When the topic of childhood obesity comes up in the media, it is usually attributed to eating too much junk food and fast food. But it also has to do with not getting enough physical activity. Nearly 17 percent of children and adolescents are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in part because there are not enough safe, appealing areas for children to play or be active in many communities.

In an effort to combat this problem, an increasing number of parks and playgrounds around the nation are making the switch from natural grass to synthetic grass turf. In a press release on the subject, Rick Doyle, President of the Synthetic Turf Council, explained why he believes that synthetic turf plays a vital role in children’s fitness:

“Parks and playgrounds featuring synthetic turf create safe, accessible and resilient playing surfaces for kids with a diversity of needs — the same surfaces that elite athletes play on.” He added, “The opportunity to increase physical activity is critical for the fitness, well-being and self-esteem of youth.”
When designing synthetic turf for playgrounds, artificial grass suppliers use polyethylene. This soft and forgiving material will not only protect children from impact injuries but also withstand the stress of heavy-duty-all-weather use.

One of the best things about installing synthetic lawns in parks and playgrounds is because the surface is accessible to all children, including children with disabilities. According to the press release, a playground with synthetic grass makes it possible for children with disabilities and physical challenges to join in with the rest of the children; they can easily roll in wheelchairs and crutches don’t get stuck in harsh surfaces.

Homeowners have been installing artificial lawn turf for quite some time; it is also popular among golf courses and athletic fields across the nation.