08/30/2008: "“Big Toy” Playground Opens -With Concerns"

With the first day of school just around the corner, one of the much anticipated additions to the elementary school facility is the new "Big Toy." Through the tireless work of the PTA, funds were raised for the much needed upgrade which is now ready for play.

However, while the toy itself is ready to go, some FHES parents have raised their concerns about the “crumb rubber” material which was chosen as underlayment to protect children when they jump or fall from the toy.

Three options for the underlayment were offered by the company, each meeting current ASTM safety standards.

“Crumb rubber” is a standard product that is installed in playgrounds throughout the nation, however concerns have recently been raised about potential long term effects of exposure to the chemicals in the recycled tire rubber.

The District has consulted the State of Washington Department of Health as well as Steve Grout, the risk management representative from the District’s insurance carrier Canfield and Associates. Canfield and Associates insures 80% of the school districts in Washington State.

The insurance carrier and the health department said that they had received no reports of adverse affects from this product, and that it has been successfully used by school districts and park departments in our state. However, though the product has been in use for fifteen years, studies of the long term exposure to the product have yet to be conducted.

The PTA and District administration have formed a committee to immediately conduct a thorough review of the product as well as other product options for the safety underlayment.

The committee will consider product options, including potential benefits and risks, in order to make a recommendation to either keep the “crumb rubber” or to replace it with another product. The PTA has placed this issue on its meeting agenda scheduled for Wednesday, September 3rd, 6:30 p.m. at the elementary school. Parents wishing to learn more and/or participate in the evaluation process are encouraged to attend the meeting.

Parents who have concerns, and who wish to exclude their children from using the playground equipment until a final decision is made about the product may do so.