Coarse sand or masonry sand is low cost and does not pack when moist but gets into shoes and requires frequent leveling. Shredded rubber tires will not decompose but is more expensive and may leave black marks on interior floors. Commercially prepared surfaces provide smooth, even surfaces but are expensive and may require some cleaning. While much of today's playground equipment is durable, poor maintenance or wear and tear can lead to sharp edges, broken steps and railings, exposed bolts and other protrusions, and exposed or unstable foundations. Just because a playground has a protective surface does not mean it is forever safe.
Routine maintenance is needed to make sure the surface is sufficient to decrease injuries.
A young girl in Louisiana is paralyzed after falling onto a hard playground surface and hitting an exposed concrete footing. Playground surfacing and footings need frequent examination by center staff. All footings should be routinely checked to make sure they are well below ground and covered with an effective resilient surface. In the Louisiana case, the approximately four inches of protective surface was much less than the two inches of gravel and five inches of wood chips applied only 11 months before. Equipment design, even on new and well maintained equipment, can lead to injury as well.