For Georgia communities, choosing the right surfacing beneath and around playground equipment is essential. The right material for our climate means better performance, lower upkeep costs and a surface that holds up season after season.

Here's a practical breakdown of the most common surfacing types for a Georgia playground and what it takes to keep them in good shape through the years.

 

Built For Georgia’s Climate

Georgia summers bring long spells of warm and humid weather, with rain falling on roughly 120 days a year and annual totals averaging 50 to 55 inches. Heavy afternoon and evening downpours are common throughout the summer. Choosing a surface that drains quickly and resists moisture means you spend less time on maintenance and more time focused on the kids using the space.

 

Surfacing Options for Georgia Playgrounds

Burke Turf® - Artificial Turf

Burke Turf combines durability and softness and is suitable for both sports and playground areas. With the look and feel of a natural grass lawn, it complements any playspace and keeps children moving.

Below the surface, a completely anti-microbial soft infill provides a lasting, healthy play environment. A shock and drainage pad delivers impact protection. Burke Turf meets current federal playground safety and accessibility standards and drains well thanks to its built-in drainage pad system.

For Georgia communities, the drainage pad is a meaningful feature. Water moves through the system rather than sitting on the surface, which helps the playspace dry quickly after summer storms.

Burke Tiles

Burke Tiles creates a playspace that encourages kids to keep moving and have fun. These eco-friendly tiles are easy to install, simple to maintain and available in a wide palette of colors.

Burke Tiles are designed to provide continual, dependable protection in the event of a fall and offer full accessibility for all children. Their durability and wear resistance make them a strong fit for Georgia's high-use, high-humidity environment and because individual tiles can be replaced as needed, giving you flexibility when managing repairs over time.

Poured-In-Place (PIP)

Poured-in-place rubber surfacing is one of the most popular surfacing choices we see across Georgia playspaces. It works for installations of all sizes and has a seamless surface.

It's easy to customize. With a wide range of color options, it can complement any design vision or match your community's colors. And once it's down, it stays down. Routine upkeep is minimal, which keeps long-term costs low.

Zeager Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF)

Zeager was first in the industry to offer engineered wood fiber products for playgrounds and bonded wood fiber for trails.

Engineered wood fiber (EWF) meets CPSC for fall protection guidelines when maintained at a compacted depth of 9 inches, protecting against falls from up to 10 feet. EWF is a natural-looking, accessible surfacing option that works well across Georgia's varied play environments. Maintaining proper depth through regular inspections and periodic additions of fresh material keeps the surface performing well and compliant with safety standards year after year.

 

Surfacing at a Glance

Burke Turf

  • Typical Lifespan: ~10-15 years
  • Maintenance Level: Moderate

Burke Tiles

  • Typical Lifespan: ~10-15 years
  • Maintenance Level: Low-moderate

Poured-In-Place (PIP)

  • Typical Lifespan: ~10-15 years
  • Maintenance Level: Low-moderate

Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF)

  • Typical Lifespan: ~8 years with top-offs
  • Maintenance Level: High

 

The Right Surface for Your Community

Every playspace is different. Drainage conditions, sun exposure, how many kids use the space each day and the equipment height all factor into which surface makes the most sense. Our Recreation Product Advisors work across all four Georgia territories and provide free, no-obligation on-site evaluations with surfacing recommendations specific to your site.

Ready to talk surfacing? Connect with your local Recreation Product Advisor at PlaySouth.