Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Rubber Mulch – Playground and landscaping

Rubber mulch is made from recycled rubber and comes in different colors. It provides a perfect cushion to the soil or ground. You can place the rubber mulch in your garden and protect the soil and plants from excessive moisture.

Here are some benefits of rubber mulch:

1. Rubber mulch comes in different colors and hence useful in landscaping.
2. Rubber mulch does not melt and does not emit rotten smell.
3. It is very durable.
4. It does not catch dust and never attracts insects like the grass lawn.
5. Rubber mulch does not wash away in heavy rains nor does it blow away in the storm.

With all these benefits, Playground rubber mulch is the best thing to decorate your garden or backyard. It enhances the safety of the playground and helps in enhancing the quality of soil. Rubber mulch is very popular for its ability to protect kids from getting injured. Rubber mulch acts as a cushion between the kids and the ground and prevents injuries.

If you take proper precautions, then playground rubber mulch is ideal for gardens and playgrounds.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Bleacher Inspections - Indoor and Outdoor bleachers

Bleacher Inspections - Indoor and Outdoor bleachers
Snider & Associates, Inc. performs Indoor and Outdoor Bleacher inspections and maintenance! We also perform bleacher repairs as requested.

Indoor Bleacher Maintenance Inspection Summary of Work that can be performed

Clean upper decking, framework, and floor area below bleachers.
Check all hardware and fasteners to assure tightness and identify missing.
Align framework.
Check operating condition of row locks and/or locking mechanisms.
Lubrication of all contact moving parts.
Check condition of floor pads.
Check condition of wheels, rollers, and outriggers.
On electrical units, check wear of power track or friction roller, and condition of wiring and relays.
Perform inspection of bleachers.
• Review safety of bleacher system. Condition of flooring, seats, risers, guardrails, aisle handrails and antislip.
• Check operation of open and closing of bleacher sections.
• Identify bleacher size, number of rows, number of sections, and measurement of seat, floor, and riser boards.
• Compile a list of conditions that may require parts and repair.
• Generate an Excel inspection report that will be mailed or emailed to customer.


With our years of experience, let us create the report you need to address your bleacher problems.

Please call Snider & Associates, Inc. if you need a Bleachers inspection - indoor bleachers or outdoor bleachers. We can also provide both the indoor bleachers and outdoor bleachers NEW and install them for you.













Call today and we can provide a thorough inspection of your outdoor or indoor bleachers, we check it over and then provide pictures and a summary document for your file and reference.

Call today at 1-800-888-2889

Services are offered in a limited area, please call to inquire about your location.
www.cvsnider.com

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Mt. Lebanon's Foster Elementary opens 'inclusive' playground

Mt. Lebanon's Foster Elementary opens 'inclusive' playground
Thursday, September 16, 2010
By Kaitlynn Riely, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Larry Roberts/Post-GazetteSofie Pell, 8, a third-grade student at Foster Elementary School in Mt. Lebanon, hangs from a modern jungle gym along with Katie Leibow, 9, during recess Tuesday.On a cool, sunny morning, every piece of playground equipment at Foster Elementary School was in use.

First, second and third graders clambered around the climbing station, pushed each other on tire swings and jumped on stationary pogo sticks.

Three years of planning, fundraising and then installation this August resulted in an "inclusive playground" meant to be accessible for children with vision problems, motor delays or impairments and mental disabilities, said Foster principal Patrick McClintock-Comeaux.

The swing set has regular swings as well as what Mr. McClintock-Comeaux described as a "roller coaster seat," with a back and a harness. A modernized seesaw, with room for up to 20 kids at a time, is low enough for a child with a wheelchair to sit on it, and has no parts that can pinch fingers or catapult riders off the device.

Tire swings are set at a low level for wheel-chair bound children and a Sway Fun, a flat glider with two seats and a table, can hold a wheelchair. The climbing equipment has different colored panels for different levels, a component that a parent suggested to make it easier for her vision-impaired child to navigate.

Foster Elementary does not currently have any students in wheelchairs, though there are children in the community who are in wheelchairs, Mr. McClintock-Comeaux said. The school does have students with autism spectrum disorder and with vision problems, and the new playground equipment will make it easier for them to play, he said.

"The whole point is that we are not just building it for our kids. We are building it for the whole community," he said.

Games are held on the fields next to the playground, and the playground is open to use for the public, so he said he anticipates the new set will see a great deal of use.

Mr. McClintock began speaking with teachers and parents about ways to improve the playground equipment three years ago, and over the course of a year they met with several different vendors to pick pieces.

A Playground Fundraising Committee, led by co-chairs Julie Maselko and Kim McFadden, raised about $80,000 during the past two years, including a $12,500 grant from state Rep. Matt Smith.

A dedication for the playground was held last Friday.


Kaitlynn Riely: kriely@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1707.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10259/1087852-55.stm#ixzz0zjLW7gA9

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

EZ Port III - Jet Ski Port (Dock)

EZ Port III - Jet Ski Port (Dock) Supports up to 1300#, four rollers for easy on and off. Pick up in Port Clinton or we can deliver for a fee. Call 440-877-9151


Location: Port Clinton, Ohio
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Get Green

One of the manufacturers we represent was just recently highlighted in Recreation Management www.recmanagement.com

You can view some of the trash receptacle options on our website www.cvsnider.com. Or some are available on our online store https://shop.cvsnider.com. If you have any questions just give us a call 800-888-2889.

The article.....

New recycling containers from Witt Industries allow either one-stream recycling or three separate stream recycling to be collected within a small area. These durable and attractive metal containers, which combine functionality with aesthetics, are available in 15 inch (24 gallon) or 18 inch (34.5 gallon) for the collection of paper, clear plastics, glass and other recyclable materials. They area ideal for use within schools, universities, stadiums, arenas, concession areas and more. Single opening or three opening lids area easily removed for fast and convenient servicing.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Playground Maintenance Guide and a Playground Supervision Guide

Playground Maintenance Guide and a Playground Supervision Guide
We know that 84% of all playground accidents could be avoided through better

adult supervision and proper playground maintenance. That is why Snider & Associates provides a Playground Maintenance Guide and a Playground Supervision Guide with every order. We believe that by designing and

implementing effective playground maintenance and playground dsupervision programs at your

school or park playground, we can help you protect your investment and improve children’s play experiences.

Call or click here to get your Playground Maintenance Guide or Playground Supervision Guide today!

The Power of Urban Play

The Power of Urban Play
is a national report developed with the expertise of urban
park and recreation
leaders across our nation. This rich resource provides information

for park and recreation agencies, school districts, and other youth serving

organizations to make lasting changes for children’s health and well-being in urban

communities. Data was collected and summarized through a series of interviews,

surveys, and roundtable discussions in order to capture a broad representation of

urban communities across the county. The report reviews the importance of play in

urban communities
, defines the trends and unique characteristics, and discusses best

practice strategies for developing and maintaining wholesome play environments.

Play On! is a standards-based physical fitness program

Play On! is a standards-based physical fitness program that was created in
partnership with the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation
(AAPAR). Play On! promotes physical fitness through the use of playground
equipment
and fun creative learning activities. This program fully aligns with the
national physical education standards promoted by the National Association for Sport
and Physical Education (NASPE) and can help promote moderate to vigorous levels
of physical activity to combat childhood obesity. It is successfully being implemented
in schools and parks and recreation programs across the nation during physical
education, recess, after-school programs, camps, and as ‘mini-energizers’ to help
meet required number of minutes of playground physical activity. Offering many developmental
benefits, playgrounds are the perfect place to keep kids moving, socializing, and
learning. This one-of-a-kind program adds value to your investment by providing unique activities and
playground designs based around six key elements of play to increase overall fitness!

standards-based playground curriculum

Snider & Associates is committed to helping each child reach their full potential through standards-based playground curriculum
Snider & Associates is committed to helping each child reach their full potential
and offering creative and imaginative ways for educators to reinforce important
academic concepts outdoors on the playground! We include standards-based
activity folders with each purchase of A-maze motion panel systems and Music
Makers instruments to help bring the playground equipment alive. Through the use
of this product-specific curriculum we can help you bring new learning experiences
to the great outdoors- while encouraging movement and the development
of important physical, social, emotional, language, and cognitive skills.
Snider & Associates is committed to finding ways to maximize the value of your playground and help
children meet physical, social, and academic goals. We are proud to offer a variety of research-based
programs that provide best practice playground design guidelines and bring standards-based play and learning activities
to the playground, positively impacting the lives and development of children, families, and communities.
These tools and resources are critical as we work together to build a “gateway to imaginative play.”


Call Snider & Associates for your playground curriculum today!
Get playground and athletic equipment here

What is NatureGrounds?


What is NatureGrounds?

NatureGrounds: Putting Nature Into Play is a comprehensive program that provides best practice guidelines for creating and retrofitting play environments for parks and school grounds that integrate manufactured play equipment and the living landscape. The purpose of NatureGrounds is to create a dramatic shift in the standard playground development process by deliberately designing nature back into children’s lives, not only to benefit children’s play but also to engage communities in working together to create richer play experience for all users.



Bringing nature back into children’s lives

Remember when time stood still as we played outdoors with best friends, enjoying the wonders of the world around us? We learned to interact with each other and our natural surroundings — climbing trees, swinging on branches, playing games, or enjoying the quiet contemplation of leaves floating down a stream. Elements of nature created magical expressions of childhood musings about the world.

Like children throughout the ages, we experienced the universal childhood delights of discovery and fascination set free by boundless imaginations and unstructured play in nature — even in a few square feet.

New health research recognizes everyday outdoor play in nature as a powerful preventive strategy for healthy childhood development — including protection against childhood obesity.

A generation ago playing outdoors in nature was usually taken for granted; but times have changed. Now, nature must be deliberately designed back into children’s lives. In today’s urban and suburban environments, natural spaces are often too remotely located for visiting on a regular basis.

A playground paradigm shift


The industrial playground model based solely on manufactured equipment is being reconsidered. A greater diversity of play opportunities is desired to extend curricular activity in schools and to meet the needs of a broader range of children and their families in parks. The integration of natural components helps fulfill these needs as well as creating richer play experiences for all users.


Safety and playgrounds


Contemporary playground components are manufactured to meet high quality industrial design standards of health and safety. Constant upgrading and innovation are recognized characteristics of the playground industry. National injury statistics show compliant playgrounds to be much safer than other everyday childhood environments.

Playground safety, which has been the focus of playground design for the last fifteen years, has reached the point where children may find playgrounds boring and therefore not attractive for everyday use or for repeat visits.

To counteract this trend, naturalization is an effective strategy to stimulate, motivate, and encourage children’s play, and to increase the attraction of playgrounds for children and caregivers.

Playgrounds cannot fully eliminate risk and indeed should provide children with opportunities to engage in healthy risk taking and activities that provide developmentally appropriate challenges. On the other hand, providing safer environments must continue to be a priority with every effort made to reduce unforeseen hazards.

Added value


Naturalization adds value to play equipment structures by enhancing their visual quality as focal points, thereby attracting children outdoors to use parks and school grounds. Equipment, combined with natural elements, tells children that playgrounds are their special places. The added comfort and aesthetic enhancement of nature encourage accompanying adults to also become enthusiastic users.

Why naturalized playgrounds?

Inspired by Richard Louv’s book, Last Child in the Woods, a grassroots movement advocating outdoor play in nature is growing across the USA and Canada, driven by parents, environmental educators, recreation and health promotion professionals, naturalists, and others. Naturalized playgrounds can support the outdoor play in nature movement in many ways:

Play structures are heavily used by children
“Children and nature” and “active childhood” community initiatives and legislation are focusing attention on the spaces of children’s daily lives, including playgrounds
Innovative projects generate positive press and new funding streams

“Mixed” play environments are more attractive and comfortable for adults, encouraging caregivers to spend more time outdoors with their children
Well-designed playgrounds are a primary attraction for families using neighborhood and community parks
Naturalization adds visual interest, shade, and comfort — resulting in sustained repeat visits, a relaxed and playful social atmosphere, and growth of community social capital
Users of all abilities discover a wider range of play opportunities
Curvy pathways provide attractive, accessible, active settings for children, and social strolling by adults
Naturalization provides new opportunities for nature-based professionals to offer rich outdoor educational and recreation programs for a wide range of children

Artificial Grass for Playgrounds - Playground Safety Surface

Only Snider offer the best synthetic grass that gives you unmatched realism built on a proprietary technology platform that ensures quality from the ground up. With our playground safe artificial grass, the possibilites are endless.



Meet the new generation of playground surfaces! Playground Grass is lush, beautiful synthetic grass that is safe to play on, soft to fall on, and cost effective. Playground Grass offers many unique benefits, including:


•A soft, cushioned play surface with fall zones safety-rated to 12 feet
•An ADA accessible play surface
•A consistent safety rating even after heavy use over time
•Antimicrobial protection available for a cleaner, safer playground
Call us at Snider & Associates for a playground site visit today! 1-800-888-2889

Monday, February 22, 2010

KaBoom! Offers Playground Grants

KaBoom! has developed a unique opportunity to jump start the playground building process for communities in need, by offering $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000 grants towards the purchase of new playground equipment.

EducationNews.org: KaBOOM! Offers Playground Planners $5,000 Grants
EducationNews.org on 2010-02-11 08:58:00 ·

  • Fans Vote for Most Compelling Video

To help jumpstart the playground building process for communities in need, KaBOOM!, the national non-profit that makes kids and communities healthier by creating great places to play, has partnered with the nation’s top playground equipment vendors to offer $5,000, $3,000, and $1,000 grants towards the purchase of new playground equipment.

Three grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to communities who receive the most votes in an online video voting competition. Competing communities need to create an online video that pitches their project to potential funders, supporters and volunteers and then enter their project into the KaBOOM! Project Planner before the end of February. The KaBOOM! Project Planner is a free online tool designed to walk communities step-by-step through the playground building process, from fundraising and volunteer recruitment to vendor selection and site preparation. Already, communities have entered 1,500 playground projects into the planner because it gives them access to KaBOOM! resources and information, empowers them to engage their community in their project, and enables them to share their plans and ideas quickly and easily with their team members and potential supporters. For the competition, videos should be no more than 60 seconds in length, be targeted at potential supporters (not KaBOOM!) and demonstrate the importance of the project to the community.

Once completed, KaBOOM! will host all the videos online so that communities can use their video as both a contest entry and a tool to garner support for their project. By sending links to their video out to their social media networks, all participating communities have the ability to spread their message and garner massive amounts of support for their projects. At the end of February, KaBOOM! will select the five most compelling videos and will invite the public to vote for their favorite. The videos with the most votes will receive up to $5,000, $3,000, or $1,000 in grants towards their purchase of equipment from the KaBOOM! Preferred Vendors that best meets their needs. The winning videos will also serve as examples of creative and effective ways other communities can garner support and engage supporters online. Grant winners will be announced in April, but by inspiring their individual communities to rally around their projects, all participants will get additional support to help them reach their goals.

KaBOOM! PREFERRED VENDORSKaBOOM!
Preferred Vendors have been selected because of their high industry standards, their consistent installation quality, their national reach, and their commitment to playground innovation.

CONTEST RULES
The contest rules are simple. Entrants must upload a project video, up to 60 seconds in length, to their KaBOOM! Project Page during the month of February. Then, KaBOOM! will judge the videos, and the top five will be chosen as finalists. Finalists will be determined by both their video and their progress through and interaction with their project website. Finalists will be competing for playground equipment grants (with the grand prize of up to $5,000 towards their purchase cost) provided by KaBOOM! Preferred Vendors. Equipment must be purchased from one of these vendors in order to receive the grant. The final amount of the awarded grant cannot be greater than 25% of the total purchase price. KaBOOM! Preferred Vendors have been selected because of their high industry standards, their consistent installation quality, their national reach, and their commitment to playground innovation. Finalists will be put up for public voting on kaboom.org in March to determine the winners! Grant winners will be announced in April, but by inspiring their individual communities to rally around their projects, all participants will get additional support to help them reach their goals.

Please contact Snider & Associates with any additional questions.
www.cvsnider.com or 800-888-2889

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Are your Indoor Telescopic Bleachers Sagging?

Are your indoor telescopic bleachers sagging and giving you difficulty operating open or closed?



The number one problem with bleacher operation is sagging! This is caused by students climbing on them in the closed or partially open position. Over time this fatigues the understructure. Only the first and last rows have proper support. The rows in between are supported only from the back frame with no adequate support in the front. We at Snider and Associates have a solution to this problem and would like to visit your facility to review your bleacher system.




















Pro's


  1. Prevents sagging and bent frames


  2. Straightens seatboards


  3. Eases in and out of bleachers


  4. Prevents breaking of seat & riser boards


  5. Used on non-supported rows (row 2 to second of last)


  6. Provides support at all times


  7. Allows system to be used in partially open position

Call us 800-888-2889 or visit us at www.cvsnider.com.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

NRPA - President Budget Alert

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) just posted this information....

www.nrpa.org

Yesterday, President Obama released his proposed $3.8 trillion budget for FY 2011, which included increased funding for several programs of interest to parks and recreation agencies. Most notably, the President's budget calls for $434 million in funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), with $50 million for the Stateside Program. The President's Budget also calls for several new programs within the Department of Housing and Urban Development that hold promise for parks and recreation. To view the budget analysis, click here.

NRPA is thrilled that the Obama Administration recognizes the importance of parks and recreation and is moving toward a renewed investment in this area. However, the fight continues as we try to convince Congress that more funding is needed to try and offset the billions of dollars in unmet needs currently experienced by states and localities across the country. Agencies across the U.S. are struggling to provide essential services necessary for community stability and health.

Our membership is the largest collection of parks and recreation professionals, students, and citizens in the nation. By advocating together, we can collectively send messages to the Administration that communicate how vital parks and recreation are to the American public and influence the Administration's further support. While the President's budget signals a renewed interest in parks and recreation, it is only a proposal, and Congress has the responsibility of determining funding amounts. Now more than ever, we need park and recreation advocates to attend the Legislative Forum. It is your voice that will help shape our future.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Inclusive Play - 7 Principles of Universal Design

Inclusive Play - 7 Principles of Universal Design

Supporting materials are available in PDF from our this website page on inclusive playgrounds

Inclusive Play Benefits

Inclusive Play Model Environment

Inclusive Play Overview

Inclusive Play Activity Grids

Inclusive Play Checklist


If you want a complete packet on inclusive play and the 7 benefits please request a catalog by clicking here - Inclusive Playground Packet - Make sure to put inclusive play in the notes of your request



1 - Be Fair
The play environment provides social justice by being equitable and usable by children of all abilities so they can enjoy their right to play.

Guidelines

a. Provide appropriate surfacing and site design for physical access into and throughout the play environment so children can actively engage in social and physical play activities.

b. Offer equitable opportunities for everyone to participate in a variety of developmentally appropriate forms of play.

c. Promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and acceptance by providing integrated activities throughout the play environment that encourage exploration, problem solving and discovery.

Example

An accessible pathway to and throughout the play environment allows people of all abilities to participate in play.



2 - Be Included

The play environment supports the participation of individuals with diverse abilities in social and physical activities for inclusive, multigenerational play.

Guidelines

a. Organize the play environment to provide various types (physical, social, sensorimotor, constructive, etc.) and forms (autonomous, parallel, cooperative, etc.) of play so there is something fun for everyone.

b. Provide a balanced variety and a continuum of developmentally appropriate physical and social activities, throughout the play environment, which are dynamic and accommodate individuals’ diverse abilities.

c. Provide choices in method of participation or use. d. Provide meaningful opportunities for inclusive, multigenerational play.

Example

Social gathering spaces under decks and along accessible pathways allow children of all abilities to be included.



3 Be Smart

The play environment allows children to effectively explore and participate in play at their own level.

Guidelines

a. Design the play environment with a variety of multi-sensory features that are organized to provide meaningful cues

b. Provide intentional multi-sensory (auditory, visual, tactile) stimuli through a variety of play activities.

c. Offer opportunities for children of all abilities to access and engage in the play environment as independently as possible.

Example

Accessible transfer decks designed strategically with play activities like slides allow children with adaptive equipment to successfully engage in their natural play behaviors.



4 Be Independent

The play environment allows children to effectively explore and participate in play at their own level.

Guidelines

a. Design the play environment with a variety of multi-sensory features that are organized to provide meaningful cues.

b. Provide intentional multi-sensory (auditory, visual, tactile) stimuli through a variety of play activities.

c. Offer opportunities for children of all abilities to access and engage in the play environment as independently as possible.

Example

Equipment, like ramps, and multisensory features in the environment allow children to effectively explore and participate in play more independently.



5 Be Safe

The play environment addresses current safety standards while providing developmental opportunities needed for exploration and challenge.

Guidelines

a. Provide safer play activities and environments, through graduated levels of challenge, that allow children to explore, interact, and experience developmentally appropriate risk.

b. Support children’s emotional feelings of security so they are more likely to engage in play.

c. Accommodate for comfortable supervision and ongoing maintenance.

Example

Benches placed throughout the play environment offer jump-in-points for kids while also promoting adult supervision.



6 Be Active

The play environment supports various degrees of physical and social participation in play while minimizing unnecessary fatigue.

Guidelines

a. Allow individuals to maintain neutral body position so they can actively sustain their engagement in physical and social play.

b. Include play activities that require reasonable operating forces and integrate alternatives to sustained physical effort or repetitive actions.

c. Provide for a range of developmental opportunities for challenge to accommodate children’s diverse physical characteristics.

d. Offer balanced opportunities for social play throughout the play environment, by providing a variety of play activities at the ground level and under decks.

Example

Play equipment like the One-for-All swing provides support for children of all abilities to experience the joy of movement.



7 Be Comfortable

The play environment is usable for individuals with sensory needs, diverse body size, posture, mobility, and motor control.

Guidelines

a. Provide play activities with comfortable approach and reach for a seated or standing child.

b. Accommodate variations in gross and fine motor control for manipulation of play activities.

c. Provide comfortable space for movement throughout the play environment for individuals with assistive devices and/or personal assistance.

d. Provide a range of environmental conditions, like shade, to accommodate children’s diverse comfort characteristics.

Example

Features like this accessible Fire Truck Cab allow children of all abilities to comfortably approach and reach the activity while the open space inside supports comfortable movement.



Call us at 1-800-888-2889 to discuss your Inclusive play or Boundless playground.

Or Request a Playground Equipment Catalog and put a note about your interest in accessible playgrounds!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Dinner feeds playground

http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/532319.html?nav=5005
aPROJECT BE SOMEBODY, a nonprofit organization formed by a group of Leavittsburg-Braceville parents to renovate the LaBrae Sports Complex off Route 82 in Braceville, is planning a wheelchair accessible playground for children of all different capability levels.

The organization is working with Snider and Associates on designing the playground. Grants, fundraising and donations are being sought.

A spaghetti dinner and Chinese auction fundraiser will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at LaBrae High School. Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for students, and free to those 3 and younger. Donations of items for the auction are being sought.

For more information, call 330-469-3492 or visit www.projectbesomebodyteamworktogether.com.
www.cvsnider.com

Friday, January 15, 2010

Playgrounds for children devasted by natural disasters, econimic stress, and war

http://www.kidsaroundtheworld.com/playgrounds.htm
Kids around the world is a faith based organization that brings hope to children who have been devestated by natural disasters, econimic stress, and war. They restore hope with the power of play - They build playgrounds - see upcoming installations in ecuador, mexico, haiti, panama, honduras, new orleans

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Playground Safety Surface: Recycled Rubber on Playgrounds and Playground Equipment

FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Denise R. Calabrese, Executive Director
info@ipema.org
717-238-1744
Association Releases Information Regarding Use of Recycled Rubber on Playgrounds
HARRISBURG - Recently, media reports have raised questions about the use of recycled
rubber on playgrounds. As a leader of the play equipment and related materials industry, the
International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) investigated various studies
and reports related to this issue. The investigations revealed the following facts:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently studied air and surface samples at four
fields and playgrounds that use recycled tires – the same material that cushions the ground
under the Obama family’s new play set at the White House. The limited study, conducted in
August through October 2008, found that the concentrations of materials that made up tire
crumb were below levels considered harmful. In addition, the overall study protocol and many
of the methods were found to be appropriate and could be implemented in the field.
(The details of the EPA’s study can be found at http://www.epa.gov/nerl/features/tire_crumbs.html)
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of the California Environmental
Protection Agency tested skin sensitization by playground surfaces made of recycled tires and
found no sensitization observed suggesting that these surfaces would not cause skin
sensitization in children, nor would they be expected to elicit skin reaction in children already
sensitized to latex.
(Study dated January 2007 can be viewed at: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Publications/Tires/62206013.pdf)
ChemRisk, Inc. in Pittsburgh conducted a review of exposure to recycled tire rubber found on
playgrounds
and synthetic turf fields. They concluded that no adverse human health or
ecological health effects are likely to result from these beneficial reuses of tire materials.
(Study dated July 17, 2008. Detailed information and more studies can be found at
http://www.syntheticturfcouncil.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=91)
(more)
2-2-2-2
A comprehensive review of the available literature on the potential health effects of crumb
rubber infill from synthetic turf fields was conducted by TRC on behalf of the New York City
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. This review demonstrated that the major health
concern of these fields is related to heat. Eleven different risk assessments applied various
available concentrations of COPCs and none identified an increased risk for human health
effects as a result of ingestion, dermal or inhalation exposure to crumb rubber.
(Study dated May 2008 can be reviewed by visiting
www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/eode/turf_report_05-08.pdf)
IPEMA does not dictate or recommend whether its members use recycled rubber in their
products. It is the choice of the individual member. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) determines and guides the safety issues facing the playground equipment
industry. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has endorsed the use of
recycled rubber to cushion the surfaces of children’s playgrounds. For more information, visit
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/tools/cpg/products/playgrnd.htm.
IPEMA encourages its members to follow the guidelines of the CPSC. IPEMA will respond
appropriately if the CPSC or EPA identifies recycled tire rubber as a play hazard. The CPSC,
the Centers for Disease Control and the EPA recommend that young children wash their hands
frequently after playing outside and always before they eat. IPEMA also recommends these
practices. IPEMA is always interested in reviewing new safety information, including any
independent, third party, scientific studies concerning the use of recycled tires. IPEMA will be
monitoring the EPA 2010 meeting with federal and state agencies that will review all new
study data and determine next steps.
IPEMA provides a voluntary third-party product certification to ASTM safety standards in the
U.S. and Canada for playground products, including surfacing materials. Those interested in
learning more about play equipment and surfacing safety are encouraged to visit
www.ipema.org.
# # #

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Jamey Snider appointed to International Playground Contractor’s Association (NPCAI)

Snider & Associates, Inc. would like to congratulate Jamey Snider & Associates, Inc., on his appointment to this respected commercial playground equipment and installation organization. The International Playground Contractor’s Association (NPCAI) was formed to contribute to the advancement of the commercial playground building industry by promoting playground installation as a legitimate contracting profession. This is one more commitment from Snider & Associates to ensure customers get a quality playground installation from a qualified playground contractor.

As a principal playground design consultant at Snider & Associates, Inc., Jamey Snider has been very influential in thousands of playground projects. “We are very fortunate to have Jamey Snider represent us on an international level. Snider & Associates, Inc. has long been a regional leader(Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Michigan) in the playground industry it only seemed fitting we reach out to help others in the playground construction market.“ said Chuck Snider after hearing the news. Jeff Snider added that “He will be an invaluable asset because of his life long experience installing and designing playgrounds.” Jamey is looking forward to interacting and exchanging ideas with his fellow members about the playgrounds and children in a professional and “playful” way!

Snider and Associates (cvsnider.com) has been providing top quality park, athletic and commercial playground equipment to the school, early education, parks and recreation industry since the 80's. We represent a number of excellent playground equipment manufacturers and are committed to providing only the finest, safest products at the most competitive prices. Not only are our playground products of the highest quality, we also address environmental issues by aggressively marketing our recycled products and processes. The playground equipment manufacturers we represent are dedicated to the same issues and several of them have selected Snider and Associates as their exclusive representative.

Located in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, our sales representatives ensure total customer satisfaction by offering ongoing and comprehensive follow-up. This policy ensures that the products purchased from Snider and Associates Inc. meet your standards and expectations.

Our line of recreational products includes but is not limited to:
- Outdoor playground equipment;
- Water park equipment;
- Aluminum bleachers;
- Floating boat docks and boat lifts;
- Stationary boat docks;
- Site furnishings;
- Bicycle racks;
- Trash receptacles;
- Park benches;
- Picnic tables;
- Outdoor playground safety surface;
- Shelters - park pavilions, gazebos and other park shelter structures;
- Volleyball equipment for schools and parks;
- Basketball equipment for schools and parks.

Discover our PASSION for playgrounds by contacting us at 1-800-888-2889 or email us.