When RAZE Early Childhood Development Center in Spokane set out to upgrade their playground, their initial plan was to install a pour-in-place (PIP) rubber surfacing system. While ATS has installed PIP for years, the owners expressed concerns about its limited lifespan, long-term maintenance costs, and safety performance over time. In the Pacific Northwest, PIP surfaces often begin to harden, crack, and lose impact attenuation within just a few years, leaving schools and centers facing expensive replacement or repair sooner than expected.
RAZE came to ATS Turf to explore alternatives. Together, we designed a state-of-the-art artificial turf system that would outperform PIP in every category. By selecting SYNLawn SYNtipede 343 turf paired with a 2-inch Brock Playground Fall Pad, we were able to engineer a surface that provides up to an 8-foot fall height rating while maintaining natural aesthetics. This system not only meets but exceeds ASTM safety standards for playground surfacing.
To ensure the highest quality installation, we hot melted all seams — a method that Bonds the turf seams together with a 425 degree glue for superior strength and longevity. This extra step minimizes seam failure, one of the most common issues with traditional turf installs, ensuring the surface remains intact and safe even under heavy daily use.
Additional performance features include:
- Antimicrobial sand infill, helping maintain a cleaner and healthier play environment.
- Antistatic fibers built into the turf, reducing static buildup for added comfort and usability.
- Enhanced drainage design, preventing puddling and surface breakdown common in PIP systems.
This turf system is designed to last 10–15 years, effectively doubling the usable life of normal playground surfacing. For RAZE, that means lower long-term costs, fewer disruptions, and a consistently safe, attractive play space for children.
ATS Turf completed the project in under one week, transforming the playground from a mulch-based design into a modern, high-performance turf system. The result is a surface that looks natural, performs to the highest safety standards, and will continue to serve RAZE families for many years to come.
