips are 100 percent virgin wood designed specifically for playgrounds and meet the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Last week the Department of Public Works added 1,040 cubic feet of wood chips to 13 of the City’s playgrounds and child care sites, reapplying to depths required by California state law. The woodchips are applied through a flexible tube that blows the safety material directly from the truck to the playground. This method is fast, clean and protects the surrounding landscape from repetitive wheelbarrow damage. This is the first year that the City contracted with a new vendor to perform this important aspect of playground safety for the City, saving $3.00 per cubic yard compared to previous years.