Blog: Why do we have plastic playgrounds?

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Kids benefit every which way from being outdoors in nature. They develop their senses, are encouraged to explore, learn to pay attention, strengthen their immune system and more. Study after study has shown that kids benefit physically, mentally and emotionally from time in nature. And yet, we cover our outdoor play areas in plastic. To add insult to injury, the plastic pieces are made to look like nature, as if the smell of discarded tires on a hot day or the slick plastic surfaces emulate the real thing. Let’s take a look at some of the play areas around here. Fayette Park was opened in fall of 2023 next to one of the large multi-family developments on San Antonio Road in Mountain View. Nearly the entire play area is plastic and rubber. A large plastic flower looms over the park to provide some shade. What is wrong with a good old-fashioned tree?

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